Thursday, May 27, 2010

Is this Our Lady? Please leave a comment…

This is a picture of the statue of "Our Lady of the Angels," at the new Cathedral in Los Angeles.

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This is what one lady wrote:

Oh, come on! The artist did a great job with the image of Our Lady. It could be a very young image of her. I took a close look and the image is beautiful. She appears to people in different ways with different clothes and different faces. Who are we to judge how this artist sees her? Not very Christian in my point of view. I think it is a beautiful image, may not be how I imagine her but I would not put down this work of art just because my idea differs from this artist’s idea.

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Do you agree?

Please leave a comment.

11 comments:

  1. I don't have a problem with her race, nor her youth. I have a problem with the way she is dressed. It is modest, but it looks strange and artificial. Do women in some African cultures dress that way? Why? Since it looks so impractical, my only guess would be that is is how high-class women dress who never have to work. Perhaps the sculptor should have used a style of dress that doesn't require an explanation. It also bothers me that she is bare-headed. If high ranking women in whatever African culture is depicted never wear a veil or mantle (or turban) perhaps she should be wearing a crown?

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  2. Because of the angle it is hard to tell if she has a pony tail or short hair. Either one seems too modern for Our Lady's time. Also, her bare arms seem out of place. I see Mary, like most of the representations of women of her time, as covered more than this young woman - head and arms. So, no, I don't think of Our Lady when I look at this statue.

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  3. Well, as for me, if this image of "Our Lady" were in any place other than a church or church grounds, I really would not be reminded of her and would not believe it was a representation of her. And if the image were IN a church, it seems to me that it would not inspire me, move me to prayerful thoughts, nor, more importantly to pray before this image, especially the Rosary. Also it is very colourless; but if I were hardpressed, I would truly attempt to pray before her, but would not feel the same as, for instance, praying before Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lourdes, etc.. She does look very young, but not even maternal; so in conclusion, to me that image is not the Blessed Virgin Maria at all. Thanks for listening! RosaMaria

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  4. This is how all this nonsense starts give in a little to new Ideas or new looks! and it destroys the purity of our Lady and over time people become immune whats is in good taste! and this is not one of them!!!!!! For museum art fine but not our Lady. First she would never show her arms! and never show such a long neck! or short hair! like a man. lets keep what is appropriate and indicative of our lady! Modesty & Grace.

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  5. In my personal opinion, it will be proper and necesary to cover her arms so she could be called Virgin Mary.

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  6. I forgot to mentioned in my previous comment that her head shoul also be covered. We cannot forget that she is PURE. A "pure" woman or person in that time will never be allowed in public to wear that kind of clothing.

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  7. In every image of Our Lady I've ever seen, she is always covered head to toe, dressed modestly and drawing the focus to her face. This statue is so different from any other image of her I've ever seen. Just my opinion though.

    Amy

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  8. Mrs. Julie TomlinsonMay 28, 2010 at 12:38 PM

    This is not an image of Our Lady! I would never kneel before it!Our Lady has appeared many times and never immodestly dressed!

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  9. In my opinion the Blessed Mother has appeared to people throughout history. Later on when statues were made of her, under the direction of these holy seers, as in these apparitions she had a veil and her arms were covered to the wrists. And let us not forget that she gave Bl. Mariana in Quito directions on how to make a statue of herself, Our Lady of Good Success as she is know to us.

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  10. The statue looks like a scary corpse with an adam's apple. Although, artists have different visions of everything, it takes a special gift to capture an essence of a person as well as abilities to move one's heart. Obviously, this artist and the person who allowed this choice lacked the intuition to realize this. It's hideous and a waste of money.

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