Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière (8): Throne of Wisdom

Interdependence often goes unnoticed in our modern era. I look at this image and I see Mary. I look again, and see Jesus. If I look with deeper eyes, I see Jesus sitting securely on Mary’s lap. I see Mary’s hands supporting Jesus from behind.

My Prayer:

Jesus, as I lean back into Your love I sense a well of gratitude for the love of Mary that supported You.

Scriptural Touchstones:

Then the king [Solomon] made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 1 Kings 10:18-20 (NRSV) [This is copied word for word in 2 Chronicles 9:17-19.]*

Invitation to Prayer:

Look softly at this image of Jesus as he sits on Mary’s lap. As you think about your own need for support what prayers are emerging in your mind, heart, body, and imagination? Pray them now.

Photos:
Images of Mary as the Throne of Wisdom (Sedes Sapientiae) from the twelfth and thirteenth century stained glass window known as Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière at Chartres Cathedral in France.

*A typological understanding of the Christian faith suggests that  Old Testament figures and experiences prefigure those found in the New Testament. Jesus is understood as the Wisdom of God, a fuller manifestation of the wisest king who ever lived, Solomon. Mary, Jesus’ mother, like the throne that wise Solomon used, is understood as one who supported Wisdom Incarnate, Jesus. The biblical link to this typological example cited in the eleventh and twelfth centuries by Peter Damiani and Guibert de Nogent is found in 1 Kings 10:18-20 and 2 Chronicles 9:17-19.

Other posts in this series:

(1) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Beauty
(2) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Iconic Love
(3) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Seeing and Being Seen
(4) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Jesus, Mary’s Son
(5) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Jesus’ Message
(6) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: The Holy Spirit
(7) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Queen Mary

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