UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
'Touchdown Jesus'
Hesburg Library
The “Word of Life” mural on the Hesburgh Library, commonly known as “Touchdown Jesus” because of the raised position of Christ’s arms and its location directly behind the north end zone of the football stadium, was unveiled May 7, 1964, at the library’s formal dedication (the building had opened without fanfare the previous year).
The mural has stood the test of time, and today is one of the nation’s most recognizable collegiate monuments and a main attraction for visitors to campus. Designed by artist Millard Sheets, the mural measures 134 feet high and 68 feet wide, and is composed of some 6,700 individual pieces of granite that form 324 panels.
As suggested by Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame, the mural’s theme incorporates saints and scholars throughout the ages. “It’s like a kaleidoscope of personalities that make up the history of Christianity and pre-Christianity as well. It’s very rich philosophically and theologically,” Father Hesburgh said. Inspired by a passage from the first chapter of John’s Gospel, the mural depicts Christ the Teacher amid images of prophets and historical figures in Christianity in ascending order, with classical and Old Testament scholars near the bottom and Byzantine, Medieval and Renaissance figures at the top.
It was not the original intention for the “Word of Life” to become an athletic metaphor, but most agree that the mural’s status in popular culture is a pleasant fringe benefit. “Thinking of this as Touchdown Jesus was just not in my mind, or anybody else’s for that matter,” Father Hesburgh remembers. “And it’s become a kind of nice, friendly familiar name for this beautiful piece of art. “
