Mama Mary?

The figure above was taken at the "big lagoon" in El Nido, Palawan. It was part of our island hopping activity. Upon entering the lagoon, our guide pointed to this figure. All of us, aboard the boat, said that the image formed out of this limestone mountain, seems to be Mama Mary. Easily, we attribute similar figures to Mary, the Blessed Virgin. That is faith and there is nothing wrong with it. If, in seeing this figure, one becomes aware of the Mother of God and thus becomes aware of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, so be it.

The figure can actually be anybody or nobody. In fact, nature was not aware that it was forming a figure of  somebody, much more the Mother of God. Faith will tell us that God may reveal Himself through His creation. And this is definitely part of His creation. 

Pundits would question its immediate association, much more, its definite recognition as a saint or the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many questions can not but arise. Why the shape? Do the wind, air, limestone, trees, and everything around it, "consciously" cooperated to form it? Who is directing these forces of nature to shape the figure? Were they aware it was developing that shape? If not, then, was it accidentally formed? What an accident! 

But these things do happen. Even by just looking at clouds, for example, anyone can make a lot of interpretations from them. Cloud formations are so vast, complicated and full of lines and curves that anybody can really make something meaningful out of it. Much of it depend on the situation and experience of the viewer. Catholics, because of their deep devotion to Mary, would easily and have no difficulty seeing it as the Lady. Such is one of the principles behind an abstract work. It provides the client the freedom to interpret the work according to his experience and knowledge.

It is the same as how the famous Shroud of Turin is recognized. Pictures of it have under it a caption saying "Jesus". This is very dangerous because even though there are some signs and evidences that would make us think it was Jesus, there were also tests that say it was not Jesus. The Church had not yet made any declaration that it was really Jesus' shroud. However, even without the declaration, the faithfuls who are touched and helped by its presence to be more aware of what the Lord Jesus experienced during His Passion and Death may use it as an object of faith. But to claim it as "Jesus" would be walking on thin ice as far as idolatry is concerned. What is more appropriate would be to caption is as "Jesus?".

What is important is what the figure does to us. God uses all His creation to let us know Him more, love Him more, and serve Him more. But caution must be observed that the figure itself will be the object of worship. At most, it should only help us, via our sense of seeing, to recognize and communicate to Mother Mary and to God. Otherwise, it would be bordering on idolatry, i.e. worshipping the figure itself as Mary herself!