From the Feb 11 edition of the Catholic Sentinel:
St. Philip Benizi's new doors meant to attract those who pass by
OREGON CITY — They now have an entryway that evangelizes.
To reach out and open the new carved wooden doors of St. Philip Benizi Church is to participate in a 750-year-old miracle. The handle of the door on the right is near the elbow of a delighted former leper. Pull on the door on the left and you embrace the wrists of St. Philip Benizi himself, who has just offered the leper a cloak and sparked a holy healing.
With some money coming from an existing building fund, this parish in the Redland district assembled $16,500 for the new doors, part of a fuller parish remodel. Parishioners hope the elaborately carved story — which faces the road — will draw curious people to worship and a deep embrace of the faith.
"The construction, design and noble beauty will help remind people of Christ’s presence, lift their minds to God, and help them transition from everyday life to the Sacred Mysteries," said Cheryl and Michael Schwartz, chairs of the parish liturgy committee.
The committee had read about Sisters artist Skip Armstrong in the Sentinel, which last year featured his work on the doors of an Idaho church. Armstong likes the idea of "functional art," noting that the saints lived dramatic lives. "By touching the art, we engage in the reality of the saint’s life," he says. "We walk through the door representing St. Philip’s time on earth. This speaks to the unconscious."
Over time, Armstrong says, there should be some wear; that’s part of the art. Like the steps at St. Peter’s Basilica, the much-handled doors will show the longtime use of humans and evoke a link with communal history.
Some parishioners wanted a stained glass window of St. Philip instead. Others suggested plain doors, saying the money should be used for the poor or for the building fund. But the majority were captivated by what the carvings would mean.
The double doors, each weighing about 250 pounds, are made from six-inch thick Oregon alder. Armstrong worked on them for two and a half months. He began with a chain saw, then completed the detail with several dozen kinds of woodworking tools.
There are no straight lines in the carving, giving the impression that the contained story line is not static, but is part of non-sequential time.
St. Philip Benizi was a brilliant scholar and physician born in 13th-century Florence. He felt a call to join the new Servite order, which was devoted to Mary. At first, he sought to hide his learning, but then his superior urged him to use all his gifts for the glory of God.
In 1267 he was elected prior general and remained in office almost until his death. Recognized for his holiness, he attracted many to enter religious life. He died in 1285 and was canonized in 1671.
At the upper left of the doors is a depiction of St. Philip’s beatific vision: on a deserted road rolls a four-wheeled chariot on which sits Mary, surrounded by angels and saints. A lamb and a lion pull the chariot and around it circles a dove. The deserted road is the empty love of this world. The chariot stands for the Servites. Its wheels represent the order’s adherence to the four gospels. Two things are required of the servant of God: gentleness (the lamb), and strength (the lion). The dove symbolizes simplicity.
The central action of the carving is the miracle with the leper. In this scene, Philip is bigger, more dominant; he is where the action is. The halo reminds the onlooker that he is a saint. The leper is rough and unshaven. St Philip’s kindness is key in the scene; he wasn’t anticipating the miracle any more than the leper. He was just being kind. The offered tunic ties the two men together.
The leper is leaping for joy, seeing his hands at the instant of the miracle. His bandages fly off and all the leprosy is gone. His beggar’s bowl is upset in the drama.
A friar at the bottom right is witness, and brings energy into the scene as his feet contact the lower corner of the door. There is a line of movement from the friar’s eyes to the leper’s hands to Philip’s face. Philip’s hand is gesturing toward the leper, bidding us, "Look to the miracle, the wonder of God, not me."
The arc above separates the heavenly and earthy realms, but heaven "breaks" into the earth with Our Lady of Sorrows’ outstretched hand. She is leaning in, not a part of the miracle, but participating emotionally by witnessing and drawing attention to it.
A short list of Philip’s miracles begins at the bottom left: manifested baskets of bread to feed his starving community, prophecy of the blasphemers’ destruction with lightning, a widow’s son brought back from the dead, a woman’s withered hand restored, the sun compelling flood waters to recede, and a raging fire halted. The papal tiara is behind St. Philip, who hid rather than be elected pope. He is also shown reverencing his ever-present crucifix. On the right door Philip begs two prostitutes in Florence to turn away from sin, and his kindness toward them results in their conversion to lives of holiness.
St. Philip’s figure breaks out of the frame of the door at the bottom. He is walking out of the picture into present life. He is not relegated to being only a piece of art, but is relevant.
"The doors are so full of spirituality," says Heather Hannam, a parishioner for 33 years who helped organize the project.
Bill Oyen, an architect and St. Philip parishioner who helped guide the remodel, finds the doors beautiful and well done. They are part of a project that added handicap accessible bathrooms to the ground floor and also created a larger and separate narthex, or entry room, where parishioners can enjoy each other’s company without disturbing those trying to pray in the church.
It was a good time to have the work done, Oyen says, since construction costs are low and materials are readily available.
Archbishop John Vlazny visited the parish Jan. 17 to bless the doors and the church. In a homily in which he said the key to a happy life is following God’s will, he thanked the congregation for inviting him to bless their renovated church.
"It is here that we will be reminded week after week about what Christ tells us," the archbishop concluded. "When we listen and follow through, then God will perform many miracles of conversion and fulfill our dream of unity, justice and peace for which we are all working and praying."
