14. Vasconcel’s Christ

You are standing before a very special image of Christ; a work created in 1942 by the sculptor Robert Vasconcel.

Vasconcel was a friend and disciple of the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin, the creator of The Thinker.

Like his master, Vasconcel pursued a very specific goal in his work: to make the deepest emotions of the human soul visible through matter. In this case, he achieved this through a carving in solid wood.

Take a moment to contemplate this Christ. It is not a dead Christ, but a living Christ, with eyes opened, raising his gaze towards heaven in a gesture of complete trust. It evokes that moment just before his final breath, when he turns to the Father and says: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

And yet this same gaze does not feel distant. It is remarkably close and compassionate, as though attentive to the suffering of every person who comes here to pray. It does not turn away from pain; it accompanies it.

Despite the suffering of the Cross, Jesus bears a serene expression. Look closely, and you will notice how the natural grain of the wood seems to form a tear falling from his eyes — a moving detail that deepens the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth.

This image also recalls the tears of Jesus described in the Gospels, especially when he weeps at the death of his friend Lazarus.

The hands also speak. One is fully open, expressing acceptance of God’s will and recalling the attitude Jesus sustained even in anguish, as when he prayed in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but yours be done.” The other hand points towards heaven, reminding us that every cross is called to become resurrection.

Each Good Friday, this sculpture is carried outside to lead the Stations of the Cross through the streets of Sant Cugat. It is both an intimate act of prayer and a visually striking event – remarkable for the large crowds who gather and for the impressive size of the cross, carried by the Portants del Monestir, the traditional bearers of the Monastery.

If you look around this image, you will often see many candles burning nearby. .

This is no coincidence:

this Christ is deeply cherished by the people of Sant Cugat. Many come here to pray, especially in the most difficult moments of life, finding comfort in what the image conveys — closeness, understanding and hope.

At its heart, this sculpture communicates a clear message: the Cross does not have the final word; new life does. Through this work, Vasconcel offers an invitation to hope during every difficulty.