The Cemetery of Recoleta was built in 1822 in the old orchard of the Basilica “Nuestra Senora del Pilar.” The pantheons and mausoleums of the 5 hectare site house the history of some of the important characters of Argentine history. The site has been vandalized over the years by graffiti, bombing, grave robbing and political markings. Originally built around the convent of the Recollects and was primarily catholic till in 1822 when it became a public cemetery which was further secularized in 1868. On our visit we saw many religious and secular symbols. The irony of the various scripture quotes in the context of the Recoleta could help elevate an often legalistic bible understanding and provide hope in lieu of despair.
I stand at the door and knock. The visual of each crypt having a door is a bit ironic given the one-way nature of death, given the transmogrification of the body to a new state. The knocking scripture passage may just highlight our requirement for hearing aids as we age. There may be some truth in a growing understanding in our times of “Crypt Currency.”
Those who believe in me shall never die. The unusual promise of living forever and so forth is put to the lie by caskets, crucifixes and stained glass skylights. The promise of change and decay in all around was evident in the entire site. Living forever not so much. Each marble or stone hewn mausoleum aimed at preserving left-overs forever may be missing the mark. The opulence of burial and the erecting of monuments fail to eliminate the sting of dead. The truth may be that “Crypt Currency” is about relationships.
Where two or three are gathered in my name. The walkways between crypts would indicate that more than two or three are gathered here. There is a whole congregation of more or less faithful folk and family members laying around here. Expanding our notions of God in our midst might even proclaim hope to the searching. There is a renewed sense of value in “Crypt Currency” that has this lasting ability to outlive estates, wills, monuments and mausoleums. The stages of change and decay in every edifice speak to devaluation even in propped up Argentina.
Why do you seek the living among the dead? Corroding casket handles and caving roofs dust the burial site with an earth to earth sense. What could possibly breathe new life into this dust. Why focus on some hocus pocus distraction? Could it be that in the words of Eliot, “in my beginning is my end” have been inverted. Through the stained glass window rays of light. A crossed up Jesus hanging in the shadows of a crypt. This is not “Crypt Currency!” This monumental attention that our living has placed on dying might be an escape. Could it be that living is all we know? Living and enjoying life. Community is all we have. Living for others is all that matters. Knock, knock who’s there?