I regret to inform you that a Mother’s Day program by singer Ellen Cherry at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore is called “The Virgin Mary and Other Migrant Mothers!”
According to the website of the Walters Art Gallery:
During the performance, Cherry will highlight both the Virgin Mary and Dorothea Lange's iconic photograph "Migrant Mother" through her songs, "Maryanne" and "1933: To California".
How disrespectful and vulgar to refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, as a migrant mother!
To send a polite yet firm protest to the Walters Art Gallery, please use this contact information:
Email: info@thewalters.org
Director's Office
Gary Vikan, Director
Cynthia Roberts, Executive Assistant
410-547-9000, Ext. 601
croberts@thewalters.org
This is ridiculous. "The Virgin Mary and Other Migrant Mothers" is a great title and there is nothing vulgar about it. I suppose you're argument is that she was not migrating but was going to be counted in the Roman census. Except, Rome never had a December census in recorded history. Either she was not going for the census, or, as is likely, Jesus was born in April. BUt that's beside the point. Ellen Cherry should be applauded. I seriously doubt that the mother of the man who said it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle would mind being called a migrant. Oh... but you are concerned, primarily, with protecting property, it seems. Give up all you have and be poor. Go and hang out with the lepers. Then worry about the titles of artist's performances.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the website didn't say Cherry was highlighting the Virgin Mary AS Dorothea Lange's iconic "Migrant Mother". Also pretty sure the Blessed Virgin Mary would be pleased with women creating visual and lyrical art.
ReplyDeleteRobert, you are missing out on a wonderful ministry opportunity!
ReplyDeleteFirst, the facts. What is blasphemous about referring to Mary as a "migrant"? She did travel from one region to another and was not welcome when she arrived in Bethlehem, much as many migrants throughout history.
The Apostle Peter writes that as Christ followers we are aliens in a foreign land. We are migrants passing through this world until we reach our heavenly home.
Is the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, any less of a migrant in this foreign land? She is probably the lead migrant with many followers in Christ's church on a journey through this foreign land to our eternal heavenly home.
The Virgin Mary was the epitome of humility. In some ways, you are showing disrespect for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, by vehemently denying her humility.
The Migrant Mother is about widows and orphans of whom Christ followers are commanded to protect. Is that not also a primary purpose of prayers to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God?
Finally, your un-Christlike pridefulness and boastfulness both denies Mary's humble nature and places an obstacle in the way of lost sheep coming into Christ's flock. If you listen to ellen cherry's song Maryanne, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXYDMQyuovs, you would realize that it is a song of prayer crying out to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, full of grace, to help someone lost find her way back home.
Please, don't waste this opportunity you have to show grace and mercy instead of pridefulness and boastfulness and lead some of Jesus' lost sheep back to His flock.
What the museum is doing as represented by the title of the exhibition is reducing the exceptional to the common. This is a common psychological gimmick used in business when to sell a product of lesser quality. (if you don't believe me I can supply references to read).
ReplyDeleteIn this case, it is vulgar - as defined by in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. The first four definitions apply, in that it takes something and makes it common. After that, you can see how defintion 5 applies, since IT IS HIGHLY OFFENSIVE to reduce the Blessed Mother to a common migrant since she was much more than that. It represents a denial of the transcendant -- that the common can be more than the ordinary.
The Blessed Mother was exceptional not because she was poor or migrant. Yes, being poor and migrant offers many crosses to bear but it is the acceptance and bearing of those crosses that make the difference. It was the virtue she possessed and her unity of spirit with God.
If that is what the museum wants to present, they should say so. As former members of the Walters Art Gallery and frequent visitors we have seen a diminishing of the Catholicism in art and are very disappointed in this director. Catholicism is treated as just another religion, hence Mary is just another migrant.
Our Lord Jesus Christ loves His Mother much more than we ever could our own mothers, and will severely punish those who attack Her holiness and purity. Read the story of the man who went into a church in Brazil and destroyed two statues, one of Our Lord and Our Lady of Fatima. He died of a heart attack within minutes of his capture by angry citizens. How dare they call Her a "migrant mother," with the purpose of lowering Her esteem in the eyes of mankind. She who is the Queen of Heaven and possesses great power given to Her by God Himself. She who is Daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son, and Spouse of God the Holy Ghost! They dare to do this evil towards the Mother of God because they do not know Her, the miracles that come from Her Hands to poor humankind. May God have mercy on them all. I will post this comment as anonymous because I don't know what the URL is, but my name is Kathy McKinley
ReplyDeleteIn response to Jim Baker's comment. "The Virgin Mary was the epitome of humility"
ReplyDeleteMary in Her humility recognize the honor and glory to which She was being elevated not because of Her own merit, but because of the will of He Who lifted Her up of Her lowliness.
If it was pleasing to God to elevate the Holy Virgin Mary to the greatest honor possible to a creature. It is only an act of justice on our part to treat Her with the honor and respect that corresponds to the title that God Himself has given to Her, "The Holy Mother of God," no more, no less.
If we insist on referring to Her in such disrespectful manner we are committing an act of injustice to the glory of Her dignity