The Catechetical Review - Communicating Christ for a New Evangelization

Learning through Art: The Woman with the Haemorrhage

Authored by Dr. Caroline Farey in Issue #34.3 of The Sower
Fresco of woman with HaemorrhageThis fresco image is very simply drawn and easily passed over because of this simplicity. It is, however, worth pausing to look at the few details for these details illustrate extraordinary messages the Church has found in this event told in the Scriptures. This fresco can be seen in the catacombs of Sts Marcellinus and Peter in Rome, dating from the beginning of the fourth century. Catacomb art reveals truths about the faith of these earliest Christians that are valuable for us to consider. For example, much of the fresco art is found in the cubicles made for Christian family burials. The art, rather than indicating the identity of the family, frequently turns the viewer towards the message of Christ and his Church, so much so that the family name is unknown. It is as if fresco art were saying, ‘For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God’ (Col.3:3).

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This article is from The Sower and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of Maryvale Institute. Contact [email protected]

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