Little Madonnas

Every day in the morning when I get out on my balcony with a cup of coffee I am greeted with a serene smile of Madonna. Here she is in direct line of my sight on the corner of a busy street in an oval frame, and a little roof above that is protecting her from excessive sun or rain. Despite of that protection the colors of the painting darkened with time but she didn’t become the mere background, I see people pausing in front of her now and then.

Shot straight from the balcony.

Much better image from Le Madonnelle di Roma

This Madonna is not the only one in our busy neighborhood – almost every street or a square around our house has its own small painting of Madonna. Those images are called Madonelle (Little Madonnas, in reference to their small size) and are meant to be  the silent protectors of Rome. Some of Madonelle are dating back to 17th century, some – to the 1950s; some - became present but invisible feature of the streets and some - are well taken care of. It is immensely touching that it is the image of a Mother that graces so many places here. It is in tune with Italian culture and with a human nature overall. In a way Mary is the most accessible and relatable character of the divine force. The arch of her life resonates with the lives of many women; a daughter, a maiden, a wife, a mother, a woman of a certain age. I love how her stories are told in visual images – the birth, the marriage, the death.

Birth of the Virgin 
Pietro Cavallini late 1290s
 Sta.Maria in Trastavere, Rome

  Marriage of the Virgin,
Rafael, 1504

Death of the Virgin,
Bartolomeo Vivarini, 1485

 Of course, there are two uncommon events that firmly place her into the realm of divine - the Annunciation which led to her becoming the Mother of God and the Assumption/Coronation that transformed her into the Queen of Heaven. Between those two miraculous events though she endured the most cruel of fates – the loss of her child – and it will always connect her with the suffering of humans. Did she ever tell her son, how so many mothers, “What are you doing with all that preaching? Are you crazy? It is dangerous, you get yourself killed!” It is easy to  imagine, isn't it? This unity of divine and humanity often reflects in the color of her clothing, she usually depicted wearing blue and red. She carries numerous titles, most of them emphasize her Status as the Mother of God and the Queen of Heaven, but some are more lyrical and closer to earth: Our Lady of Sorrow, Madonna of Humility, Madonna del Latte, Madonna del Roses. There is one title though that always spoke to me - Stella Maris / Our Lady, the Star of the Sea, first used in the 9th century. The title underlines her role as a sign of hope and as a guiding light of mankind, and the star on her clothing serves as a visual reminder.

 In the 12th century Saint Bernard of Clairvaux wrote:

If the winds of temptation arise, if you are driven upon the rocks of tribulation

Look to the Star, Call on Mary;

If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, of ambition, of envy, of rivalry,

Look to the Star, Call on Mary

Much later Paul McCartney echoed his words with:

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary come to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

He wrote it about his mother Mary, who once, long after her death, appeared in his dream and brought him the words of comfort when he needed it, but the image of Madonna brought to our minds nevertheless. (It is said that John Lennon really disliked the Biblical overtones of this song).

Whether one believes or not in the protection of Madonnelle  I keep wondering about all the  events that they have witnessed over the years.