Iconography

I'm not sure why posting a blog is becoming harder and harder. It isn't because I don't have anything to say. I think it's because I have too much to say, and that makes it harder to clarify my thoughts into a blog.

I did something old-fashioned last week, I attended a seminar at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church, in Satellite Beach, it's the church of my friend, Barbara Desrosiers.  http://www.BarbaraDesrosiers.com/ Attending seminars isn't old-fashioned, what is outdated for me is going to church. I haven't attended church in quite awhile, and a very long time ago I used to be Catholic

Yes, I was brought up Catholic, and in the whole scope of life, I'm kinda glad I was. I think it is better to have had some religious upbringing than no religious upbringing. Hey, it's just my opinion, and as my good friend Eloise used to say, opinions are like ... and they all smell! ...I digress.

Being brought up Catholic, I was baptized, confirmed, went to parochial school, wore past the knee plaid skirts and saw nuns galore, and I have a fond memory of holy cards.  

Those of you who may not be aware of Catholic mementos, holy cards are handed out at significant occasions, funerals, baptisms, and other occasions where we need reminders of the blessings and grace of our Holy Father and his mother, the Virgin Mary.


I used to like getting a holy card, it made me feel special. I have several kept as keepsakes, one was my Grandmother's, but most of the others are from funerals.  At the seminar I saw an icon that reminded me of holy cards and it brought me to tears, literally.

The seminar was entitled, "Art as Prayer" and Barbara introduced me to Iconography, being the traditional images or symbols associated with world religions.  http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Iconography

We were shown many icons, and the image that made me cry was of the 'Pieta', a representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the dead body of Christ. http://www.augustinianpress.org/pieta-acrc-1u07.html  It was her stoic sadness that pierced my heart.  

Who can say why an Icon moves someone? Why did this particular image produce emotion in me and no one else? What could this feeling reveal about God and my life?  

In my alone time I will be pondering this, and in the meantime, I have a new holy card. It's a memento of my Art in Prayer experience. It says, "If the eyes are the windows to the soul, and an icon is a window to heaven, go home, open the windows and let the Holy Spirit flow.