Mother Cabrini is whole again
By Julie Hutchinson, Special to the Rocky
Originally published 09:00 p.m., May 19, 2008
Updated 11:59 a.m., May 20, 2008
Darin McGregor / The Rocky
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput blesses the restored statue, which was damaged by lightning May 19, 2007.
Darin McGregor / The Rocky
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput dedicates the renovated 33-foot-high Sacred Heart of Jesus limestone statue at the Mother Cabrini Shrine. "God uses the difficult things in life to make things better," he said.
Darin McGregor / The Rocky
Jamie Swain, of Wheat Ridge, kneels in prayer.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story should have said the student body of Notre Dame Elementary School collected $1,200 and donated it to the restoration of the Mother Cabrini Shrine. Also, a box with the story should have said the statute is made of limestone. This error was corrected.
The 33-foot-tall limestone statue of Jesus visible from Interstate 70 west of Denver was rededicated Monday, exactly a year after a lightning strike left it without arms or feet.
The statue looks as good as new except for one, important difference: A lightning rod attached to a ground wire now protrudes from the top of the statue's head.
About 150 people shielded from the sun by umbrellas and hats attended the ceremony at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in the foothills beyond Golden, many of them climbed the 337 steps from the parking area.
Among those attending was Kent Cottle, a project manager for Denver-based Premier Specialty Contractors, which handled the complicated refurbishment.
"You may laugh," Cottle said, "but I believe the lightning strike was divine intervention."
Cottle said workers discovered more than 60 serious cracks in the 22-foot-tall statue and its 11-foot- tall base, in addition to damage from the lightning strike. He described the interior damage as massive and said the statue "would have crumbled to the ground in five to 10 years" without the restoration.
The statue was repaired in place with a mineral-based cement grout injected into the cracks.
Overlooking Denver from high atop the foothills near the junction of U.S. 40 and I-70, the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was imported from Italy in five pieces and erected in 1954.
A new concrete apron, wrought- iron fencing and landscaping were included in the refurbishing to improve safety and accessibility for elderly visitors and the physically impaired. Insurance covered $150,000 of the repairs; private donations the remaining $125,000.
Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who presided over the ceremony, circled the statue's base and blessed it first with burning incense, then with holy water sprinkled from a branch of pine cut from a tree on the property.
"Things can change with the snap of a finger overnight," Chaput said. "God uses the difficult things in life to make things better."
Twelve Denver-area members of the Knights of Columbus, who drew their swords in a ceremonial salute, escorted the archbishop. Chaput praised the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, who operate the shrine, for their work in overseeing the restoration.
Angela DeMott, 68, of Wheat Ridge, came to the ceremony to honor her childhood friend, Elaine Valente, a former Adams County commissioner who died nine months ago and asked mourners to donate to the statue's restoration fund in her name.
The shrine has been a spiritual beacon since she was a child, DeMott said. Her family often visited on Sunday outings. DeMott said her mother, Elizabeth Dardano Tricarico, was taught by Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini in about 1915 at the old Mount Carmel Grade School at West 36th Avenue and Pecos Street.
Sister Bernadette Casciano, 68, administrator of the shrine, said she was touched by the generosity of Denver people, including a young girl who donated her $2 allowance, and the student body of Notre Dame Elementary School, which collected $1200 and donated it all to the restoration.
About the shrine
* Named for Sister Frances Xavier Cabrini, who was made a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1946. She is the first American citizen to be canonized.
* It is run by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and is supported by donations and gift shop sales.
* The Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is made of limestone.
* The statue was imported from Italy in five pieces and erected in 1954. It was valued at $15,000 at the time.
* Cabrini established the property in 1909 as the Queen of Heaven Orphanage.
* The stone heart at the base of the statue was done by Cabrini in 1912.
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May 20, 2008
1:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
dillard writes:
If you believe in God would it not follow that lightning blew the arms and feet of the statue in order to send a message. All churches should be taxed the same as any for profit business.
May 20, 2008
1:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
sgroeger writes:
Catholics do not worship idols. We like every normal person want to be reminded of those we love. Just like taking a family photo, we use statues and icons to remind us of Jesus and Mary and the saints. Since we don't have the advantage of having pictures of God because he is a spirit. We have help to visualise God through our statues and icons. No Catholic actually worships the statue or the icon. We worship God alone who who we love dearly and who is brought to mind when we see a statue or an image.
Jesus says those who love me hear my voice. If you loved God you would understand the reason we Catholics use statues and icons to remind us of our God and lift our hearts and praise to Him.
May 20, 2008
1:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
MarineGrunt writes:
Maybe god didn't like the statue and wanted it removed?
I mean, it was hit by lighting by the will of god correct?
May 20, 2008
1:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
FU writes:
I love this quote "God uses the difficult things in life to make things better."
Just like how he has priests take advantage of little boys. Their lives are much better now too...
May 20, 2008
1:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
The_Punnisher writes:
Definitions of idol on the Web:
* a material effigy that is worshipped; "thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image"; "money was his god"
* someone who is adored blindly and excessively
* paragon: an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Can't get more a more precise definition of a Catholic...
You don't have to follow a MAN-MADE religion to be a CHRISTIAN...
He/She/It gave mankind a warning. We choose a MAN-MADE solution to the problem. Man's hubris will be his downfall.
May 20, 2008
2:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
After veiwing numerous posts, I guess to be considered a TRUE Christian, one has to be able to pass judgement on the religious beliefs of others, especially if they disagree or are threatened by that religion.
How "Christian"of you. Your way must be the true and only way huh ?