| The upper part of the Ark of the New Covenant is decorated with four large icons representing special moments in the Paschal Mystery, or Paschal Triduum: |
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The Last Supper, which Jesus celebrated with His disciples and which the Church commemorates on Holy Thursday |
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The Passion and Death of Jesus, which the Church commemorates on Good Friday |
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The Vigil of Mary, his mother, which is celebrated on Holy Saturday |
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The Resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning, which is celebrated on Easter Sunday |
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| Four smaller icons on the Ark also bring to mind some aspects of the Eucharist, the table of the New Covenant: |
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The Multiplication of the Loaves
(cf. Mt 14: 19-21; 15, 36-37) |
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The Wedding Feast at Cana
(cf. Jn 2: 1-11) |
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The Washing of the Feet
(cf. Jn 13: 13-15) |
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The Disciples at Emmaus
(cf. Lk 24: 13-35) |
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A Coffer: The Ark of the New Covenant is both a throne and a container. It is a “throne” for the King, that is, Christ, present under the form of the Eucharistic species exposed in a monstrance. It is also a coffer containing Scripture, which, proclaimed in the liturgy, makes Christ present through his Word to teach the people, his Church.
The New and Eternal Covenant: The name “Ark of the New Covenant,” of Biblical origin, refers to the spiritual experience of the people of Israel and the pact they concluded with God at the time of Moses on Sinai. But for Christians, Jesus signed a New Covenant. The expression “New Covenant” refers, in fact, to the new and eternal Covenant brought about by Jesus Christ; it is marked by the Paschal Mystery of his death and resurrection and celebrated in the Eucharist.
Mary, Ark of the New Covenant – A Marian Title: The title, “Ark of the Covenant” has traditionally been bestowed on the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Three-part Animation
The creation of this original work is intended to promote a varied animation relating to the three main objectives of the Eucharistic Congress: catechesis; liturgy; and commitment to the transformation of the world. Regardless of the length of time the Ark is in a given place, we suggest that these three objectives be integrated to all types of animation, short or long.
- Catechesis: A chest rich with Eucharistic symbols, through the use of icons referring to Gospel passages, rests on a base evoking the hull of a boat. The iconographical representations will serve as a basis for catechesis on the Eucharist.
- Liturgy: The top of the chest is designed to hold either the Bible, or a monstrance containing the Real Presence, adapting itself to the various liturgical prayer modalities.
- Commitment: The Ark is designed to hold commitment forms from the faithful who will be invited to adopt a “Eucharistic Charter.”
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