Romana

Since December 18, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza has a new sculpture of St. Josemaría. It was installed in the recently restored Chapel of St. Joachim, also known as the Chapel of Confessions.

The installation and blessing of the image was presided over by Archbishop Carlos Escribano of Zaragoza. Besides several members of the metropolitan chapter of the basilica, also taking part were the regional vicar of Opus Dei in Spain, Monsignor Ignacio Barrera, some civil authorities, and the sculptor of the image, Diana García Roy.

The sculpture was cast in bronze and has a tan-colored patina that harmonizes with the chapel as a whole. It measures 1.70 meters in height and rests on a black stone pedestal from Calatorao. St. Josemaría is shown dressed in a chasuble, with a bas-relief of Our Lady of the Pillar on the chest. His right hand symbolically covers the image of the Blessed Virgin, while his left hand reaches out to the faithful who come to pray, in a welcoming and missionary attitude.

The sculpture of another Aragonese saint has also been placed in the same chapel: Saint Genoveva Torres (1870-1956), founder of the Congregation of the Angelic Sisters, canonized in 2003. This sculpture, also in bronze, is also the work of Diana García Roy.