Can I tell you that I have started and stopped posts about this little statue three or four times? I have had him since October.
October!!! A lifetime in blog years!
I don't know what's wrong with me. I guess I don't want to offend anyone by saying something weird or irreverent about a religious statue, so I'm frozen in space. Do I call it a statue? Do I call it an icon? Do I capitalize the H in the word "him"? I just don't know!!!!
I do know that I like the statue and it has sat on my desk every day since I bought it in October.
When I saw it sitting on the top shelf at the thrift, totally out of place among the brass candlesticks and smelly cookie tins, I was oddly drawn to the statue. The light jadeite green of the interior of his robe (see, I almost called it a coat) was beautiful. The whole coloring of the statue shouted 1940's to me.
And I just felt that I needed to save him from his lowly resting place. How something like this comes to a thrift store bothers me. Was the owner now deceased and her relatives callously threw it in a donation box?
It wasn't until I checked out that day that I noticed that the fingers on it were broken. Not a big deal to me since I love the chippy and well loved look. But a big deal to the thrift store clerk. She insisted that it should not have made it to the sales floor since it was broken. She told me that they normally throw damaged things in the trash when they are sorting donations.
The trash??? Not the trash!!! Does she not understand what those words do to a hoarder's thrifter's soul!
When I got the statue home and looked it up on the internet, a few coincidences between my statue and the original statue struck me.
Wikipedia (which we all know is the ultimate true source of all information) tells the story of the original Infant Jesus of Prague statue. To make a long story short, the original statue ended up being discarded in the trash and having its hand broken off.
Trash? The thrift store clerk mentioned that mine should have been in the trash!
Broken hand? Mine has a broken hand!
Coincidences aside, I have thought recently about taking it (see I'm calling it "it", so as to avoid the whole "him" capitalization dilemma) to the local nursing home and seeing if there is someone there that would cherish it for its religious value. It seems selfish of me to just admire it for its prettiness factor rather than letting someone else use it as intended.
What's you opinion? If you were not of the Catholic faith, would you keep the statue because it's pretty? Or find a new Catholic home for it?
Jeannie and Linda
Hello Pam, I think this little statue is adorable. I have quite a few around my house, and when I see one it reminds me to say a simple prayer of thanks. What better reason to keep it? After all you were drawn to it.
Jeannie
pink*cherub*moon
I love old statues like this and am always on the look-out for them. I think that they need a home, just like you gave to this one. I'm Catholic and they remind me of my uncle's church (he was a priest) and how I admired all the statues when I was a child. I too always wonder how items like this get discarded as I would never have the heart to do so (I feel this way about family pictures too) I don't think that you have to be Catholic to keep the piece. If it brings you joy for whatever reason, then keep it. If you would be more joyful giving it away, then that is the right thing to do. It's up to you really. Whichever you decide, I hope that He will have a good home! I found your blog through Feathered Nest Friday and will be following, looking forward to reading more posts. Hugs, Leena
Fairhope Supply Co.
Very beautiful. And I think non-Catholics can appreciate the Saints as well.
Leslie Harris
Pam I think you are such a sweet, sensitive person to be sharing this story in a post. I appreciate your desire to do the right thing and your worry about showing any insensitivity to others. This is the kind of goodness the Infant represents.
Leslie (aka Gwen Moss)
Sue
I say keep and display this icon, Pam. I don't think it's irreverent for you to do so. I never saw any one in my family ever actually praying to religious statues. But then, maybe they just bought them because they were pretty! How's it going, girlfriend? Are you third of our cold and damp winter weather yet? Can't wait for spring to make its appearance!
Marci
Coming from a practicing Catholic, I say if you like him and enjoy looking at him then you should keep him. That being said, if you were to, say, throw him in the tub of Barbies for the kids to play with, or use it in your halloween haunted house decoration, or something similiarly sacreligious then no, donate him. Same goes to people that use rosary beads to decorate their dress forms with. Something about that just bothers me. Give religious icons the reverence they deserve. Just my humble opinion 🙂
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
Your Holy Infant of Prague figure is lovely and has so much character. I have a small collection of Holy Infant of Prague figures. There was a period of time when I kept running across them at flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales, etc. Each one is different. I am not Catholic, but I do find each Holy Infant figure to be beautiful. It makes me feel calm and happy every time I look at them. I like to think of who might have had them before me, and who will appreciate them after me. It may be that if the Holy Infant of Prague statue you found makes you happy, it was meant to have come home with you.
I posted photos of my little collection of "found" Holy Infant of Prague figures back on December 24. You may find it interesting how they are each the same, but yet different from one another, and different from the one you have.
Mary Ann
For those wondering how these can end up in thrift stores, I have one simple explanation. We can't keep everything that belonged to our parents. When my father died, we had to clean out his house. There were quite a few religious statues and icons. Growing up Roman Catholic, but no longer practicing, we couldn't bring ourselves to throw them away as that just seemed wrong. But with so many items to sort and make decisions about, these did not make the cut. So they were donated to a thrift store, in hopes that someone else might wish to have them.
Patty
Pam, I'm not Catholic, but I am a Christian and I love vintage, so I am drawn to any religious icon, be it saints, Mary, Jesus, or rosaries. I try to learn what each piece is so I know what I have and doing that I learn much. I also hate to see these in thrift shops, wondering what their lives were before I found them. But I'd rather see them on a store shelf than in the trash. I once found a plaster bust of Jesus in a curbside trash pile. I couldn't leave him there and he came home with me. Save them all ! Thank you for sharing your story, Pam.
craftyles
If you like him, you should keep him. I would! He's wonderful.
Robin
He is sweet. I'd say keep him. If he popped out at you at the store it must mean you like it. so keep it.
Blessed Serendipity
You don't have to be a Catholic to be drawn to the beauty of a Catholic image of Jesus. Enjoy Him and perhaps pass Him on to a Catholic someday if you wish.
Danielle
Ellie VanCaster
I was raised Catholic also and I feel like if I gives you comfort and joy you should keep it-I don't believe Catholic vs other religions-it is all one God and you were drawn to this statue maybe for this very questioning.
Have a good week
rockpaperscissors
You saved a very sweet baby!
Marissa
Thank you for buying this baby Jesus ..as a Catholic I am in awe how it ended up in thrift store!!..
Linda@Coastal Charm
I say keep it, and thanks for sharing at my party.
Blessings,
Linda