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Genesis315
Guest
I think one reason you might see more Mary statues than Jesus statues is because we don’t need a physical representation of Him, we’ve get the Real deal every week (or day!) at Mass.
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gardenswithkids
Guest
Thank you also. As a Catholic who was also once away from the Church I hope this exchange helps you on your way back home.
And I hope one day someone passing by your house while you are out gardening asks you, “What’s up with the statue of Mary in your yard?”
God Bless.
J
johnq
Guest
ruzz
Maybe we need to take this to scripture.
John 19:
25] So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag’dalene.
26] When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
27] Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
28] After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), “I thirst.”
Notice the wording, He never said John’s name. Why did He say disciple? Who was He talking to? Who is a disciple?
*]He didn’t say his name because Jesus was referring to all of His disciples.
*]A disciple is one whom has love for one another. John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Hopefully that is all of us.
*]A disciple was not only an apostle. Acts 6:1 “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number”
My friend to reject Mary as our Mother is to reject being a disciple of Christ and a rejection of the Word of God. :bigyikes: If we cannot lovingly call Jesus’ mother our “blessed Mother,” then we do not allow Jesus to fulfill the scriptures within our hearts.
Is the New Covenant greater than the Old? Yes! It is good to call Eve the mother of all the living, (Gen 3:20) but it also good to call Adam the father of all the living. However; just like Adam being replaced by Jesus, so the same is true with Eve, " the women," being replaced by Jesus’ mother, Mary. If we do not have a new Eve then we proclaim the old covenant is greater than the new.
Rom 5:14 “Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.”
1Cor 15:22 “For as in** Adam** all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
1Cor 15:45 “Thus it is written, “The first man** Adam** became a living being”; the last** Adam** became a life-giving spirit.”
Jesus wants us to accept a new mother. Like Adam, in Eve all die, but through Mary all shall live. Why? Because she gave birth to our salvation, Jesus Christ, the one whom “all will be made alive.” We Catholics go to Mary because that is how Jesus came to us. We are obediently following Jesus’ example. Will you do the same?
What’s the benefit in seeing Jesus through the eyes of His mother? We get a better understanding of her Son because her “soul magnifies the Lord” Luke 1:46 Scripture shows us that Jesus’ mother does not dilute our Savior. It was God whom chose to exalt Mary, not Catholics.
It was God whom chose to exalt Mary, not Catholics. Ruzz, will you reject the Word of God because Jesus exalted His mother over Eve and desires us to take her as a mother “into our own home?”
BTW What better way to take her into our home then having a statue. My statue has Jesus’ mother holding her Son.
May our Mother Mary, pray for us.
God
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mrS4ntA
Guest
On contrare, Jesus honoured His mother by associating her with the name of Eve, mother of all peoples, when He called her “Woman” on several public occasions.
The sacred womb of the Blessed Virgin was the special vessel through which the Author of Grace first came into this world. Mary’s Fiat ultimately brought into the world salvation for all; Honouring so singularly magnificent a creation does not decentralise Christ from our point of view.
Again, on contrare, if your read the Gospels again carefully, you’d find Mary – mentioned by name – present in major events of Christ’s life: on His conception, on His birth, His presentation in the Temple, His disappearence at the age of twelve, His first public miracle (initiated by Mary’s request), His Passion and death: she was among the only few who stood at the foot of the Cross, at the largely male gathering after Christ’s resurrection on Pantecost (“the room upstairs”).
So see, no other person in the entire Gospels actually has this much presence in Christ’s life and ministry (for Pete’s sake, she lived with Him 30 out 33 years of His life! or won’t people accept that except the Bible explicitly says “He lived with Mary for thirty years out of His thirty-three year life”? Nothing satisfies you, people!
).
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SusanL
Guest
Thank you. That helps. I really appreciate you saying that you don’t believe that we worship Mary.
sigh
Too often, posters start off being nice and writing about their curiousity. I usually take it at face value until they start attacking us.
I appreciate you taking a step back and addressing our posts on this.
A friend tonight reminded me of what Mary said in the Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” That is a reason why we choose to include statues of her.
Again, when we see Mary—we think of Jesus.
If a child goes to his earthly mother and says that he wants to hug his Father but can’t reach him, she will lift him and carry him up to his Father so he can hug him.
That’s what Mary does to us.
And thank you. Peace be with you, too.
Sue
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ruzz
Guest
Thank you all for some great responses.
I’m sorry this thread got off track from art into discussion about Mary. I think that is a whole other thread.
Christian art and traditions are fascinating. There are so many things we do everyday and don’t know the origins.
Holidays like Christmas and Easter and art and traditions often have interesting beginnings. Christian art is so diverse from region to region.
There are many aspects of worship that fascinate me as well.
Like where did the lighting of candles come from and what does it symbolize? Stained glass? (which was answered above).
People put religious art around their homes (and other places) and it means different things to different people. Most of the answers I’ve gotten from luke warm catholics were bordering on the absurd. Folks in this forum seem to be more educated and authentic.
Thanks
.
I’m sorry this thread got off track from art into discussion about Mary. I think that is a whole other thread.
Christian art and traditions are fascinating. There are so many things we do everyday and don’t know the origins.
Holidays like Christmas and Easter and art and traditions often have interesting beginnings. Christian art is so diverse from region to region.
There are many aspects of worship that fascinate me as well.
Like where did the lighting of candles come from and what does it symbolize? Stained glass? (which was answered above).
People put religious art around their homes (and other places) and it means different things to different people. Most of the answers I’ve gotten from luke warm catholics were bordering on the absurd. Folks in this forum seem to be more educated and authentic.
Thanks
.
C
Church_Militant
Guest
Ruzz,
I’m really sorry that you have left the Church. You are missing out on some of the most beautiful Christian art in all the world. It has been around since day one of the Christian Church. The graves of the martyrs in the catacombs are adorned with images of Jesus and various saints. Also…please remember that very few people could read and that books were not really all that widespread until after the printing press was invented, less than 500 years ago. So how did the Catholic Church spread the gospel? By preaching it as had always been done and by using art to communicate the events and ideas of the Gospel message. Even today there are works of art that are rich with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and as created things they convey the faith of the artist and lift our hearts up to the Lord. Most Marian art is very very beautiful and I personally ahve my favorites and I love to gaze at them and think that Mary is probably far and away more beautiful than she is depicted and I figure such is also the case with Our Lord Himself. I believe that I’ll be surprised no matter what.
Our Marian devotion can easily be summed up in her own words at the wedding feast at Cana when she turned to the servants there and said: “Do whatever he tells you.”
Mary’s motherhood of us all is found in the book of Revelation, chapter 12, see it here: drbo.org/chapter/73012.htm We also believe that when Jesus gave her to St. John at the foot of the cross that He was also giving her to the whole church as a spiritual mother. (My own Mom has alzheimers and so I personally take great comfort in that, especially since my Mom’s name is Mary.) I have no statues…I do have a brand new Miraculous Medal around my neck because I am a Knight of the Immaculata.
There is a little old lady that lives around the corner that has sort of turned her whole fenced in front yard into a garden with a little Marian shrine with a faded but beautiful statue of Our Lady in a neat little shrine. I’ve been thinking about going and asking if I can repaint the statue, but I don’t know the lady at all and don’t wanna seem like a jerk or something.
Okay…I’ve just rambled enough.
Pax vobiscum,
M
Mickey
Guest
The candles during Pascha symbolize the resurrection of Jesus. The power of the light (Jesus) has overcome the darkness(death).
The votive candles indicate that someone is praying about something in particular, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else.
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Church_Militant
Guest
Sort of like someone puts on a light while they watch and pray…
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ruzz
Guest
I found this
catholic.com/thisrock/1991/9111cust.asp
It’s kind of interesting that the candles must be made of at least 51% beeswax.
I wonder when this custom started. Most people I know light a candle in rememberance of someone or a prayer.
What does it mean to you?
Do the candles burn down or are they extinguished each night? Simply on a fire safety level, I’d think they shouldn’t be left lit unattended.
The history of it all is very fascinating as is a lot of symbology in our everyday lives that we take for granted.
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mercygate
Guest
Detail: Wax Paschal candles and altar candles must be at least 51% beeswax, but votive candles do not. They’re just “nice” – they’re not formally liturgical, i.e., part of “official” worship.
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RobbyS
Guest
This is idolotry
Plain and simple
Anything but plain and simple. The matter was debated back in the 8th Century, after a Roman emperor was influenced by the Muslims to ban all religious icons. It caused a furor in his kingdom and between him and the west. A Church council pointed out that in the loight of the doctrine of the Incarnation, which holds that Jesus was a real person, that we worshiped a real person and to worship representations of him was quite logical.
Unlike the ancient Hebrews we know people who have seen the face of the Living God.
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Mickey
Guest
When I light a candle, it is usually to pray for family or friends. I pray that the Holy Trinity will guide and heal them. I pray that God will open their hearts to the grace that resides in their souls. I also pray that the mother of God and all the angels and saints pray for that indivdual unceasingly. I never pray for myself when I light a candle. (my wife, family and friends do enough of that for me ).
I also pray for the deceased–that their souls will be received gently and peacefully into the Kingdom of Heaven in triumphant glory to reside with Christ for all eternity.(lots of prayers for Terri Schiavo lately).The candles are encased in glass receptalces and are allowed to stay lit. As far as I know this is quite safe.
God Bless you!
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