Portraits of Christ in Catholic Church

The reading titled Christ’s Humanity made me think of the statues of Christ in Catholic churches and the stations of the cross on the walls.  The image we mostly see portraying God is in his son Jesus.  I feel these pictures are there to help people feel more connected to Christ by showing these pictures of him in human form on Earth.  The most common portraits that I have seen of Jesus are: Jesus on the cross, Jesus with Mary, and Jesus suffering.  Jesus portrayed in this way gives the people and closer connection because in some way or another we have all suffered, felt pain or grief.  Jesus also symbolizes the love that God has for the people.  By sending his only son down to Earth to teach and connect with humans.  Which is followed by him dying at the hands of humans and right before he died Jesus asks God to forgive them.

These images survived and are still used today because they are the most relatable.  They make a concept that can be hard to understand (Heaven and God) realistic and something that people can understand (Jesus and his suffering).  There are some portraits of Jesus with a halo, on a gold background to show that he is the son of God ad to give something for people to look up to and a way to live their lives; but those I them find less common.  The reason why I don’t think many of these styles survived is because it may overwhelm people (“How can I ever lead a life like that?”).  This is a misconception though, the main point of these pictures of Christ is to show: God knows what it means to suffer, God is willing to forgive humans, and that humans are able to connect with God.

These images were important in Julian of Norwich time because they had several things going on during that time period.  There was the Hundred Years War with France and Scotland attacking England and then the plague that swept across Europe.  People were suffering and it was important that the art and readings in the church reminded that God knows their suffering and has been through it Himself.  It was also important to know that God has not abandon them.  This is why the common portrait was of Jesus suffering.  The art and readings were also meant to deepen the spiritual connection between man and Christ in this dark time of war and people dying every day from the plague.