The Bloody Veil

Not sure how to introduce this next picture… honestly, it took my breath away when I saw it, just because it was so poignant.

Mind you, when you are looking at images depicting Our Lord’s Sorrowful Passion, you’re bound to experience something stirring in your soul. There’s just no way around that.

But this struck me harder than even I expected.

Take a look…

The Lamentation of Christ, after Gerard David, c. 1540-45. Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands. Via IllustratedPrayer.com
The Lamentation of Christ, after Gerard David, c. 1540-45. Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands.

And what can I say? There are a lot of poignant artworks depicting our Lady holding Jesus Christ in her arms, embracing Him for the last time before He is laid in the tomb.

But this one struck me hard.

Just look at her veil.

It’s bloody.

Here is the woman who probably pressed her face into His to breathe in His sweet newborn baby smell.

And now she is pressing her face into His putrefying face for one last time, as a final goodbye.

Kyrie eleison.

Karina Tabone

Karina Tabone is a wife, mother of four, author, blogger, and lover of Christian artwork. She's the author of the Illustrated Rosary series, which pairs every prayer of the Rosary with beautiful religious artwork. She likes also milkshakes, sunshine, and mystery novels. Follow her on Twitter at @illustr_prayer.

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