Mary Mother of the Eucharist
This project is one close to my heart. It began with a large block of marble sitting in the parking lot. Ave Maria University had a left over piece of Carrara from the giant relief on the facade of the church in the town. It had been sitting there for over 25 years, forgotten, until discussions came up on what to do with it.
That began the journey to what will soon be a carved image of “Mary Mother of the Eucharist”. Mark Middendorf, president of Ave Maria, had a clear vision of commissioning an image made of our Lady, with the Christ Child holding the Eucharist. He wanted an icon of adoration, illustrating that Mary is the primary “adorer” of Jesus. We see Jesus, looking at us with the Eucharist in hand. He is foreshadowing his role as High Priest, offering up the sacrifice of himself on the cross. Like the priest does in Mass, Jesus holds the Eucharist out to us, offering himself to us. Mary gazes at the Eucharist in adoration, with her right hand cradling around it, like the border of a monstrance. Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, is the living Monstrance of Jesus, the perfection of adoration itself.
The statue will be placed above the entryway of the new University Chapel currently under construction. Images below are the life-size plaster cast, which will soon be carved into that block of marble left in the university parking lot.
