Thursday, December 21, 2017

The Vatican Nativity and a provocative presentation of the seven corporal works of mercy...

Naked man, man nursing at woman's breast ... OMG!


Snap out of it!

So many Catholics seem to be making a big deal about the Vatican Nativity with a naked man representing the work of mercy, 'clothe the naked'.  Have you people been to Rome?  Haven't you people seen naked sculptures all over the city, in the Vatican, in the Sistine?  What is wrong with you?  Have you ever seen a real Neapolitan Nativity (Or a Spanish one for that matter?) with an awful lot of real life going on around the central scene?  While Joseph and Mary find a place in the midst of all the clamor and life happening to allow the birth of Christ to take place?  It didn't happen in a sterile clinic, in the comfort of a nice home or palace, it happened in a stable where animals were kept.  Our Lady appeared to Bernadette in a dump.  The Mother of God also appeared to Bruno Cornacchiola - in a cave where prostitutes turned tricks and homosexuals had sex - across the road from Tre Fontane, outside Rome.  What is wrong with you people?


Clothe the naked.








"Many nuns in Rome say they are shocked and are very worried about the message these decorations are sending to the youngest." - Robert Moynihan


Really?



OMG!  Naked Angels!


But Father!  But Father!  Butt!




The website for Antonio Cantone here.

https://www.facebook.com/CANTONECOSTABILEPRESEPI/

31 comments:

  1. Do not go to the Sistine Chapel. You will faint when you look up and see the human body iin all it's God given glory. That darn Puritian DNA just will never be recessive. Will it! That might be more concerned about Cardinal Law being given full honor of a funeral in St Peter's.

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    1. Some are upset that Pope Francis will gibe jim a final blessing, as is normal when a Cardinal dies in Rome. I suppose there could be an exception if it was a baseball player from St Louis. He could skip that.

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    2. Card. Law was just the fall guy for the problems in the Church at the time - it was like that across the board. That's how the Church dealt with the problem. He maybe went straight to heaven for all the calumny he has suffered since.

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    3. Hope he did go straight to heaven. There were options he could have exercised but did not.This was hardly a new problem to a 2 thousand year old church. Children’s safety and well being were not as important as a priests rights. Anyway let’s hope he is in heaven.

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    4. Fall guys are often guilty just the poor sucker who gets caught.

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  2. I've been praying for him.

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  3. Did you read Robert Moynahan's entire piece on this? He points out that it's much more than just the nudity. Read the whole thing and you will find the REAL reason he and so many are upset...and it's not the naked guy.

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    1. I did - unfortunately I also read LifeSite's article. So it is supposedly tainted because of the homo-activists. I'm not seeing any problem with it. Not a few seem to be feeding on this, taking apart artistic merit, criticizing the size of the Madonna's hands - all sorts of critiques based upon subjective dislikes and/or fears and bias. It's greatly exaggerated, no matter what homo-activists claim.

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  4. I think it is now very clear that this blasphemous monstrosity needs to be torn down. And I’m not kidding. Ann Barnhardt https://tinyurl.com/y86yqs3v

    I have to agree with you Terry.

    Seems some are looking for anything to complain about when it comes to pope Francis.

    Remember when Pope Francis was to change the Our Father? It turned out to be fake news!

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  5. Maybe this explains why these easily scandalized Traditionalists never meditate on the passion - scandalized by a Naked Jesus Christ Crucified depicted on the Crucifix

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  6. Scandalized by nakedness - but when Fr Z. posts pics of MEAT on Ember Wednesday - That's OK? WHAT?

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    1. The depiction of a naked child in my Nativity header would also scandalize, I'm sure.

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    2. I can see that well, maybe some would shreek because his nether regions are shown too. Whatever ... I see only beauty as the Lord of Life would have it.

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    3. Lactation of St. Bernard.......go ahead and post those paintings....

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  7. Don't you just love the ox and the ass being so close to Jesus? In one of Blessed Fra Angelo' depictions of the Nativity there are little dots of gold proceeding from their nostrils--heat for the Bambino Gesu!

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  8. Once again, Terry, I have to respond to your post with...AMEN!!! Maybe its because I am 100% Italian (born here as the youngest with many of the family born in the 'old country')but just don't have any issues with nudity or the human body. Or maybe it's also because I am an artist (though no where near as talented as you) that this doesn't bother me at all? You should see my personal collection of nude religious art or photos...I find that they cut through the pious trappings (was gonna say 'crap') so often found in religious art and sanitize it.

    THis post also makes me think of a Discalced Carmelite monastery in San Francisco with a large sculpture of the Risen Christ above the main altar. The founding nuns were refuges from Mexico in the '30's. Originally, the Lord's figure was NUDE but the Irish Archbishop of the time forced them to have a golden "cloth" wrapped around the body.

    And finally I LOVE your near opening line..."Have you people been to Rome?" LOL!!!

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    1. Thanks! I've always wanted a Neapolitan Nativity 'presepio'. I think as an artist nudity is not a problem the way it may be for others - unless of course it's meant to be provocative. Critics of the naked figure in the setting complain he is too buff - like I said - look around Rome - walk through the Vatican Museum. I'll have to look for something Pier Giorgio said about classical sculpture and nudes - if I remember correctly, he was definitely opposed to the idea they are indecent. Anyway - this is just one of many tempests in a tea pot to somehow blame Pope Francis for.

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    2. Viva il Papa!

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    3. Yaya! Where have you been? I was seriously worried about you. What with fires all over your beautiful state and all. Now it seems like Christmas!

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    4. Yaya! Where have you been? I have been seriously worried what with fires all over your beautiful state. It now seems like Christmas!

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    5. A big Feliz Navidad y prospero 2018 hug for you Terry. Merry Merry Christmas!

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  9. Yeah I totally agree: Francis-bashing-in-disguise. Too buff??? Oh man...that’s just too much!

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  10. YAYA! Where have you been? I have had serious concern for you what with those fires and all. Now it feels like Christmas!

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    1. The fires of Purgatory will be preferable to the ones currently raging in another beautiful area of my home turf, California.

      Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers though ... I grew lazy and just lounged around rather than hang out online.
      As 2018 approaches, I may just venture back into hibernation.

      Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas dear wh with your family and friends. God bless!

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    2. I understand completely. I am thinking along similar lines. My this Christmas bring you closer to Him who we await. Merry Christmas Yaya.

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  11. To buff? Seriously? Now I’ve heard it all. And yet I think this bizarre outlook on the body & sexuality reveals so much about the problems of distorted sexuality our church is experiencing. It reminds me of a true story I was told that took place here in San Francisco back in the 1940s. A group of refugee Discalced Carmelite nuns came from Mexico and started a monastery called “Christo Rey”. Central to the church decore is a large statue of the Risen Christ above the high altar, affixed to a beautiful golden sunburst. Is accompanied by little groups of cherubs. Originally, all of these images, including the Christ, we’re nude. Don’t faint! Please don’t faint! The Irish Archbishop at the time demanded that all the figures be draped in a golden cloth about the loins. The good obedient sisters complied of course. I wonder if the Archbishop ever realized that some people are more turned on by what’s minimally hidden than what is revealed? LOL

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    1. The guy who said it - don't know him or his name - said he works out at a gym and the naked guy looks like he has a gym membership - meaning he couldn't be poor or homeless. Which misses the point - I'm fairly certain this scene echoes P. Francis' consistent reference to the man beaten and robbed and left for dead until the Samaritan came along and took care of him. The entire presepe is a homily, a catechesis. I just don't understand how people miss that.

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    2. In this creche I see Jesus as an infant, poor & in need, wrapped in swaddling clothes and being cared for by Mary and Joseph. Then I see in Jesus in the man, poor & in need, covered with a cloth, to be cared for by you and I.

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