The first time I saw a Black Madonnamedal, my reaction was 'Our Lady of ....What?' The names and locations of many of the Black Madonna representations are not familiar to us, however, they represent a unique and intensely spiritual time in the life of the Catholic church. Collecting this type of medal is both challenging and fun since they can prove to be difficult to find. First, let me attempt to answer a few question ~
What is a Black Madonna?
Black Madonnas are statues representing the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ Child with black skin. They frequently date back to the middle ages and are typically associated with a history of miracles. There are an estimated 450 to 500 Black Madonna statues known in the world today, mostly in France. Typically petite, measuring only about 3 feet high, these statues have European features that contrast with the darkness of their skin tone. Usually they are made of wood, but some are made of stone.
Ancient Madonnas
Why are they black?
This is the $64,000 dollar question. There are several suggestions for the darkness of these Madonna's skin.
The features have been darkened over the centuries with grime and candle soot, leaving them very black in color. However, this down not explain those Madonna statues that are recorded as having always been black.
Some of these images were certainly brought back to Europe by soldiers returning from the crusades in the Holy Land. They were crafted by and for the darker skinned people of that area of the world. Knowing that these statues came from the actual area that was home to Jesus and Mary reinforced and made acceptable the idea thatthe Madonna and Childshould be representedwith dark skin, influencing European craftsmen in their work. This idea probably was reinforced by the scriptural passage discussed below-
The artist took the line from the Biblical book Song of Solomon quite literally when he read in chapter 1, verse 5, 'I am black, but beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem...'. The female elements of this book of poetry were typically thought during the middle ages to represent the Virgin Mary, so the connection between Mary and dark skin could have been easily made.
Black Madonnas represent some link with pre-Christian eart goddess traditions or early representations of the goddess Isis with her son Horus. Their blackness shows a connection with this goddess or the darkness of the earth.
I think it's safe to say that, whatever their origins, the typical worshipper of the middle ages primarily saw the beauty of the Mother of God cradling her infant son, Jesus, in each of these unique statues.Each oneshowed a connection to the divine to which even the most humble peasant could relate. Often the madonnas were part of a pilgrimage route to the shrine of a saint or were noted for miraculous healings and protection. They represent a simple and profound faith that shaped the lives of everyone who came in contact with them.
Black Madonna Medals
Notre Dame du Port
The Black Madonna (Vierge Noire) of the church of Notre Dame du Port in Clermont-Ferrand was a popular stop on one of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de gepostela and was venerated throughout the middle ages. Frequently these medals mention the 'chapelle souterainne' or crypt where she is located. Many of the medals bearing the image of the Black Madonna were struck to celebratethe madonna'scoronation during a ceremony in 1875. Unfortunately, the original statue was destroyed during the French Revolution. It was replaced by a reproduction in the early 19th century.
Notre Dame de Rocamadour
Although the statue of Our Lady of Rocamadour most likely dates to the 9th century, the legend surroundingit claims that Zaccheus, the follower of Jesus, brought the statue with him to France from the Holy Land. The double attraction of the tomb of Zaccheus, later known as the hermit Amadour, and the Black Madonna made this cliffside church a major pilgrimage point in the middle ages. People today still make the climb up 216 steps, sometimes on their knees as penance, to visit this Vierge Noire.
Notre Dame de Hal
This Black Madonna statue was given in 1280 by St. Elizabeth of Hungary to her daughter, Sophia, as a gift. Sophia thenplaced it in the Basilica of St Martin in Hal, Belgium. Not only was the statue revered for the miraculous healings brought about in its presence, but it also is credited with saving the city of Hal from destruction during a siege in 1580. Legend has it that the Madonna caught 32 cannon balls in her 'skirt' during the attack (they lodged in the wall of the cathedral and are still there.) This is the reason the back of her medals typically show a small stacked triangle of cannonballs. She is invoked for protection from artillery fire to this day.
Notre Dame de Marceille
This lovely Black Madonna has rested in the chapel of Notre Dame de Marceille since the 11th century. Her legend states that she was found buried in a field by a farmer. When his oxen refused to go forward, he studied the place where they stopped and was amazed to find this statue buried there in the earth. The next morning, the statue had miraculously disappeared from his home and was found once again in the field. The villagers took this as a sign that the Blessed Mother wanted a chapel built in that location, thus Notre Dame de Marceille was constructed.
Notre Dame de Montaigu
This ancient statue was found in the branches of in the branches of an oak tree near Brabant, Belgium.This is the reason the statue depicted on medals as being lifted above the heads of onlookers in a tree (that frequently looks like a pedastal.) It was a major pilgrimage site throughout the middle ages.
Notre Dame du Pont
Notre Dame du Pont (or du Rhone) dates from the 14th century. This Black Madonna was brought back from the last crusade by the gete de Seyssel. It's located in the Eglise St. Francois (The Church of St. Francis) in Sysell, France.
Notre Dame de Puy
According to tradition, the original venerated statue was brought to the sanctuary by no less a person than St. Louis, King of France. During the Crusades, he was captured by the Moors in Africa, but the Sultan, as a sign of his esteem, presented to the King of France a cedar wood figure of Our Lady with the Child, venerated also by the Moslems. There is another legend that the statue was carved by the prophet Jeremiah. The original statue was beheaded and burned during the French Revolution. The current image of the Black Madonna of Le Puy is an almost exact replica of the ancient one, which had been dragged about during a mock trial at the time of the French Revolution. This statue was guillotined like Marie Antoinette and then burned. The present statue, made of black marble, represents Our Lady seated on a stool and is about twenty-five inches high. She holds her son on her knees. (Information from the site 'Catholic Culture')
Please continue by clicking here Black Madonnas Part 2
Notre Dame de Bon Secours
Notre Dame de Mont Roland
Notre Dame de Laghet
Notre Dame de Puy
Notre Dame de Fourviere
Notre Dame Myans
No comments:
Post a Comment