Mary, Mary and Salome...The Women!

Annibale Carracci, 1590

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid."  Mark 16: 1-8

Oh my goodness, can you even imagine??

To All who rejoice in the empty tomb, 

Happy Easter!

The Pieta

Michelangelo carved 'The Pieta' when he was just 24 years old, and it is the only piece of sculpture he ever signed. The sheer beauty of its lines and expression leaves a lasting impression on everyone. Hopefully, one day, I too, will see this masterpiece in person!

With this magnificent sculpture, Michelangelo has given us a highly spiritual view of human suffering. Artists before and after Michelangelo always depicted, his mother, Mary, with the dead Jesus in her arms as grief stricken, almost on the verge of desperation. (And really, who can blame her, or the artists, for depicting Mary in such a state after what she just witnessed).  Michelangelo, on the other hand, created a highly supernatural feel.

As Mary holds her sons' lifeless body on her lap, her face glows with sweetness, serenity and majestic acceptance of immense sorrow, combined with her faith in the Redeemer. It seems almost as if Jesus is about to reawaken from a tranquil sleep, and that after so much excruciating suffering, the rose of resurrection is about to bloom!

Happy Easter to All who celebrate!

Doubting Thomas..

'Doubting Thomas'
oil on canvas, 1602-1603
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1573-1610

''But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said unto them, 'Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.' And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace be unto you.' Then saith he to Thomas, 'Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said unto him, 'My Lord and my God.' Jesus saith unto him, 'Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.''

John 20:24-29

Happy Easter...to All who believe!!!

He is Risen!

'Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!'

'Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated, where Jesus body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she said, 'and I don't know where they have put Him.' At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 'Woman,' he said, 'why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?' Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.' Jesus said to her 'Mary.' She turned to him and cried out in Hebrew, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said, 'Do not hold onto me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: 'I have seen the Lord!' And she told them that He had said these things to her.'

John:20:1-2, 10-18

Happy Easter!

Painting by Correggio, 1518

Merry Christmas

'Following a star in the sky,

the Wise Men found Jesus,
and when they were come into the house,
they saw the child with Mary, His mother,
and fell down, and worshipped Him.'

Matthew 2:11