Contemplation of a skull

[DL82]

St Francis often held a skull in his hand when preaching. The Franciscan tradition has a strong emphasis on the contemplation of death, perhaps most strikingly in the chapel of bones in the Capuchin church of Santa Maria della Concezione.

I have found that being around the dead and dying has a real strengthening effect on my life and connection with Christ. It’s an important and incredibly worthwhile thing to pray for the dead, and visit the terminally ill. It’s also been a big presence in my life, as I watched the death of my mother and then more recently my grandmother who looked after me as a child after my mother died. The feeling of peace, but also of deep concern that they died outside the Church, is a huge encouragement to greater efforts in the faith.

I have heard that it was common in the middle ages for people to have skulls in their home, and to treat these as religious objects. Is it possible to own/have access to a real human skull in the West today? I think this is an important discipline, and one I’d like to practice more deeply.

“As you are, so we once were. As we are, so you soon will be.”

 

[johnco]

hi,

i don,t know about keeping a skull, however st. alphonsus liguori wrote a book called " preperation for death ", it is excellent.

God bless,

johnco

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I suspect there may be problems with getting/keeping a real skull. It really should be buried with the person. However, one can probably get a realistic replica which will do as well for meditation.

You might try a science supply house.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

It’s a good practise if the law allows it. But many people will consider the practise morbid and weird. I’m not saying give in to human respect but our mission is to convert the world. If non catholics and pagans see this they’ll likely use it to justify their rejection of catholicism.

 

[puzzleannie]

It’s a good practise if the law allows it. But many people will consider the practise morbid and weird. I’m not saying give in to human respect but our mission is to convert the world. If non catholics and pagans see this they’ll likely use it to justify their rejection of catholicism.

but not morbid or weird to have a skeleton in a biology class?

there are resin models of skulls and other body parts in science catalogs, so if it helps you, go for it.

I also have heard people who are nurses or visitors in hospice or other sites caring for the dying, that they have learned to confront their own mortality, and that yes it is an occassion for prayer and reflection for them.

our own family was graced so magnificently through the dying and death of both our parents–in great pain from cancer, but with great dignity and spiritual strength–that I could go on for hours. We have much to learn from the dying and it is sad many of us are so shut away from them.

 

[kenmay]

It’s a good practise if the law allows it. But many people will consider the practise morbid and weird. I’m not saying give in to human respect but our mission is to convert the world. If non catholics and pagans see this they’ll likely use it to justify their rejection of catholicism.

Hehe, what if we are morbid and weird?
Isn’t that what’s considered ‘cool’ right now?
MEMENTO MORI
(Remember that you (too) may be dead)

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[John_Russell_Jr]

Hehe, what if we are morbid and weird?
Isn’t that what’s considered ‘cool’ right now?
MEMENTO MORI
(Remember that you (too) may be dead)

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hehe. Maybe your right.
My argument is based on my opinion of how we can convert the world. At least do our small part.
Jesus said be as simple as the dove and as wise as the serpent.
So we have to remember the serpent is working furiously to thwart our apostolic efforts.
Wasn’t it St Paul who said I became all things to all men so as to save them.
If having a skull on the mantle piece converts people then fine. But I would think most non believers would find it strange.
I may be wrong. It’s just my opinion.

 

[kenmay]

It’s interesting, take a look at ‘classical’ art (I mean this in a broad sense).
Hamlet - always shown with a skull. Not weird.
Countless paintings also show skulls in them. Not weird.
Paintings of Christ on Golgotha? Skulls all over the place.
Buddhists are also really keen on skulls, even more so than Catholics, for mostly the same reasons, too, which is cool.

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[John_Russell_Jr]

There’s nothing wrong with having a skull for devotional purposes. The first christians used to raid the catacombs for skeleton parts. They wanted relics. The Jews collected relics from the prophets too.You can see the incorruptible head of St Catherine of Siena once a year I believe.
But in my country 85% or more of christians have gone pagan. And they are always looking for reasons to ridicule the catholics. Look at the way the media carries on over priests wearing hair shirts or whipping themselves. They portray this behaviour as sick and perverted.
I feel they would have a field day with this in the media.
I think we need to be very wise in this pagan world. I don’t think we should abandon all religious practises. But I think we need to think of the best way to win converts. We need to be as wise as the serpent.
Just my opinion.

 

[DL82]

I’m not planning to put it on the mantlepiece for all to see, nor to stand on the street preaching with it in my hand as St Francis did!

 

[Valke2]

I’d like to see some citations to the belief that Jews carried body parts of the prophets. That would be completely contrary to everything I know about Jewish rituals surrounding death.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I’d like to see some citations to the belief that Jews carried body parts of the prophets. That would be completely contrary to everything I know about Jewish rituals surrounding death.

Agreed. I think any contact with a dead body causes ritual impurity for 24-hours; one would not want to be continuously impure. This is why the priest and the Levite avoided the man in the ditch, who was rescued by the Samaritan. It is also why Jesus action in touching the bier of the widow’s son was shocking.

Also the Jews are meticulous about burying all the parts of the body. In scenes after a bombing you will see men in white vests. They carefully gather all visible parts, including blood, for burial. I think this is the idea behind Claudia giving the two Mary’s the cloths to wipe up Jesus’ blood.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

There’s nothing wrong with having a skull for devotional purposes. The first christians used to raid the catacombs for skeleton parts. They wanted relics. The Jews collected relics from the prophets too.You can see the incorruptible head of St Catherine of Siena once a year I believe.
But in my country 85% or more of christians have gone pagan. And they are always looking for reasons to ridicule the catholics. Look at the way the media carries on over priests wearing hair shirts or whipping themselves. They portray this behaviour as sick and perverted.
I feel they would have a field day with this in the media.
I think we need to be very wise in this pagan world. I don’t think we should abandon all religious practises. But I think we need to think of the best way to win converts. We need to be as wise as the serpent.
Just my opinion.

I should clarify about the jews collecting holy relics. They certainly did. There are accounts in the OT. You can read about it on this website. But they buried the dead. There was a miracle from a dead prophets body touching another man.

2 Kings Chapter 13
DOUAY-RHEIMS

The reign of Joachaz and of Joas kings of Israel. The last acts and death of Eliseus the prophet: a dead man is raised to life by the touch of his bones.

 

[Valke2]

Also the Jews are meticulous about burying all the parts of the body. In scenes after a bombing you will see men in white vests. They carefully gather all visible parts, including blood, for burial. I think this is the idea behind Claudia giving the two Mary’s the cloths to wipe up Jesus’ blood.

I don’t know that story but I do know that it is customary among observant jews to bury anything with blood with the deceased. (i.e., if there’s blood on the hospital sheets, they remain with the body for burial or perhaps [this I’m not sure of]) proper disposal.