Triptych

The basic concept for the triptych is that of Brother William Mann, FSC,  former Vicar General, and former President of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.  The icons come from the prayer and the labor of Sister Marie-Paul Farran, OSB from the Benedictine monastery on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

The center panel is a copy of the famous Russian iconographer, Andrei Rublev’s depiction of the Most Holy Trinity. From the time of John Baptist de La Salle and the first 12 Brothers (1694) until today, Brothers of the Christian Schools consecrate themselves to the Trinity, One God in three Divine Persons, as expressed in their vow formula.  De La Salle recognized the need for unity among the brothers associated together to carry out God’s work of education. He wanted this communal endeavor to resemble the essential union which exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Meditation, 39.3).

The right panel portrays the Holy Family whose members are models for Lasallians. The Blessed Mother: Mary, the faith-filled woman who bore Jesus in her womb and brought the Incarnate Word into the world.  As Lasallians we are called to bear him in our heart and to carry him into the world of education, reminded by the salutation we say, “Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.”  Saint Joseph is the patron saint of the Institute. He is the man who was entrusted with the care of a child who was not his own. Joseph “was just,…submissive to God’s orders, …and had a very special solicitude for the education and protection of Jesus Christ” (Meditation, 110.1).  Like Joseph, Lasallians are entrusted with the care of children not their own.  This panel also represents parents – the first teachers –  with whom Lasallian educators cooperate in raising their children.

The left panel is of Saint John Baptist De La Salle and Adrien Nyel. Nyel is the layman dedicated to the education of poor boys who led De La Salle to become involved with the establishment of schools and the training of teachers. Their initial efforts drew others into an association committed to the integral development of young people.  Today, laypeople comprise the majority of Lasallian educators working in partnership with Brothers, Sisters and Priests. Together and by association – and through the Spirit of God – Lasallians “…carry out a work that require you to touch hearts…” Meditation, 43.3).

The star of Bethlehem atop the two side panels, represents the light that dispels darkness that came into the world with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and that continues to dispel the darkness of ignorance through the mission of Bethlehem University.