“I describe my sculptures as being visual prayers,” said Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz.

A case in point is the artist’s famous Homeless Jesus, which depicts Jesus asleep on a park bench, his nail-scarred feet sticking out from under a blanket. Copies of that sculpture are displayed in Rome, Ireland, Spain, Russia, Africa, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, as well as at parishes across the United States.

Schmalz likes to see his faith-based carvings displayed outside, where they can serve as advertisements for Christianity.

“The best compliment these sculptures receive,” Schmalz said, “is to amaze and fascinate the most cynical youths of today. If they think that the art is amazing, they will have to think that the message is as well; a ‘cool’ sculpture outside a church may make them think that, likewise, something ‘cool’ is to be found inside the church.”

When Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, Schmalz’s 16-year-old daughter confided that she’d been an avid follower of his and that Kirk’s example had been instrumental in her decision to join her high-school debate club. A friend from Spain called Schmalz to convey his sympathy for America’s loss. Schmalz decided that he should memorialize Charlie Kirk in art, but he felt apprehensive, unsure how to proceed with such a large undertaking.

When he woke the next day, though, Schmalz had a firm idea of how to proceed. “I woke up, and it was breathtaking! That was amazing — God doesn’t always talk to me!” he recalled to the Register. He began sculpting Kirk beside a depiction of a sympathetic Jesus, with the two heads touching.

At first, Schmalz’s representation of Jesus was an angry one. “I was just so angry at what had happened,” Schmalz admitted, “and I transferred that anger to Jesus. It was as though Jesus was screaming, ‘How dare you!’”

But as he worked with the clay, Schmalz realized that the anger was his, not Christ’s, and he began to soften Jesus’ features — making him more of a comfort to the rendering of Charlie. In the final version, Jesus’ and Charlie’s heads are leaning together in love. With his wounded hand, pierced with nails, Jesus is holding Charlie’s neck, the area that was vulnerable in the attack.

“So there is the very subtle idea,” Schmalz said, “that human suffering and the suffering of Christ work together. Christ seems in this piece to be the protector.”

Schmalz sighed, recognizing that our society is in a horrible place and that some have celebrated the murder, expressing hatred for those with whom they disagree.

“But Charlie,” Schmalz said, “believed deeply that people in America are able to have intellectual discussions and present challenging ideas instead of using violence.”

Schmalz is worried that we are living in a superficial world where deeper ideas are rarely presented in public. Charlie Kirk, through his work, raised important questions: What is a woman? When does a newly conceived human become human? What is the difference between males and females?

“I think and I hope,” said Schmalz, “that the spirituality engendered by Charlie Kirk does not burn out and that this horrible reality that played out, Kirk’s assassination, will prove him right: that humanity does not have to be violent.”

When the sculpture of Jesus and Charlie is first cast in bronze — probably in about four months — Schmalz reported that it will be permanently installed on the campus of Ave Maria University in Florida, where Kirk’s ideas about marriage and abortion and tolerance are welcomed.

“The new sculpture of Charlie Kirk by Timothy Schmalz,” Ave Maria University President Mark Middendorf told the Register, “will indeed be a profound addition to our campus. It will serve not only as a beautiful work of art but also as a lasting reminder to our students of the call to live courageously for Christ and to be a light in the world. For us at AMU, it ties directly into our mission: forming leaders who embody faith, truth and courage in a culture that needs them more than ever.”

As Schmalz completed his tribute to Charlie Kirk, he offered a final message: “Pray for him and his family.” He hopes that the spirit of dialogue which Kirk fostered will not lessen, but be encouraged in the years to come.