Pietà Power: Mary Holding God in Her Arms
via CurlyNikki.com
“Jesus does not demand great actions, but simply surrender and gratitude. He has no need of our works but only of our love. It is He who carries us, but He allows Himself to be carried by us.” -St. Thérèse of Lisieux
“What we love, we carry. Love itself bears us up, and in turn, we bear Love in our hearts.” -St. Bernard of Clairvaux
My favorite images of Mother Mary are of her holding Jesus in her arms- the infant Jesus Christ of Nazareth, but also like in the famous Pietà statue. The first time I was going to be in Rome for more than 24 hours was 2 years ago. I usually fly in to Italy through Rome, and head straight to Assisi (my home!). This time, my car trip (Assisi is 2 hours away) was scheduled the next day from my flight, so I was going to spend the day exploring the Vatican. I had done ZERO prep. No research. No idea. Didn’t even know the Vatican was a whole country/City-State, not just the name of a building. Yikes.
I walked to Vatican the day after Christmas, and it was a ghost town. I snapped the pic above because I thought it was stunning… arresting. I didn’t know the very famous artist (!!!), or history behind it. There was no line of people near it or others taking pictures and it was surrounded by other magnificent art… I just took the picture and walked down to the catacombs.
I moved on with my life, and on to Assisi, and back home to the States. About 3 months later while watching a random documentary (basically the only content I’ll still consume- God docus lol), and there it was! That same statue! I immediately grabbed my phone and went back through my pictures. I couldn’t believe it. I had beheld it lol and didn’t know. But I digress. Over the past couple of years I have come to see it as the final teaching. A clear pointing to the practice, the way, our way, of bearing the Christ. Of holding Jesus, Love, moment to moment.
She held Him first in her heart, then in her womb, then in her arms, and finally in her lap, lifeless but still Love. You too, are the Christ Bearer.
Pietà Meditation on God
In a moment, I invite you to close your eyes, and use the imagery that best helps you feel into this very natural way of being, into this Holy Posture.
You might picture yourself holding Him, looking down upon Him lovingly in the manger, praying a silent Our Father as you do, or looking up at Him on the cross, holding His Feet… kissing them the way St. Padre Pio would.
As you continue in this, even just for moments, there’s a reversal and you fall into His Arms. He’s holding you. You don’t have to try. You don’t have to visualize anymore. Just let go.
Sometimes in your meditation you may notice your head bob, or your body rock forward or backwards unexpectedly, like you’re falling asleep or nodding off but you’re not. You’re releasing… thoughts, fears, beliefs, control.
The body is re-calibrating, and so is your life. You are finally being still and knowing God, loving God, allowing Him to move you. To change everything including you. Love is the way.
MEDITATE ON CHRIST TODAY. And join our Daily Silent Retreat!
I love you,
nik
