Skip to main content

'Madonna and Child' Iconography Resonates with Me


I was essentially raised by my mother, my aunt, and my older sisters. My family is matriarchal and I like it that way. 

I was reared by strong women who tried to raise me to be a thoughtful man in a contemporary world. I'm not sure how successful I've been at living thoughtfulness, but within me are all the positive values those women tried to instill. 

Within the Il Pensiero del Bento Pio IX Church (my favourite church in Rome, so far) is a beautiful icon of the Madonna and Child. Mary is dressed in blue and orange with an ochre robed Jesus on her lap, all set against a blue star filled sky; complimentary colours help unite a good composition. 

I've always been drawn to 'Madonna and Child' icons. In a naive way, it speaks to a secular way of living I recognise: strong women, living independent lives, raising male babies to be thoughtful.  

As a secular Jew I miss the important Christian narratives contained within these icons of course, but does that mater so much? As a site of interfaith dialogue, it seems like an interesting space for good conversation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Parting ways

Our last dinner with the University of Toronto group was truly memorable. Overall, the Rome trip wa a great experience and I learned a lot about ecumenism, something I had no experience with before. The concept of ecumenism as a dialogue, where one can be "strong in their identity yet open to dialogue", really resonated with  It's inspiring to see how such an approach can foster understanding and unity, even with our own "small group" from Toronto, there was so much diversity (again, it included an Anglican priest, a secular Jew, and 3 Catholics). Yet, despite our differences, there will always be a way to talk and talk to each other, if they share space with each other. I will truly miss this group , and the larger group at the Centro Pro Unione. I am looking forward to more enlightening conversations and shared ecumenical experiences in the future!  Very grateful again to Dr. Attridge, Dr. Skira and the RSM management for this wonderful opportunity! Until next...
Post a Comment
Read more

Welcome! Rome Ecumenism Course - 2024

Welcome to our journey of studying ecumenism and interfaith relations in Rome in the summer of 2024. Please visit often as we share insights, new learnings, adventures, pictures, etc., from our three weeks in the eternal city. We’re glad to have you along!
Post a Comment
Read more

The Mosque in the city

    The Grand Mosque of Rome stands as an awe-inspiring example of Islamic architecture and cultural richness. Its grandeur and magnificence left me in awe as I marveled at the intricate details of the tiles, and soaring pillars, as well as how the Mosque itself was designed to resemble a garden dotted with Palm tree. What truly took me by surprise, however, was the warm and welcoming nature of Imam, who was also our tour guide. I didn’t expect him to be to be warm and welcoming and I expected some level of reluctance because we were not Muslim. However, we were met with open arms and genuine hospitality; he was also very detailed when giving the tour. The imam engaged us in friendly discussions about the Islamic faith, culture, and the history of the mosque. This open-minded and accepting attitude was truly heart warming, and it reminding me of the power of mutual respect and understanding in bridging religious and cultural divides. Furthermore, the fact that the Mosque ...
Post a Comment
Read more