Carmel, IN–In the early 2000’s, Jonathan Chamblee was best known around Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish as the theological intellectual who directed the high school youth program, however he gained a new reputation as an accomplished metal artist with the unveiling of his work– a life size, brass-laid, replica of the Ark of the Covenant with monstrance on top.
The Ark with a solid brass monstrance and prostrated angels on top displays the Eucharist in the newly constructed perpetual adoration chapel.
Chamblee said that the project originated during a conversation between him, former pastor Monsignor John Duncan and associate pastor Father Kevin Haines. He said that Monsignor was talking about the church’s expansion project plans and the addition of an adoration chapel. Chamblee told Monsignor that he worked with metal and had and idea back in college to create an Ark of the Covenant with a monstrance. At the time Chamblee thought this was just a lofty dream he was sharing. But in the next few moments, his dream would become a reality. Monsignor asked him if he would consider building the arc for the proposed perpetual adoration chapel.
In utter amazement, Chamblee said he gladly accepted the offer, but admits now with a chuckle that what he envisioned in college was something much smaller than what he ended up creating. “I didn’t imagine anything this big,” he said.
The metal artist has been working on his craft since the sixth grade when his grandfather in Texas taught him how to use basic metal working techniques. While in college at Franciscan University in Steubenville, OH, Chamblee said that he remembers carving a few metal crosses and Rosary rings. It was at Steubenville that Jonathan said he had wanted to use his metal working craft for more spiritual purposes.
In describing the construction of the Ark, Chamblee said, that there were two driving principles he had in mind when creating the Arl. “I didn’t want it to be weird or abstract art,” he said. “It has been my experience that people interested in Eucharistic Adoration relate better to simple, more traditional art rather than modern or abstract art. That’s why I wanted to create something simple and traditional,” said Chamblee. “The second idea I had about the Ark construction was the idea of tying perfectly together a New and Old Testament theme.”
Chamblee, who holds a degree in Theology, explained that the Jewish people in the Old Testament recognized God’s presence and his dwelling among Israel through the Ark of the Covenant. They believed more specifically that God was present between the angels of the Arc. He went on to explain that in the New Covenant God dwells among his people in the tabernacle, more specifically in the Eucharist. “It seems most appropriate to present the Eucharist — God’s presence among us — the people enshrined with an Old Testament presentation.”
He also explained the symbolism of his Ark creation. “We often think of God’s presence as a burst of light, like the sun. The pattern of the monstrance is like a starburst or the sun radiating out to God’s people,” he said. “There are a total of 12 rays, four major rays, and eight minor rays,” he said. “The number 12 has great spiritual significance throughout scripture and Tradition.
“The pattern on the top of the Ark where the monstrance sits has the 12 rays going out showing the awesome power of God’s presence going out to the people,” said Chamblee. “I wanted to work-in the number 12, I did this with the rays. They signify the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles.” He also said that on each side of the four sides of the box of the Ark, there are stars, four on the longer sides and two on the ends, totaling 12. “In the book of Revelations verses 11 and 12, Mary is referred to as the Ark of the Covenant,” he said.
“John describes a woman clothed with the sun wearing a crown with 12 starts,” he said. “The rays are extended with small nicks symbolic of the Arc being clothed with the sun.” Chamblee explained that the angels which rest on the top of the Arc are actually angled in such a way that they resemble being in a constant motion of worship and prostration or falling down to God. Chamblee said, “This example of the angels’ is a reminder of how we need to be in constant adoration and worship of our God when we are in the chapel, in God’s presence.”
Chamblee said he was extremely excited about unveiling the piece. “I wanted to make the Ark simple, yet appropriately resplendent so that everyone’s attention would be on the Eucharist,” he said. “I tried to make it in such a way that everything pointed to Jesus. Chamblee said he even the positioned and aligned the angels’ heads so they would be pointing toward adoration of the Eucharist. “That’s where our focus needs to be.”