Schutzmantel Madonna

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Last evening was my last class in preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. I wish that you could have joined me for my class. I know you would have loved it. Though I'm not much of a class goer, the instruction was really very interesting -- so much more so than just muddling through myself. Yes, I could have, would have muddled through, but when God sends you a beautiful, on-fire priest to give you aid, you grab on and don't let go.

Last night, Fr. Adam mentioned an image of Our Mother that intrigued me and I looked up this morning. What an image! It is the Schutzmantel Madonna. From my German student son -- schutz meaning protective or protection, and mantel meaning coat or cloak, outer garment. It's really more of a concept than a thing -- a cover of protection of sorts, and the Schutzmantel Madonna is Mary's protective cloak, or mantle as we are prone to call it in reference to our Holy Mother.

I Googled it this morning (again, what would we do without Google?) and found this.

This one is known as the Virgin of Mercy. Every website I found it on is written in German, so I don't know anything about it, but I think it is found in Marpingen, Germany.

There are many versions, statues and paintings, and depending on how you like your Mary to look, you might like another, but it's such a beautiful concept, don't you think? To imagine oneself under Mary's coat, under her protective care, inside her, as Our Lord Jesus was.


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