Avenue of Pietà

By definition, Pietà is one of the Roman Virtues. More than religious piety, it is closer to the idea of "Dutifulness", a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. This includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others.

I saw a Pietà sculpture at the Smithsonian Museum of Art. It captured me. I stood before it for a good length of time as tears formed in my eyes. I even took a picture of it and you can see it below.

While most art forms of Pietà express the death of Christ, there are other expressions that can be recognized because Pietà or pity doesn’t have to be only expressed in physical death. Everyday there are broken thousands who die an emotional death as they are forced into abusive situations such as sex trafficking. Innocence stolen, lost forever. They are hungry and poor children, without home or loving touch from a parent, longing for a kind word, a morsel of food. Don’t forget the men and women stricken with the sorrow of AIDS/HIV fighting each day for life. The Scriptures are firm about caring for widows and orphans and would venture to say that includes those who do not know God as their loving Father.

A good example of Pietà in the Parables would be the Good Samaritan, bringing comfort and aid to the almost dead man on the side of the road.

So, anytime I see someone cradling another in comfort and/or sorrow, it is a Pietà, a place of pity and compassion, reaching out and touching, bringing healing and restoration.

Matthew 25:40

37-40 "Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'" --The Message

40 "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." --KJV

40 "And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [[a] in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me." --The Amplified Bible

The Pietà (pl. same; Italian for pity) is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus, most often found in sculpture. As such, it is a particular form of the Lamentation of Christ, a scene from the Passion of Christ found in cycles of the Life of Christ. When Christ and the Virgin are surrounded by other figures from the New Testament, the subject is strictly called a Lamentation in English, although Pietà is often used for this as well, and is the normal term in Italian. The Pietà developed in Germany about 1300, reached Italy about 1400, and was especially popular in Central Europe.

Where to Turn for Help

www.lgnfamily.com
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