Random Advent Thought
M mentioned something to me the other day and it’s quite stuck in my head now…
Why don’t we ever see pictures/icons/statues of the pregnant Mary? Seems like an ideal Advent image… Even the “pre-Christmas” pictures just tend to have her as a lump on a donkey and don’t really show her as what she was—a pregnant mother.
They are around if you know where to look… I don’t see to many images of Mary in my church at all. There is one silver icon in a conference room and someone, perhaps in anticipation of people trying to remove it, permanently stuck it to the wall. It won’t budge a fraction of a mm, but that may be just as well. I’ll see if I can find a few links for you later…
Comment by Michelle of Heavenfield — November 28, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
a lump on a donkey?
Comment by Anastasia — November 28, 2007 @ 1:50 pm
We do. The Virgin of the Sign. She hangs on my wall in my office and I once wrote such for my parish in Eugene.
Comment by Christopher — November 28, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Well, yeah, Anastasia–most of the “on the way to Bethlehem” pictures I can think of have Joseph walking and Mary on a donkey but not recognizable pregnant. Hardly an image of the mater dei in the midst of mater-ing…
Comment by Derek the Ænglican — November 28, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I seem to recall reading something about pregnant Mary statues in middle ages…have no reference for this though.
Comment by LP — November 28, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
That’s exactly why I really enjoy this stole (if I ever make it from postulant to priest…
http://www.inspirita.net/Advent.htm
Comment by Mrs. M — November 29, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Years ago a friend of mine wanted to buy a statue of Mary pregnant and I still remember vividly the scandalized reaction from the women at the Catholic book store we went to . They were horrified at the suggestion - I didn’t understand why then and still don’t now.
The closest thing I’ve ever seen is a “Platytera” icon, but even that isn’t really close.
It’s a rather strange lacuna, isn’t it.
Comment by thomas — November 29, 2007 @ 7:49 am
That’s a neat stole, Mrs. M…
Yes, thomas, I’m amazed at the reticence in this area and I’m really not sure what’s behind it. It seems rather docetic…
Comment by Derek the Ænglican — November 30, 2007 @ 1:49 pm
Well, here is a statue
http://www.creatormundi.com/SPD/Our-Lady-of-Advent-(without-halo)-beth1556–B70000-1122847994.jsp
Rather pricey…
Comment by Michelle of Heavenfield — November 30, 2007 @ 4:42 pm