O Eve!
My mother, my daughter, life-giving Eve,
Do not be ashamed, do not grieve.
The former things have passed away,
Our God has brought us to a New Day.
See, I am with Child,
Through whom all will be reconciled.
O Eve! My sister, my friend,
We will rejoice together,
Forever
Life without end.
Thank you, Nicole for reposting this.
I would have missed this beautiful image and moving poem.
Listen here.
It reminded me of something our dear Cistercian friend mentioned seeing at one point in time. It was an icon or maybe just an image of St. Adam and St. Eve, although I think he remembered them being separate images. He remarked that St. Adam was a very old man which was striking to him since he hadn't thought about depicting him that way although he did wait the longest for Christ's salvation. If anyone knows of an image or images like this, let me know!
Image: Eve and Mary by Sr. Grace Remington, O.C.S.O
Poem written by: Abbess Columba Guare
This is breath-taking. I'm sharing!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOh this touches me in so many ways. Thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteOh that is beautiful! Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
ReplyDeleteDuring our morning prayer time I had the kids look and talk about this picture. It was a wonderful addition to our prayer time. Thank you, and Nicole, for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteWith permission I'd like to share this. I'll wait until I hear from you though.
:)
Thanks for reposting this. One of my favorites. I keep thinking one day I'll print off a nice copy and have it framed.
ReplyDeleteoh this is beautiful. and then I went to nicole's blog and from there to Anchoress to read more and more. Just beautiful. did you see the photo of the artist and the author of the poem? it just adds so much when you see their faces. (they are at the Anchoress' post which Nicole links to. Advent blessings.
ReplyDeleteI just cannot stop looking at this picture. Like Melanie I want to print it off and frame it. Thank you Charlotte for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteMichele,
ReplyDeleteI know! I can't take my eyes off it. Every time I look at it I see something different. Eve is clutching the apple because it is evidence of her sinfulness. Is that symbolic of the way we cling to our sinful ways? Is Eve holding Mary's hand, reaching for a connection with the Christ child within or did Mary take Eve's hand and place it on her stomach? Every time I look at it, it seems to change based on my perception.
The serpent is wrapped around both of Eve's legs (well, one leg and one foot). Not just wrapped, but tangled. If Eve were to try to take a step, she would fall except for Mary's steadying hold.
It's just such an amazing image! I have already printed out a copy. I hope the convent considers selling copies. I would buy as many as I could to send to friends and family!
Question for everyone... what do you see?
Charlotte, I love your observations, especially about the snake wrapped around Eve's legs so that she won't be able to take a step.
ReplyDeleteWhat I see: At the same time as the snake is tripping Eve, Mary is crushing the snake's head under her heel.
I love the way Eve's hair makes her garment and how the lines of it echo Mary's dress.
I find my eyes drawn to their faces: Eve's is so sorrowful, with ashamed, downcast eyes and yet not despairing; Mary's is so tender, compassionate. I love Mary's hand reaching to touch Eve's cheek.
I love where Mary's hand is, not quite on Eve's face or on her neck. I wonder how many times I have made the same gesture when one my my kids has come to me sorry for something they've done. I put my hand in that some spot, rub and tenderly speak an encouraging word.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking...because this picture is one of those that make us go hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI think when we are done putting all the ornaments on our Jesse tree I'm giving the boys a knot. A knot to show them Adam and Eve's sinfulness. Sin knots us up just like the snake in this picture. Eve's knot of disobedience was undone by Mary's obedience.
St. Ireneus, Bishop of Lyon's said this and I think it speaks to this picture,
"The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosened by Mary's obedience. The bonds fastened by the virgin Eve through disbelief were untied by the virgin Mary through faith." (Adv. haereses,3:22)
I just love this! It's the first time I've seen it. Thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting this. My choir is singing this song, and I needed to find the text and painting to share with a friend with a deep need for "the former things to pass away." Thank you again. Your timing was perfect.
ReplyDeleteI know this is an older post for you, but I just stumbled on this. It is quite beautiful. The only image of Adam and Eve old that I know of is in the icon of the Resurrection. Here is a link to one: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pOipx9rY4U/TaXTTncncPI/AAAAAAAAAx4/h6KgryBLLCw/s1600/resurrection2007.jpg
ReplyDeleteI hope this worked.