Michaelangelo's Pieta

[sallyq]

My non-Catholic friend says she can find no biblical refrence to the Pieta. However a very old station of the cross in one of our local churches, says, in German, “and they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in His Mother’s arms.” What should be my reply to her?

 

[crazzeto]

My non-Catholic friend says she can find no biblical refrence to the Pieta. However a very old station of the cross in one of our local churches, says, in German, “and they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in His Mother’s arms.” What should be my reply to her?

If by this he means the bible doesn’t directly state this happend, then technically he’s right on that account. However here’s some food for thought:

drbo.org/chapter/50021.htm

25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.

drbo.org/chapter/50020.htm

30 Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=61&ch=3&l=15&f=s#x

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

drbo.org/cgi-bin/d?b=drb&bk=60&ch=2&l=14&f=s#x

Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

drbo.org/chapter/59002.htm

Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who worketh in you that have believed.

And if he doesn’t get the point, ask him if he believes in the trinity.

 

[Church_Militant]

They’re wrong.
[bibledrb]Matthew 27:50-61[/bibledrb]
[bibledrb]Mark 15:37-47[/bibledrb]
[bibledrb]Luke 23: 49-56[/bibledrb]
[bibledrb]John 19:39-42[/bibledrb]

 

[juliamajor]

My non-Catholic friend says she can find no biblical refrence to the Pieta. However a very old station of the cross in one of our local churches, says, in German, “and they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in His Mother’s arms.” What should be my reply to her?

“Pieta” is a profoundly beautiful work of art .Who cares if it isn’t in scripture.If you’ve seen it up close it has the power to move the most hardened soul.That is inspiration.

 

[Joe_5859]

You don’t see Jesus laughing in Scripture either.



Nor do you find in Scripture Jesus holding a guy in jeans and a t-shirt.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[crazzeto]

They’re wrong.
[bibledrb]Matthew 27:50-61[/bibledrb]
[bibledrb]Mark 15:37-47[/bibledrb]
[bibledrb]Luke 23: 49-56[/bibledrb]
[bibledrb]John 19:39-42[/bibledrb]

I beleive what he’s discussing is Mary actually holding the body of Christ after it was taken down from the cross. That isn’t in scripture per-se, but trying to make an argument against the Catholic church on that basis is frankly, reaching too far.

 

[patrick457]

My non-Catholic friend says she can find no biblical refrence to the Pieta. However a very old station of the cross in one of our local churches, says, in German, “and they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in His Mother’s arms.” What should be my reply to her?

The other posters already provided good answers, and I could nothing but condense it all here:

So what if it isn’t directly in Scripture - or for that matter, if it did not happen historically? Does every depiction and work of art we make of Jesus need to be Biblically attested? If so, we shouldn’t depict Jesus AT ALL since the Bible nowhere describes how He looked like or what the color of His clothes were. We shouldn’t even depict Jesus’ cross since we do not know exactly how it looked like - and the Bible doesn’t really give the specifics! It could have been a Latin cross or it could have been a Tau cross. The vertical post could have been a roughly-hewn log or it could have been a tree. Heck, we don’t even know how tall it was since we ‘can find no biblical reference’ for its size!
As Joe pointed out, there are a number of paintings showing Jesus which are not attested in the Bible, yet they are popular in some Christian circles. Does that mean we need to chuck them all out?

As mentioned, trying to say something like the Catholic Church is wrong for making artworks which are not directly found in Scripture is frankly too much. No one says Pastor John is doctrinally wrong just for hanging a picture of the ‘non-Biblical’ laughing Jesus in his office.

 

[StrawberryJam]

My non-Catholic friend says she can find no biblical refrence to the Pieta. However a very old station of the cross in one of our local churches, says, in German, “and they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in His Mother’s arms.” What should be my reply to her?

You could ask her if she believes that every single word Jesus spoke was recorded, or that every step and word and action of his Passion was recorded. And, you could do what I would do- Ignore her silly demands.