A miniature version of Angels Unawares, a sculpture by renowned Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz sits on my desk. It has been there ever since The Basilica hosted the full-size version of Angels Unawares in August 2021. From the very first time I laid my eyes on Angels Unawares, I have been drawn to it. These days I can hardly take my eyes off it.
Angels Unawares was commissioned in 2016 by Cardinal Czerny who was tasked by Pope Francis to lead the Vatican effort on behalf of Migrants and Refugees. The first cast of this sculpture is in St. Peter’s Square. This is the first and only sculpture added to the square designed by Bernini and completed in 1667. The second cast, the one we hosted, is now permanently installed at Catholic University in Washington DC.
Schmalz found his inspiration for Angels Unawares in the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Angels Unawares depicts 140 almost life size people on a raft. They represent migrants from all times and all places. Sometimes migrations happen by choice as people are looking for adventure, are driven by curiosity or are responding to opportunity. Sometimes migrations happen out of necessity as people flee war, persecution, hunger, natural disasters and even death. Sometimes migrations happen by force as people are abducted from their homesteads, deported from their homelands, and sent into endless misery or even are sold into slavery.
The raft is intended to symbolize movement, the movement of migrants. It also draws attention to all the overcrowded boats and floating devices that are used in attempts to cross waterways on a dangerous quest in search of a better life.
Each figure on the raft represents an actual migrant. Schmalz used old photographs for migrants of the past while current immigrants posed for him in the studio. Amid all these migrants, Schmalz represented the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They too were migrants, forced to flee their home out of fear that Herod might kill their son, Jesus. Schmalz placed them next to an African father and son who were abducted from their home, moved to another continent and sold into slavery. They represent the millions of people who were forced to migrate in the past and the people who even today are victims of human trafficking and are forced into modern day slavery. An old man with a walking stick represents unknown ancient migrants and a young man who is seated in the back of the barge represents unknown current migrants who have left their homes in a quest for a better life for themselves and their families.
Very poignantly, the wings of an unnamed angel, mentioned in Hebrews 13:2 hover over the center of the raft warning us against neglecting or maltreating any of these migrants for they might be “angels unawares.”
