Posted on 12/16/2008 1:42:22 PM PST by NYer
I think it derives from St. Thomas Aquinas.
I think you’re likely safe on the “blue-eyed, blonde” statement; however, “average-looking” is a conclusion based on evidence not in hand.
If I had to guess, I would guess he was above average in looks and definitely charismatic.
;)
I think they could have recognized Jesus without the kiss, by how He and those around Him interacted, but..
Do you visualize Jesus when you pray or converse with Him? I’d be interested to hear how He appears to you.
No, I didn’t have Adonis in mind, not youthful or classically handsome, certainly not muscled or “buff”. I imagine something more like someone who appears older than their age, and as for, as I said, charismatic, I mean that in terms of presence, force of character... these things come from inside.
This wouldn’t prevent Him from slipping away from crowds.
I just believe that there was somehow something different in His presence than the “ordinary.”
And you’re right, it’s not necessary to have a “correct” image, or any image at all. I’m interested that many people do and I’m interested in the history of images of Christ, Mary, the Saints.
thanks very much for your reply...
I looked at the picture. As a Catholic raised in an Irish family, there is no question whatsoever that this picture is meant to reference the Virgin Mary.
Actually I don’t think I visualize Jesus when I pray. The Jesus in my Bible came as an ordinary man to minister to ordinary men and women. If Jesus did carpentry work, he would probably have been muscular. Many paintings? of Jesus show a man that is almost feminine. The Bible does mention some other men as being handsome. I don’t remember it mentioning anything about his appearance.
The model's breast that is visible looks like a breast that has undergone a boob job - too perfectly rounded, not pear shaped like a natural woman's breasts.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00678/marymain_678935a.jpg
Well, she was Maria, and she was undoubtedly blessed. And two out of three ain’t bad.
thanks for your reply..
I’m not sure about “ordinary man”... I think we’d have to get into some theology or Christiology there. Certainly, there was something not ordinary about Christ.
But, yes, we don’t have pictures or description from scriptures. That makes the early iconography more interesting to me.
thanks very much for your posts..
Yes, the magazines apology is quite disingenuous.
Beauty is also from God.
Outward appearance is not precisely what I’m getting at, it’s the inward shining through.
And, if you look at some of the early Christ Pantocrator icons or representations of the Shroud of Turin... I wouldn’t call these “beautiful” or “handsome”, though I wouldn’t call them “ordinary” either.
And those who worship the flesh will die with it.
That’s all it ever was intended to do in the first place. Tempt the faithful to the sins of the flesh.
And it will all go away so quickly and leave them with empty souls with nowhere to go. Well without a good place to go that is......
I have a copy of it that’s much more recent, it continues to be copied throughout the centuries.
Some of the earliest remaining scripture we have dates to the third and fourth century also. Both scripture and icons are copies of copies. To me this doesn’t invalidate them.
But these icons of Jesus and Mary, and the shroud of Turin, etc., are matters for the individual and, as you say, not necessary for our faith; it may be helpful to some and not to others.
For me, my Pantocrator is a likeness of my view of Christ and a means of prayer and constant remembrance. I also have a photo of my deceased mother and she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Perhaps it is just that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
thanks again..
Precisely. And to attempt to tie it to the mother of our Lord is high blasphemy. It is a good sign I think that they feel they have to backtrack - it must be hurting their pocketbook.
thanks for your reply..
I wonder how a person that was blind at birth prays. Then again, does it even matter as long as a wrong number isn’t dialed and a connection is made to the right person?
Peace, good will towards men. ;0)
That’s a very interesting question, and I think your conclusion is right on.
I wonder how this person would “picture” light in their mind. I was just reading a collection of scripture about “divine light”. It included St. John: “We declare to you what was from the beginning... what we have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at.. and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us... This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all...”
Peace to you also...
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