Dieric Bouts…

This painting reminds me of a statue my Abuelita owns. It sits on her nightstand. Growing up it scared the hell out of me. I use to hate going over to her house for the weekends as a kid; her house was full of statues of Christ in various form of twisted anguish. In Hispanic cultures the statues are especially gory and life like. If I had to spend the night at her home I would cover that bust of Christ up that sat on the nightstand. I finally admitted to her that I hated that statue because it scared the hell of me. She just replied, “it scares the Hell out of me too.” Then she said for me to burn the image in my mind.

I have many protestant friends who like their Jesus resurrected or holding a lamb while hovering over small children in a grassy field. I can understand completely. It is hard to stare at images of Our Lord in the throes of agony as He surrenders Himself on the cross, which is all the more reason I think we need to contemplate His Passion.

I think the Gentle Jesus of protestant sects, and some Catholic ones, was expunged from our churches simply because it makes us feel uncomfortable… it scares the hell out us. Which is a good thing.

I miss Hell in our faith and the fear of it we once had.

Anyway… ramblings.