Mary Statues

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ruzz:
We just don’t know what Jesus or Mary looked like. /QUOTE]

But we do…the shroud depicts His face pretty clearly. 👍
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ruzz:
So which image looks like Jesus?
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My point is that it doesn’t matter if any of them actually looked like Jesus. Do any of them make you think of Jesus? THAT’s the point. to inspire you, to make you think of God. I went into a Church once and the body on the crucifix was a black man. After my initial chuckle, and thoughts about the relevance I began praying, it doesn’t matter what the person looks like, I know it represents Jesus. If I saw a fat bald man on the crucifix, I’d know who it was, although I may be offended by the appearance, I’d quickly get over it because the art is not the point. God is the point, and any art which helps you contemplate on God is useful.
 
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MooCowSteph:
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ruzz:
We just don’t know what Jesus or Mary looked like. /QUOTE]

But we do…the shroud depicts His face pretty clearly. 👍
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Yes I wanted to say the same. Also the tulma that St. Juan Diego gave to the bishop of Mexico in 1531 is believed to be an exact or a photograph if you will of Our Lady and is considered a very accurate picture of herself.
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ruzz:
I think there is a great danger in religious art to be a distraction from what is in our hearts. It’s very easy to think of Jesus in modern day Western images rather then his spirit which lives inside us and our minds. He (and Mary) was not described for a reason I think.
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You have to remember that Jesus was a man, that is one of his natures. When we see him in heaven, we will see him as a man, not purely spirit.
 
Ruzz - not all Catholics have statues of Mary or any other saints outside their homes. However, to object to an artist’s rendition of anything because one does not know exactly what the person looked like is silly. Yes, there was a great deal of controversy over the images of the Blessed Virgin done in Elephant Dung several years ago; however, some of us felt that, if by using something as base as excrement an artist could inspire one to think of the Mother of God then it simply showed the incredible power of art. In other words, who’d of thunk it?

People have always used art - natural or otherwise - to help them focus their thoughts and prayers. I often find myself looking at something in my Lord’s creation as a way to help me focus my thoughts and prayers.

When I see a statue of a Catholic saint outside someone’s home I am always impressed by two things - first, their love for their the Lord’s mother, the first and most perfect Christian without whom my salvation would not be possible and second, their courage for proclaiming to a world that hates Christians and especially hates Catholic Christians their religious affiliation.

I am humbled by their faith, their trust and their courage.

🙂
 
I really tried not to post in this thread, but I guess it was inevitable.

The statue of the foster father of Jesus in front of our house is there to be a thorn in the side of those who have forgotten God.
If someone is invited to a party in the summer and is in my back yard, the statue of His mother is there to make sure anyone around knows exactly where I stand, and to be a thorn reminding people there is a God, Who came to earth, among men, born as a man, in a family… and that they should pray.

Otherwise, if they make it past the front door… well, the kids finally told me all their friends think our house is a shrine.
Of course, they likewise can’t miss the very large print by a Protestant in my living room either. Can’t say the depiction of Jesus washing an adult man’s feet in the den takes away from what, God-willing, may be stirred up in anyone of any age. Namely, a response in love and good works.
That’s in the Bible.

And it’s efficient, too.
 
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ruzz:
I see a lot of people in my neighborhood have Mary statues in front of their houses. She appears to be very similar in each one, blue background arch with her arms outstretched.

What is the significance of these?

Why not a Jesus statue instead?
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At one time people planted Mary Gardens, the placing of a statue of Mary is a remnant of this. Some people still plant Mary gardens.

Here is some good information about Mary gardens.

kensmen.com/catholic/marygardens.html
 
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gelsbern:
At one time people planted Mary Gardens, the placing of a statue of Mary is a remnant of this. Some people still plant Mary gardens.

Here is some good information about Mary gardens.

kensmen.com/catholic/marygardens.html
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Thank you Gelsbern, I never knew this and I am planning for my first garden this spring I bookmarked the site and will diffently use it.👍
 
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LSK:
People have always used art - natural or otherwise - to help them focus their thoughts and prayers. I often find myself looking at something in my Lord’s creation as a way to help me focus my thoughts and prayers.
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It is hard to look at the Grand Canyon and not think of God’s creation and marvel in Him.
When I see a statue of a Catholic saint outside someone’s home I am always impressed by two things - first, their love for their the Lord’s mother, the first and most perfect Christian without whom my salvation would not be possible and second, their courage for proclaiming to a world that hates Christians and especially hates Catholic Christians their religious affiliation.

I am humbled by their faith, their trust and their courage.

🙂
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I see someone who is proud of Mary. That’s cool. But why not be proud of CHRIST FIRST? Wouldn’t it be a better declaration of their love of Jesus to have a representation of Christ in the front yard for the world to see how much they love Jesus, their Lord and Savior who died for the sins of all mankind. That would be a better message.

Who are they more proud of and love more? Mary or Jesus?

You see, this is where Protestants get confused and think Catholics worship Mary. This is what they see. By displaying a representation of Mary, the sterotype is reinforced.

Christ is the center of our faith and we should demonstrate this.
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ruzz:
But why not be proud of CHRIST FIRST? Wouldn’t it be a better declaration of their love of Jesus to have a representation of Christ in the front yard for the world to see how much they love Jesus, their Lord and Savior who died for the sins of all mankind.
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Maybe it help you understand Mary statues if you opened yourself to the possibility that Jesus is represented within her womb. A pregnant mother never goes anywhere without her child.

Jesus our Lord and Savior also loved us enough to take on human flesh, and He didn’t just pop out of nowhere–He popped out of Mary’s womb. When Catholics honor Mary, we honor the Incarnation. That is how our Lord and Savior came to us. Mother and Child go together.
 
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ruzz:
It is hard to look at the Grand Canyon and not think of God’s creation and marvel in Him.

I see someone who is proud of Mary. That’s cool. But why not be proud of CHRIST FIRST? Wouldn’t it be a better declaration of their love of Jesus to have a representation of Christ in the front yard for the world to see how much they love Jesus, their Lord and Savior who died for the sins of all mankind. That would be a better message.

Who are they more proud of and love more? Mary or Jesus?

You see, this is where Protestants get confused and think Catholics worship Mary. This is what they see. By displaying a representation of Mary, the stereotype is reinforced.

Christ is the center of our faith and we should demonstrate this.
.
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But it is a Protestant stereotype not a Catholic one. Why should Catholics be ashamed of what they believe to satisfy the ignorance of Protestants?

You know, a good many Protestants would never put a statue of Jesus in their front yard–not even a cross. They will put statues of the Holy Family at Christmas in which Mary is shown as prayerful and Joseph as supportive and Jesus safely tucked away in a manger where he can hardly be seen. But God forbid any of these holy persons be shown standing up for God in all their glory.

And we have explained why people generally put a statue of one of the Saints in their yard. It is not a matter of choosing Mary over Jesus. When we see Mary we see Jesus, too. Instead of castigating Catholics for that, Protestants ought to be asking themselves why they don’t.

Now, you tell me why is it wrong to demonstrate to the world what we Catholics believe?
 
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ruzz:
Christ is the center of our faith and we should demonstrate this.
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Because someone honors Mary, does not mean they neglect Jesus. Mary always points to her son. The focus of the hail, Mary prayer says: Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Mary, Joseph, and all the angels and saints are one big family centered around our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ–that is what the protestants don’t understand about Catholics. We worship the Holy Trinity and we honor those who lived blessed and Holy lives as living witnesses to the power and Glory of Christ.

Christos Anesti!
Alithos Anesti!

:blessyou:
 
i really have to start drawing again…all this talk of Jesus and Mary and statues and art is making my hands itch!!!

but that’ll mean less time on CA Forums…😦
 
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gardenswithkids:
Maybe it help you understand Mary statues if you opened yourself to the possibility that Jesus is represented within her womb. A pregnant mother never goes anywhere without her child.

Jesus our Lord and Savior also loved us enough to take on human flesh, and He didn’t just pop out of nowhere–He popped out of Mary’s womb. When Catholics honor Mary, we honor the Incarnation. That is how our Lord and Savior came to us. Mother and Child go together.
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I’m sorry, but the Mary statues I’ve seen do not depict a pregnant Mary. Her arms are outstretched and she looks quite un-preg. If she were pregnant, I could see your point.

http://www.stmaryswatchung.org/images/Mary_Statue.gif

I mean no disrespect, but this doesn’t really make sense to me.

My mother gave birth to me. I didn’t come out of thin air.

However, my wife doesn’t keep a photo of my mother in her wallet to remind her of ME. She keeps a photo of ME to remind her of ME. She loves my mom, but it is ME who she is married to.

If Christ is the center and the point of Christianity, why NOT honor HIM and have a statue of CHRIST to remind us of Christ? Isn’t a Mary statue kind of indirect and not Christ centered?

.
 
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ruzz:
I’m sorry, but the Mary statues I’ve seen do not depict a pregnant Mary. Her arms are outstretched and she looks quite un-preg. If she were pregnant, I could see your point.
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And you know what a woman who has just become pregnant would look like? What a typical male answer! :whacky: Besides, Mary wasn’t pregnant the whole of her earthly life, so why shouldn’t she be depicted as not pregnant?
I mean no disrespect, but this doesn’t really make sense to me.
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My mother gave birth to me. I didn’t come out of thin air.
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However, my wife doesn’t keep a photo of my mother in her wallet to remind her of ME. She keeps a photo of ME to remind her of ME. She loves my mom, but it is ME who she is married to.
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Mary is not only Jesus’ mother but the mother of all Christians, that’s why we keep pictures and statues of her.
If Christ is the center and the point of Christianity, why NOT honor HIM and have a statue of CHRIST to remind us of Christ? Isn’t a Mary statue kind of indirect and not Christ centered?
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Many people do have statues of Jesus. And no, a statue of Mary isn’t an “indirect” way of honoring Christ. It is one of the most biblical ways to honor him by honoring Mary who was essential to the Incarnation. Wanting to have Christ and not his Mother says more about Protestant minimalism than it does about Catholic devotion.

JFYI, Mel Gibson traveled around to many Protestant churches to show his film, The Passion of the Christ, to Protestant ministers. Nearly all of them said they were most struck by the portrayal of Mary. They hadn’t really thought about how much she was involved in the life of her Son and his disciples. They said it made them think about that more and how Protestantism doesn’t honor Mary enough. And they are right about that.

We Catholics don’t worship Mary. We have meditated on her role in salvation history for 2000 years while Protestants have been trying to eliminate her from their lives for nearly 500 years. It’s no wonder Protestants can’t understand Catholic devotion when they have little to no love for her.
 
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