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“Our Lady of Tenderness - Rome”
“Our Lady of Tenderness” is one of the most beloved icons in the East and the West. It speaks to every generation in a similar way, in moments of suffering. A devout Lutheran woman in Sweden shared with me in the 80’s an insight she had about the role of Mary in the Church. She had a deep devotion to Mary. In the West, in the 1700’s, most of the Churches had become tainted by the spirit of Jansenism, a spirit of pessimism and hopelessness. We had very little hope of being worthy of God’s saving grace. Even Jesus was portrayed more as judging and often condemning us. This woman said to me: “At least you Catholics had Mary to turn to. We had no one.” Mary was tender, approachable, and nonjudgmental.
In the icon, Jesus is holding a scroll. When He began his public ministry, while in the temple, he opened a scroll and read from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Closing the scroll he said to them: “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Lk: 4:18-21).
Our Lady of Tenderness, Pray for us!
Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!
© 2015 Clyde Rausch, OMI