Yesterday and I think the day before too, something seemed to be bubbling to the surface in my mind, a vague awareness, an important insight, yet not fully formed, still out of my reach. It was this that you wrote, exactly this: "Of course, for rationalists there’s always something suspicious about beauty. In this view, things are more true when they are dissected or deconstructed, and examined for their individual parts. In this rationalist credo, something that is poetic is less likely to be true. This is not so in Christian tradition where we believe beauty is a transcendental that actually helps us come to know the truth." Bless you!
Amelia, I went searching for a cave-based nativity scene late last night and found a pretty good one. You then provide a full treatment on the subject to make my day. Plato's cave in reverse?
Yes! That’s a great connection. I thought about Plato while writing, but there just wasn’t room to fit him in. Everything goes back to the cave somehow.
Thank you so much, Amelia, for your research and inspiring commentary. I believe the Incarnation is the most significant event in our lives and art enhances our understanding in so many ways! Merry Christmas!❤️
I never realized the spiritual significance of Jesus born in a cave and the symbolism of the animals at the nativity. Thank you for this Christmas gift.
And that photo of the nativity in Bethlehem is bringing back memories. I went on a college trip to Israel/Palestine in undergrad and we made a stop there, among many other surreal places.
In the visions our Lord imparted to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich she describes the cave where He was born; and describes how the Penitent thief, St Dismas, was a child and taking shelter with his family in the very same cave during the Holy Family’s stay there. And she describes him being cured, possibly of leprosy, after being bathed in the water that the Blessed Mother used to bathe the Christ Child.
If I’m not mistaken, and I may very well be, that particular vision might be in The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There or in her The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the latter being the one I’ve not gotten all the way through. There is so much to digest in either one.
Amelia, thank you for the background commentary and especially the many gorgeous images. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Thank you Peter! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Yesterday and I think the day before too, something seemed to be bubbling to the surface in my mind, a vague awareness, an important insight, yet not fully formed, still out of my reach. It was this that you wrote, exactly this: "Of course, for rationalists there’s always something suspicious about beauty. In this view, things are more true when they are dissected or deconstructed, and examined for their individual parts. In this rationalist credo, something that is poetic is less likely to be true. This is not so in Christian tradition where we believe beauty is a transcendental that actually helps us come to know the truth." Bless you!
I love it when I read something that helps clarify inklings like this. I’m glad this article could do it for you.
Amelia, I went searching for a cave-based nativity scene late last night and found a pretty good one. You then provide a full treatment on the subject to make my day. Plato's cave in reverse?
Yes! That’s a great connection. I thought about Plato while writing, but there just wasn’t room to fit him in. Everything goes back to the cave somehow.
Plato's cave in reverse ✔️🪔 🌐
Many orthodox nativity hymns reference the Cave as being the Earth's Offering to the Incarnation 🎶 ⛪ ☦️
I’m happy to know that. I will have to look them up! Do you know any good sources?
Thank you so much, Amelia, for your research and inspiring commentary. I believe the Incarnation is the most significant event in our lives and art enhances our understanding in so many ways! Merry Christmas!❤️
Very well put! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I never realized the spiritual significance of Jesus born in a cave and the symbolism of the animals at the nativity. Thank you for this Christmas gift.
God bless you Amelia, this is wonderful! Wishing you the abundant peace and joy of the cave in Bethlehem.
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Inspired, outstanding. Thank you Amelia. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Prodigal! Merry Christmas!
The Ox and the Ass, Isaiah 1:3 ✔️⛪ ☦️ 🌐 📖 😌
Grace and peace to you sister, thank you, wonderful images of the early relief carvings.
Christ is Born, Glorify Him! ✨🐂🫏🐑🐪🌴👑
Interesting, thank you!
You are welcome!
Thanks for this increible post!
And that photo of the nativity in Bethlehem is bringing back memories. I went on a college trip to Israel/Palestine in undergrad and we made a stop there, among many other surreal places.
Oh wow! That is amazing! I hope to go someday. Did you see Jerome’s cave too?
I honestly had to look this up to jog my memory, it has been so long….. but yes, I believe so!
In the visions our Lord imparted to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich she describes the cave where He was born; and describes how the Penitent thief, St Dismas, was a child and taking shelter with his family in the very same cave during the Holy Family’s stay there. And she describes him being cured, possibly of leprosy, after being bathed in the water that the Blessed Mother used to bathe the Christ Child.
Very interesting. I have read her vision of the Passion but not of the Nativity. Thanks for mentioning it.
If I’m not mistaken, and I may very well be, that particular vision might be in The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There or in her The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the latter being the one I’ve not gotten all the way through. There is so much to digest in either one.
So wonderfully done Amelia, thank you so much for helping us to contemplate scripture through our eyes! So inspiring. God bless you.
Thank you very much Al. Merry Christmas!
Wonderful pulling together do all the history and symbology about the cave and the animals. Thank you for that! A blessed Christmas to you too!
Thank you Shannon!
Why was He born in a cave?
https://substack.com/@stevenberger/note/c-81247768?r=1nm0v2