Dilemma with Sacred Heart Image

[mass4life]

A wealthy benefactor in our diocese has graciously spent thousands of his own money framing large images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to be given away for free to anyone wanting them. The image is from chest up of Jesus, pointing to his Sacred Heart.

Our problem is that we really don’t like the picture of Jesus, he looks very feminine, like the Blessed Mother with a beard. Would it be wrong to take this blessed sacramental, and cut the image of the Sacred Heart out of it, and frame it seperately, since it’s the Sacred Heart that makes the image holy?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[St.Curious]

Two points:

1. If you are going to say that the painting is itself holy, then you couldn’t say only the likeness of the sacred heart is holy. The very likeness of Jesus Christ is as holy as his heart.
2. It’s only art. Unless it’s been blessed I don’t see a problem with you doing whatever you want with it as long as it is out of the deepest respect to God and his only beloved son.

 

[backhome]

mass4life:

A wealthy benefactor in our diocese has graciously spent thousands of his own money framing large images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to be given away for free to anyone wanting them.

So the pictures have already been framed?

Here’s my two cents…only those who want the picture are going to take it…basically, only those who like the picture.

Also, if this generous man has already spent his money to frame them, I wouldn’t undo his gift.

If someone takes the picture and choses to alter it, that’s their decision but I would be concerned about the old looking a gift horse in the mouth kind of thing. You may hurt this man in someway as his intentions are generous and rather beautiful - wanting to spread devotion to Our Lord’s Sacred Heart.

I assume Jesus is painted this way to portray His innocence and gentleness, not his femininity.

God bless.

 

[Fergal]

In our home we have a picture of the Sacred Heart hanging in the living room. It is a picture of only the Heart and it has received many comments, people wondering where we got it etc…

Yup. It is the heart that matters. I see no problem with it.

 

[puzzleannie]

I don’t see the problem. If they are to give away to anyone who wants one, surely no one will take it if they don’t like the image, which is purely a matter of personal preference as long as there is nothing inherently wrong with it. Personally I do not care for one of the more popular Divine Mercy images because the face seems effeminate to me, but there is one available that to me looks more like the face of Christ as compared to the Shroud, so if I buy one, that is the one I will get.

 

[desire_the_end]

I hope no one is offended by my laughing. Feminine? He must look like he has makeup on if you’re this concerned. All this is better than Jesus being portrayed as an ogre.

 

[baltobetsy]

Do I understand correctly that you have received one of these images? If so, and you don’t like it, why not pass it along to someone who does? Then you can obtain an image of the Sacred Heart that does appeal to you, and a perfectly good framed, blessed picture will not go to waste.

Betsy

 

[mass4life]

I had not seen the images before getting one. My priest went to a few pains to get it for me. If I had seen one previously, I would have said no thanks. It looks as if Jesus is wearing make-up, mascara, lipstick. His eyes look womanly. I just prefer a more masculine Jesus, as I am sure He was.

 

[backhome]

Oh, now I get it!

Somehow when I first read “We don’t really like the…” I took that to mean there was a group of parishoners/people…not you/your family (duh!). So, my advice was pretty useless…sorry!

I like Betsy’s advice. I would have a very hard time cutting a part of Jesus out, especially His face…not matter what it looked like.

Or, if you felt comfortable enough, return it to the priest and honestly tell him that you appreciate and realize that he went out of his way to obtain the picture for you but something about the way Jesus is portrayed is bothersome. Tell him you’d like to return it so he can give it to someone who would better appreciate it. I don’t know if I could do that but it’s another option to consider.