Sacred Heart statue question

[hmmog]

I just bought a Sacred Heart statue at a garage sale, and noticed that the middle fingers of Jesus’ hands are extended. One finger is pointing up and the other is pointing at His heart.
Is this traditional or is it blasphemous? It appears to be a handcarved statue.

Thanks

 

[scottywolf777]

I just bought a Sacred Heart statue at a garage sale, and noticed that the middle fingers of Jesus’ hands are extended. One finger is pointing up and the other is pointing at His heart.
Is this traditional or is it blasphemous? It appears to be a handcarved statue.

Thanks

Actually it sounds pretty traditional to me. When Jesus first revealed the devotion he showed St Margaret Mary his heart stating," behold this heart which has so loved mankind and which recieves outrages in return" or something to that effect.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I just bought a Sacred Heart statue at a garage sale, and noticed that the middle fingers of Jesus’ hands are extended. One finger is pointing up and the other is pointing at His heart.
Is this traditional or is it blasphemous? It appears to be a handcarved statue.

Thanks

Sounds like the one we have in our church. Why would it be blasphemous?

 

[LilyM]

Sounds like the one we have in our church. Why would it be blasphemous?

I suppose it might look a bit like the ‘two fingers up’ sign, but if one of the fingers is clearly pointing TO His heart rather than upwards, then I strongly doubt it will be taken for that.

 

[Holly3278]

It doesn’t sound blasphemous at all to me.

 

[hmmog]

I guess I was concerned because it is Jesus’ middle finger that is extended so it looks like he is “shooting the bird” at someone (isn’t that what it is called??)…making an offensive gesture. Are you following me?
I feel so silly about this now, but it just struck me. It may be that since it is a handcarved piece it stands out more.
I also was interested if the middle finger had any significance. Most people point with their index finger, not the middle one.
Okay, maybe I am reading into things or making an issue where there is none. Thank you for everyone’s help.

 

[scottywolf777]

I guess I was concerned because it is Jesus’ middle finger that is extended so it looks like he is “shooting the bird” at someone (isn’t that what it is called??)…making an offensive gesture. Are you following me?
I feel so silly about this now, but it just struck me. It may be that since it is a handcarved piece it stands out more.
I also was interested if the middle finger had any significance. Most people point with their index finger, not the middle one.
Okay, maybe I am reading into things or making an issue where there is none. Thank you for everyone’s help.

I have a statue of Blessed Margaret of Costello ( patron saint of the disabled) that’s in hand carved wood where originally she had two fingers pointing up and the one finger is broken off now that a friend gave me. After reading Margaret’s life she would have every reason to give the world the finger so it makes me laugh when I think about it. It maybe that there was another finger there that broke off and he was using a pointing gesture. I wouldn’t really worry about it. I also have a statue of St Joseph from a parish garage sale where baby Jesus has been decapitated but I just ignore that fact knowing that Jesus has a head.
The 3 fingers up represent the trinity and are a sign of blessing. If there are or were 2 it represents the fact that Jesus is truely God and truely man- 2 natures in one being and is also used as a blessing gesture.