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I had intended to post this along with Dorcas, but forgot, so here she is, out of order, week 49.
Mary Magdalene's block is Mary's Star. To me it looks like the sun radiating light and symbolizes God radiating Love, Justice, and Healing, so I chose shades of red, yellow and orange to also represent the love, joy, and warmth that Mary Magdalene must have felt when Jesus healed her, as well as when she recognized the risen Jesus at the tomb.
The block was done with fused machine applique with zigzag stitches of gold thread around the pieces to hold them and for embellishment.
Mary has gained quite a reputation, that she probably doesn't deserve. Somewhere along the way people started to call her a prostitute, but nothing in the Bible indicates that. She was prominent among the women who were the followers of Jesus. Lately it has been claimed in many writings and best selling novels, that she was either the wife or lover of Jesus, once again without proof. We must remember when reading novels, that they are fiction not fact.
Her story is told in the following scriptures: Matthew 27 & 28; Mark 15 & 16; Luke 8 & 24: and John 19 & 20.
Here is a glorious image of Mary Magdalene from the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. The egg in her hand is a symbol of the resurrection. I believe that my block is a good match for this image, which I love.
12 comments:
Fran, all these blocks are simply gorgeous and I have truly enjoyed reading the stories of these women.
So do you think that the figure at the right (our left) of Jesus at DaVinci's Last Supper is that of Mary?
Again with the gorgeous blocks!!
Since there are so many of these blocks, what size are they?
I can't wait to see the finished work, but you're going to have to put a key on the back. With all your photoprinting talent, that should be a piece o' cake.
Jane Ann, they are 6 inch blocks and we are studying 52 women, plus there is a block for the children of Israel and an extra block from our Virtual Retreat. Some women are arranging them around a central medallion and most are doing some type of appliqued border. Not sure how I will arrange them yet.I do plan to do a key for the back.
Rian, From my Bible studies and readings of explanations, I believe that the figure is the Apostle John, who was the closest to Jesus, and who was seemingly a loving and spiritual person and quite young. There is a new book out on the life of John that I hope to get and read soon. My favorite gospel is that of John, I am drawn to that first chapter over and over.
The author of "The Da Vinci Code" is a brilliant strategist, married to a marketing expert, and they knew the book had to very controversial to sell big. They succeeded and I enjoyed the book as a piece of fiction. I'm in the process of reading "the Gospel of Mary Magdalene", but believe that the Gnostic heresy was was not true to the Christian message. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I have mine. Theology has always been a passion of mine.
Fran, these blocks are all beautiful. I am going to have to go back and look at the one with the circle center. I have to see how you cut such a perfect circle. Mine would be oblong.
Fran, I love this block. It looks like it is made of marble...just beautiful...
I don't believe that Jesus and Mary were married or lovers, but I do believe that Mary was one of Jesus's most beloved apostles. Why she, not Peter or John, was the first one that Jesus appeared to after he arose. I've read The Gospel of MM and find nothing heretical about it. I've also read The DaVinci Code and though it was a fun work of fiction to read.
Anway, I do love your MM block, Fran, and also your Dorcas block. You do such lovely work.
I heartily agree with you about Mary Magdalene being a very beloved friend
of Jesus. She is mentioned so many times as being with him on his journeys. I got started on the Gospel of MM but got side tracked before reading to far. I need to make time to finish the book and find out for myself what it says about her. Through our studies of the WOTB we were so pleased to find out just how involved women were in the ministry of Jesus and the early church.
Yes, I think if the early church hadn't been male dominated, we would have had much more teachings about the role that women played in early Christianity.
Some people think Mary M. is the same Mary who was Martha and Lazarus's sister. What do you think?
You did a great job of using the colors in the painting in your Mary Magdalene block. Perfect.
As always, these blocks are beautifully executed, thoughtful and inspired. It's wonderful to see how you express yourself in your quilting, Fran.
As for Mary M. and Jesus, I wonder why today it's so hard to envision a man and a woman having a purely spiritual relationship?
I agree with you: Dan Brown's book was a piece of inspired marketing. Fun to read but it's still a work of highly speculative fiction.
Susan, All the books on Biblical women, and the concordances that I checked list Mary Magdalene and Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus as separate people. The Bible says that Mary Magdalene was from Magdala, which was at the south end of the Sea of Galilee, while this other Mary was from Bethany, which is just south of Jerusalem.
They list 4 Mary's identified with Jesus; his mother Mary; Mary Magdalene; Mary of Bethany; and Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and mother of James and Joses.
I'd be interested in seeing why some think those two Mary's were the same person.
Fran, this whole series is just beautiful and I love this Mary Magdelene block. Very inspirational and spiritual creations.
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