Father Chas Canoy
Watch the Apse Painting Introduction
Listen to the Apse Painting Introduction
The Cosmological Vision of Holy Mass is a sacred artistic work that invites the faithful into a deeper awareness of the mystery they enter every time they celebrate the Holy Mass. As reflected by Father Chas, this artwork reveals the Mass as a timeless encounter—where the sacrifice of Christ, the worship of heaven, and the life of the Church are made present all at once.
Through rich symbolism rooted in Scripture and tradition, the work portrays the Trinity, the Paschal Mystery, and the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, reminding us that the Mass is not merely a gathering, but a participation in the eternal realities of salvation. This piece serves as both catechesis and contemplation, drawing hearts and minds toward the beauty and glory of God.
Read the Apse Painting Introduction
Father Chas:
Well, I had the opportunity to see this a couple of days before you did, without the scaffolding, and of course I was able to see it in the making throughout the entire year. Joseph has been working full time here throughout the calendar year to give us—ultimately for the glory of God—what you now see before you. It has truly been a delight to witness.
When the scaffolding finally came down, I thought that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. It came together so beautifully, and I stood in awe, looking at it for the longest time. Then, after that, I delighted in watching you delight in it—seeing how stunned you were by its beauty and by the glory these sacred mysteries reveal.
Our hope—my hope and Joseph’s hope—is that this sacred art draws you deeper into the reality of what we celebrate in the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass allows us to enter into something far more profound than simply gathering to sing songs or listen to a sermon, as edifying and spirit-filled as those moments may be. The Divine Liturgy, the Holy Mass, is an actual participation in the mysteries of salvation, where the eternal dimension opens before us.
We are shown the wedding feast of the Lamb, while at the same time the historical reality of the Paschal Mystery is made present to us in real time. There is a timelessness when we walk through those doors. There is a timelessness here. Joseph’s sacred art is meant to make us more palpably aware of these supernatural realities that we enter into when we celebrate Mass.
In the Liturgy of the Word, it is a living word that makes present the sacred mysteries. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we are brought to Golgotha on Good Friday and, simultaneously, before the heavenly throne and the marriage chamber of the Lamb. We stand with Mother Mary and Saint John at the foot of the Cross, and at the same time we join the angels and saints in heaven in adoration of the Lamb of God.
The Holy Mass is the portal where heaven and earth meet. That is our hope—that this work, comprised of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and the Paschal Mystery, together titled The Cosmological Vision of Holy Mass, draws us into that cosmic reality that embraces all of creation.
I wanted to give you a brief primer on the theological significance of this work. You will have the opportunity to ask Joseph questions during the Q&A immediately following Mass, and then afterward you will be invited to come into the sanctuary for a closer look at this masterpiece. We will also gather later for a small reception, allowing everyone time to reflect and move between the spaces.
First and foremost, we see the mystery of the Trinity portrayed here through traditional symbols of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At the apex is the Father’s hand of blessing—the manus Dei—symbolizing God the Father’s providence, power, and personal involvement in creation. Scripture tells us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and Christ himself fulfills this perfectly, humbling himself and being exalted in due time.