Mother of Us All – A Brief Pondering of the Question, “What does Mary look like?” (Catholic Caucus)

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | December 7, 2011 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[NYer]

You can also ask Roy Schoeman; he met her.

[ottbmare]

I dunno, I’d bet my next house payment that she didn’t look Korean.

She was a Middle-Eastern Jewish girl. They can be very beautiful. And she looked exactly like a feminine version of her Son, since He got all His human DNA from her.

[Mad Dawg]

Thank you. And thanks to Msgr Pope.

She looks like you AND she is far more beautiful than you could ever imagine, because God means YOU to be far more beautiful than you could ever imagine.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

[Tax-chick]

And she looked exactly like a feminine version of her Son, since He got all His human DNA from her.

Not necessarily. Although Jesus got all his human DNA from Mary, every human being carries genetic material that is not physically expressed in that person. Jesus could have had features more like his grandfather's than his mother's, or more like his great-grandmother's.

Given the endogamous nature of their society, there might not have been a great deal of possible variation - blue eyes and blond hair not likely! - but there would be some, even without the additional genetic material of a human father.

[Salvation]

 

[Salvation]

The origins of devotion to Our Lady, under the invocation Help of Christians dates back to 1571.

In that crucial year, Christians and Turks met in the largest naval battle ever. The great Pope Saint Pius V had labored for years to get the Catholic League together and in fighting shape.

On October 7, 1571, 210 Catholic ships, mostly Spanish and Venetians, opposed 290 Turkish ships. The Catholics won a spectacular victory under the leadership of the Spanish Prince Juan of Austria.

[Tax-chick]

Ah, yes ... the pale version of La Virgen Morenita ;-).

I have choir practice tomorrow morning for our Sunday Guadalupe celebration. One of my favorite things about the Spanish congregation is that we can bring out our Marian songs any time, and everyone is happy, but we have a special selection of Mexican favorites for Guadalupe.

[ottbmare]

Good point.

[Salvation]

Painting of Our Lady of All Nations

[Tax-chick]

I can’t help being tiresomely pedantic ...

[Salvation]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Lady of America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Lady of America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Lady of America

[Salvation]

If you can't see the pick, please click on the centered link.

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Czestochowa

Saint Luke the Evangelist, according to tradition, is believed to be the original artist of this painting in which Mary is depicted holding the Christ Child. This sacred picture, enshrined and venerated at the renowned Marian Shrine in Poland, was first brought from Jerusalem through Constantinople and was bestowed to the Princess of Ruthenia. It was brought to Poland in 1382 through the efforts of Ladislaus of Opole who had discovered it in a castle at Belz. To ensure its protection, he invited the Monks of Saint Paul the First Hermit from Hungary to be its guardians.

From this time onward, the historic records of the painting are documented and authenticated by the miracles associated with the painting. In 1430, a devastating attack on the Polish Shrine resulted in tragic losses and the damaging of the holy picture. To this very day, despite the attempts to repair the damage, the slashes on the face of the Virgin Mary are still visible.

[ottbmare]

No, you’re right, and I’m glad you brought it up.

[cloudmountain]

The Virgin of Guadalupe cape shows Mary's face quite clearly. It was, apparently, how God wanted her face manifested to the Mexicans.
Juan Diego's cape still exists and still has its vibrant colors. There have been, however, zillions of photographs of that cape and Our Blessed Mother's face.

Is it how Mary REALLY looked 2000 years ago? Apparently it either IS or it DOESN'T matter since we all get to see her differently.

[cloudmountain]

The Shroud of Turin shows the face of Our Lord. The coloring can't show but His face, beard, head, hands, feet, wounds...all there.

Mary's features are in there somewhere.

[Salvation]

Perhaps this has been touched up too.