Reflection on the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil

 When I lived in Ecuador from 1996 to 1999, one of the symbols of the city of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, was the statue of the Virgin Mary known as the Virgin of Quito or the Virgin of El Panecillo because it sits on top the hill of El Panecillo in the middle of the city in the midst of the Andes mountains.  That statue of the Blessed Mother is 134 feet tall and was built in 1976. 

     I was reminded of that statue in Quito, Ecuador when a friend of mine sent me a link of workers doing repairs of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.  Both Ecuador and Brazil are very faithful Catholic countries.  These statues reflect the faith and the devotion of the people.  

      The statue of Christ the Redeemer is located at the summit of Mount Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. The statue was completed in 1931 and stands 98 feet tall and its horizontally outstretched arms spanning 92 feet. The statue has become emblematic of both the city of Rio de Janeiro and the whole nation of Brazil. The statue is made of reinforced concrete clad in a mosaic of thousands of triangular soapstone tiles. The statue is the largest Art-Deco style statue or sculpture in the world. 

      The idea for a statue of Christ on this mountain originated with Brazilian priest Pedro Maria Boss in the 1850s.  However, it was not until 1921 when the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro formally proposed such a statue and it was officially approved by the Brazilian government.  At the time, Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil.  The capital was later moved to Brasilia in 1960.  

       The foundation for the statue was laid in 1922 and it was completed in 1931.  Over the years it has undergone periodic repairs and renovations, including a thorough cleaning in 1980, in preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Brazil that year, and a major project in 2010, when the surface was repaired and refurbished. In 2006, to mark the statue’s 75th anniversary, a chapel at its base was consecrated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.

        As someone who is very afraid of heights, it amazes me to see the courage the workers have in doing their work and making the repairs needed on this statue.  The courage of these workers can be seen as a symbol of the courage we are called to have on our Lenten journey of faith as we accompany Jesus on his journey of 40 days in the desert.  

        Have a blessed week everyone.  Father Lincoln 

Here is the link of the video showing the repairs to the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/VxlKZereog0?rel=0