Leaving a substantial and beloved artistic legacy, Father Dunstan Massey, OSB, died Dec. 26 in the infirmary at Westminster Abbey in Mission at the age of 98.

Born William Massey on April 16, 1924, at St. Paul’s Hospital, he grew up in East Vancouver and showed artistic talent at a young age when, equipped with crayons supplied by his mother, he enjoyed drawing characters from Greek and Roman mythology.

With the support of his parents, Father Massey chose to forgo high school to study art at the Vancouver School of Art, and in 1940 he was the youngest artist to ever hold a solo exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Despite attaining a substantial artistic reputation, replete with wealthy patrons and the attention of the likes of Group of Seven member Lawren Harris, Father Massey felt called to monastic life.

He once wrote that after “serious reading and reflection” on Montalembert’s Monks of the West, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s treatise On the Love of God) “I decided, despite all the protestations of art and music teachers, to ‘throw my life away’ in a monastic cloister.”

His fresco of the temptation of Saint Benedict perhaps offers some understanding of Father Massey’s decision.

The image depicts a famous moment in the saint’s life when the young Saint Benedict, after seeing a beautiful woman in town, threw himself in a bramble bush to remove all temptation from his mind and reaffirm his commitment to God. The saint’s face is resplendent with joy, even as the thorns cut his body.

In 1942 he entered the monastery at the age of 18, taking the monastic name Dunstan in honour of St. Dunstan of Canterbury, patron saint of artists and goldsmiths.

Well known for his sculptures and paintings which adorn the wall of Westminster Abbey, Father Massey’s work has become an integral part of the Abbey’s very identity.

His crucifix hangs above the altar in the main church where the community celebrates Mass. As well, his 23 plaster reliefs depict the lives of various saints and biblical figures in a style that is distinct and instantly recognizable.

Within the inner sanctum of the cloister, his fresco of The Heavenly Banquet, inspired by Matthew 26:29¸can be found in the main dining room where the monks take their meals while listening to lectors read about topics ranging from theology to science.

Above the closet where the monks keep their choir robes is a fresco inspired by the second book of St. Gregory’s Dialogue, which relates to the life and miracles of St. Benedict.

Each piece of art emphasizes the love and commitment Father Massey had for his community.

Fittingly, he never took sole credit for his work, once telling The B.C. Catholic, “pretty much everyone who has entered the community has worked on the artwork, sometimes for hours.”

“That’s the thing that’s little appreciated about the art: it’s only here because there’s a community here.”

Father Massey’s funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Jan. 13, at 2 p.m. at Westminster Abbey. Interment in the Abbey cemetery will immediately follow Mass.

The B.C. Catholic will have more coverage of the life and art of Father Massey next week.

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