Christ on the Cross, mourned by the three Marys, St. John and a donor,
Painting by Pier Francesco Sacchi (1485-1528),
Painted in 1514,
Oil on panel
© Gemaldegalerie, Berlin
Christ on the Cross, mourned by the three Marys, St. John and a donor,
Painting by Pier Francesco Sacchi (1485-1528),
Painted in 1514,
Oil on panel
© Gemaldegalerie, Berlin
Near the cross of Jesus stood the three Marys
John 19:25-34
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.' Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.' And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.
After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfil the scripture perfectly he said, 'I am thirsty.'
A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said, 'It is accomplished'; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.
It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.
Reflection on the painting
Today we celebrate the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, the day after Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the birthday of the Church, and on the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, we celebrate the fact that Mary, as the mother of Our Lord, is intrinsically linked to the Church as her mother.
'Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala'. Our reading starts with St John sharing the presence of the three Marys at the crucifixion. All three are depicted in our painting from 1514 by Pier Francesco Sacchi, to the left side of the cross.
They may have shared the same name, but they all got to the foot of the cross in very different ways. Our Lady was there because of a direct call from God. Through the Angel Gabriel, God asked her to participate in his divine plan. After her 'yes', Mary became the Mother of Christ, and today we celebrate her as Mary Mother of the Church. The second Mary, wife of Cleopas (and sister of Our Lady), was there to console her family. She was there to support her sister in enduring the death of her Son. And then there is Mary Magdalen, who was there not because she was related or family, but because of the friendship she had with Jesus. She was there through the mercy and love of Christ himself.
The three Marys came to the cross in different ways. We too come to the cross, each in our own unique way: through a friend, through a tragedy, through love... It doesn't matter how we come to the cross or how we are called to be there: the main thing is to be there.
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When speaking with Protestants, I use this scripture as proof that Jesus had no biological siblings.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Trouble is, Andy, that prayer is a Catholic one and is not a Bible quote. I believe.
The first part are the words of the angel Gabriel and Elizabeth.the second part is our request for her prayers.
Sorry about the confusion. I meant the scripture where Jesus, while on the cross, gives Mary to the disciple John. If He had biological siblings, they would have taken care of Mary.
That is a very good point Andy – makes perfect sense. He (John) made a place for her in his home…..
Thank you for this.
I try to open my mind and heart to the array of art that Deacon Patrick offers each day and to develop my appreciation. I am still working on this one. A lot is going on in the background. I dwell on how strong the blessed Mother Mary is to endure what happened to Jesus.
A heads up for UK art lovers who didn’t get to the Vermeer exhibition; documentary on it, BBC4, 9pm Tuesday.
Thank you Patricia. I’ve put that in my diary…
That would be me then!
I recall a story that the Three Marys were washed up in a boat on a beach in the South of France. Hmmm…not sure about that one. The village is called
Saintes Maries de la Mer.
Our readings in the year do hop about in the life of Christ. I was thinking that yesterday at Mass, with all the focus on the Holy Spirit. Still, as it says in Ecclesiastes, to every thing there is a season.
That French story was bigged up in ‘The DaVinci Code’ not that I ever read it!
I didn’t get past the first page… but many apocryphal stories are told about Mary Magdalene. I prefer the Church’s version.
I’m feeling quite negative this morning as my dog is really sick and I have to take her to the emergency vet on a public holiday so you can imagine the expense…!
Two comments on this painting (not on it’s suitability for the reading). I don’t understand why we have an Eastertime reading at this time of the church year. And that donor looks really sanctimonious and I want to edit him out of the painting! Now I’ve said it…Also he has probably led a dissolute life and thinks he’s going to get off the hook by commissioning this – well you’ve got another thought coming my friend!
lol
🙂 🙂
Mmmm…….! If I were the artist Charles I don’t think I would paint the man who paid me looking smug. 😁 I hope your dog gets better and your negative feelings disappear soon. 🙏
Feel for you Chazbo. Dogs – they sure do pull at your heartstrings (as well as the pursestrings!)
I am sorry about your dog, and I hope you get her through the emergency.
Thanks Mark. This becoming quite a chatroom! I think I should restrict my comments somewhat to those of a religious nature.
I am sorry to hear about your dog I pray that she gets the proper treatment and recovers quickly.
All we are told in the scriptures about Mother Mary is that she stood at the cross. She remained strong but powerless against the situation. She did not faint, crumple in self pity, wail in grief, or protest her son’s innocence. She stayed faithful and caring until the death of her son and ever after. What a mother to have!
Deacon Patrick, I pray you stay as close to your Mother Mary throughout your ministry as she is to you.
So much to see in this painting! The painting of the blood and the red of the cloak of Mary Magdalene is particularly striking. I’m not sure about the figure of John though, his facial expression and the angle of his head does not match the clarity of the women’s faces, for me. Yet, his presence at the crucifixion was to be a vital part of his witness and an expression of the love he had for Jesus, that he was there until the very end.
‘Saint John pray for us- that we may love Jesus as you did and bear witness to Him until the very end.’