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| 結び目を解く聖母マリアのメダイ |
日曜日なので、穏やかな内容を書いています。
すっかり9月も分け入り、昨日の土曜日から私の住む国ではシルバーウィークというのが始まっています。
これは敬老の日という祝日が中にあるので、シルバー世代という事でそう呼ぶのだそうです。
私は若者だった頃、ミドルプア層でしたので、お休みが続くと当月か翌月の給料が減るので迷惑でしたが、客商売の時はいつもより華やかな気持ちで制服を着たものでした。
現在、高度経済成長期の始まりのような熱気が私の住む街には漂っており、インバウンドでブランシェ・シティに来訪して下さる方々のお陰で、私の住むエリアはいつも洒落た観光地のようにピカピカで、早い夜に歩くと素敵な足取りになります。
この頃はメダイから見るキリスト教美術が西洋芸術の基礎を作ったと知り、ずっとメダイに描かれた聖の肖像について考えています。
私が死んでもで書いたように、実は長い間、私の住む国は文章の芸術である文芸の分野では余り信仰について触れられておられませんでした。
子供の頃から見掛けていた文庫本の解説に、固定の宗教を持たれている作家は必ず、「仏教的解釈」とか「キリスト教信仰に光を見い出した」とか書かれて、読者に先入観をいきなり与えてしまうのを、作家側が回避したからではないかと思っています。
実は驚いた事に、政治家の議員さんは特定の信仰を持ってはいけない法律があったり、報道各社の方々も特定の信仰を持ってはならない厳しい規則があるそうです。
頼もしいことですね。
当然、敬虔さや各宗教に対する敬意はお持ちです。
ではクリエイターはどうか？ と言うと、余り個人的な事は公に発言しないので、デザイナーの誰それがクリスチャンであるとか、カメラマンの誰それが仏教徒であるとかは尋ねたり、聞かれもしないのに発言したりはしないそうです。
創ったもので語る職業ですので、そんなことは余計なのでしょう。
私は、この考え方がさっぱりして気持ちが良いので好きです。
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| 無原罪の聖母と結び目を解く聖母の両面メダイ |
その内余裕ができたら油彩で描いて頂き、飾ろうと考えて居ます。
私の住む国ではクリエイションを生業とする方も、市井でクリエイションを追求する方も、信仰を持つことを禁止は為れていませんが、知る限り、多くのクリエイター達は幼い頃から新しい者への憎悪や好奇に満ちた嘲笑を向けられ、古典的な信仰には主に自分達を排除する層がいるのかもしれない、と心配であり、また信仰というものに縛られることで自身のクリエイションが制限される恐れをいつも見つめているのかもしれません。
私はメダイについて考えながら、ふと昔すれ違ったクリエイター達が苦しい時にそれであっても自分に従い続けておられる方々が、疲れてしまった時、何かに強く感謝する時の選択のひとつとして、こちらの結び目を解くマリアの聖を思うのをエントリーして頂ければと思い、ご紹介します。
どうしても苦しい時、その問題を何故自分は解くことが出来なのか？
混乱しながらも何とか自分自身が解を取ろうと、数年前、黙って東京の空に似ている窓を持つ部屋で考え込んでいる時に、市井の先輩と敬愛する先輩が
「神様に預けな」
と教えて下さいました。
その方達は強く信仰を禁止されている生業の方達なのに、私の部屋に稼業の商売に感謝する為、日々の小さな暮らしを感謝する為に神棚があるのを見て、そう伝えて下さいました。
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| メダイ 結び目を解くマリア アップ |
何故か私には、ミケランジェロの天地創造の絵が、結び目を解くマリアにリボンを差し出す天使達と重なって見えたからです。
人生の困難や絡まった問題・人間関係の「結び目」を聖母マリアが解きほぐして下さるという、マリア信仰なのだそうです。
先輩達が贈られた言葉を持つ私は、スピノザの神のステップに触れたと思いました。
こちらの聖象は、元は1枚の古いバロック絵画だったそうです。
1986年、のちの教皇フランシスコであるホルヘ・マリオ・ベルゴリオ神父が留学先のドイツでこちらの絵をご覧になり、いたく感激され、沢山の絵葉書を持ち帰り、世界中に広められたそうです。
もし理由がいるのであれば、
結び目を解くマリアという聖象への信仰は、
とても新しい支持と共感のスタートであること、
バロック絵画を移した絵葉書から始まるところが、
絵画や写真、建築の設計の紙は全て絵葉書のように四角に切り取られて居るので、クリエイター達がこのマリア絵画に頼って良いと思います。
長い間、クリエイター達の生業は賎業とされ、私の住む国では社会的地位がとても低く、尊敬はされていますが同時に蔑視の目も向けられています。
もしクリエイター達がその長く広大で豊潤な旅路の途中、何かに頼りたくなった時、このマリア聖象を思い出され、創造し続ける我々はこれ程の者であるのだ。
と鋭く冷静で強い目に戻り、
我々だけが連れて行けるあの回廊で吹く、
気持ちの良い風を想い、
少しだけ笑って欲しいと思っています。
貴方へ
エナメル & 日曜版の全読者（見込み）＆ Prof.O.
& 何がなんだか分からないけれど、うっかり私とこんなカタチで交流しちゃってる方々より
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それでは、素敵な日曜日をお過ごし下さい。
無原罪の聖母と結び目を解く聖母の両面メダイ
伊メダイ 無原罪結び目M（2個セット）
680円(税込)
Shop Pauline / https://shop-pauline.jp/
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| The Medal of the Virgin Mary Who Unties Knots |
Since it’s Sunday, I’m writing something gentle.
We’re well into September now, and here in my country, “Silver Week” began yesterday, Saturday.
Apparently, it’s called the “Silver Generation” because the national holiday “Respect for the Aged Day” falls during this period.
When I was young, I belonged to the “middle-poor” class, so while it was a hassle when consecutive days off meant my paycheck for that month or the next would be reduced, whenever I worked in customer service, I’d put on my uniform with a brighter spirit than usual.
Right now, my town is buzzing with an energy reminiscent of the early days of rapid economic growth. Thanks to the international visitors coming to Blanche City, my neighborhood is always sparkling clean, like a chic tourist destination, and taking a walk there in the early evening creates a KAWAII sense of step.
Right now, my town is buzzing with an energy reminiscent of the early days of rapid economic growth.
As I wrote in *Even If I Die*, for a long time, the literary world—the art of the written word—in the country where I live has actually rarely touched upon matters of faith.
I’ve noticed since I was a child that the introductions to paperback books I’ve read always mention that authors with a specific religious affiliation are described as having a “Buddhist interpretation” or having “found light in the Christian faith,” which immediately imposes preconceptions on readers.
Surprisingly, it turns out there are laws prohibiting elected officials from holding specific religious beliefs, and I’ve heard there are also strict rules preventing members of the media from holding specific religious belief.
That’s reassuring.
Of course, they do have a sense of piety and respect for various religions.
So what about creators? Well, since they don’t tend to discuss personal matters in public, they apparently don’t ask—or volunteer information—about whether a certain designer is Christian or a certain photographer is Buddhist, even when no one asks.
Since this is a profession where you express yourself through your creations, such things are probably unnecessary.
I like this way of thinking because it’s so refreshing and makes me feel good.
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| Double-Sided Medal of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and Our Lady Who Unties Knots |
Of all the saints depicted on the various medals, my favorite is the Virgin Mary Untying the Knot.
I’m thinking that once I have some free time, I’d like to have you paint it in oils so I can display it.
I’m thinking that once I have some free time, I’d like to have you paint it in oils so I can display it.In the country where I live, neither those who make a living from their creative work nor those who pursue it as a hobby are prohibited from having a faith.
However, as far as I know, many creators have been subjected to hatred and mockery filled with curiosity toward anything new since childhood. They may worry that traditional faith communities might include groups that seek to exclude them, and they may constantly fear that being bound by faith will limit their own creativity.
Thinking about the Medal of Mary, it suddenly occurred to me that the creators I’ve crossed paths with in the past—those who, even in times of hardship, have continued to follow their own path—might find it helpful to reflect on the image of the Virgin Mary Untying the Knot as one option when they’re feeling exhausted or when they feel a deep sense of gratitude for something.
So, I’d like to share this with you.
When things get really tough, why can’t I solve that problem on my own?
A few years ago, as I sat lost in thought—still confused but determined to find the answer on my own—in a room with a window that resembled the sky over Tokyo, a senior colleague from the business world and a senior I deeply respect told me,
“Entrust it to God,”
That’s what they taught me.
Even though they work in a line of work where religious practice is strictly prohibited, when they saw the kamidana in my room—which I keep there to give thanks for my business and for the small joys of daily life—they conveyed this to me.
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| The Medal of the Virgin Mary Who Unties Knots |
When I saw this sacred image, I felt that if there is a Creator God, He must be within this painting.
For some reason, Michelangelo’s painting of “The Creation of Adam” seemed to overlap in my mind with the angels offering ribbons to Mary as she unties the knots.
It seems this is a form of Marian devotion in which the Virgin Mary is said to untangle the “knots” of life’s difficulties, complicated problems, and interpersonal relationships.
With the words my seniors had given me, I felt I had touched upon Spinoza’s concept of God.
It is said that this sacred image originally came from a single old Baroque painting.
In 1986, Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio—who would later become Pope Francis—saw this painting while studying in Germany.
He was deeply moved by it, brought back many postcards, and is said to have helped spread it throughout the world.
If a reason is needed,
Faith in the sacred image of Mary, the Untier of Knots,
marks the beginning of a new wave of support and empathy,
and since it all started with postcards featuring reproductions of Baroque paintings—
and since all paintings, photographs, and architectural designs are cropped into square shapes like postcards—I believe creators can rely on this image of Mary.
For a long time, the work of creators has been considered a lowly occupation; in the country where I live, their social status is very low, and while they are respected, they are also viewed with contempt.
If, at some point during their long, vast, and rich journey, creators find themselves wanting something to lean on, I hope they will remember this image of the Virgin Mary and realize: “This is who we are—those who continue to create.”
As your eyes return to their sharp, calm, and strong light,
Thinking of that refreshing wind that blowing through
that corridor where only we can take people,
that corridor where only we can take people,
I hope you’ll smile just a little.
To You
All readers (and potential readers) of Enamel & the Sunday Edition & Prof. O.
& those who, even though they don’t quite understand what’s going on, have inadvertently ended up interacting with me in this way.
& those who, even though they don’t quite understand what’s going on, have inadvertently ended up interacting with me in this way.
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Well then, have a wonderful Sunday.
Double-Sided Medal of the Immaculate Conception
and Our Lady of the Untied Knots
Italian Medal: Immaculate Conception and Untied Knots M (Set of 2)
680 yen (tax included)
Italian Medal: Immaculate Conception and Untied Knots M (Set of 2)
680 yen (tax included)
Shop Pauline / https://shop-pauline.jp/
