Free statue in the mail
Alex received a large plaster statue in the mail from out of the blue. It is of the Holy Family-- Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus. Mary is sitting in Joseph's over-large lap, like Michelangelo's Pieta, and she is holding Jesus. The statue was entitled "A Quiet Moment." This was delivered by a company that describes itself as a Christian company that wants to spread some family values around. The statue came with an innocuous-sounding prayer card that they offer you to pray to God while contemplating this idyllic family scene. They also request that you put the statue on display for your parishioners so they can consider buying one for $35.
This is one of the most strategically sneaky attempts that I've seen for a Catholic company to work its way into a Protestant church culture. The statue is something that wouldn't look out of place as a Christmas decoration. The accomanying booklet and prayer card makes no mention of Mary or petitioning her; and the word "Catholic" is never used, in favor of the less specific "Christian." The emphasis on "family values" is reminiscent of Dobson. The composer of the prayer is described as a "Rev.", not as a "Father" which is his actual common title. Only a web search on the company reveals it to be a very Mary-loving Catholic community. I'm a little put out by the deliberate deception. I thought Catholics were usually above this. This smacks of the evangelical churches (better call them "faith communities") who take the name of their denomination out of their church sign in order to be deliberately vague for marketing purposes.
So we ask each other, "What do we do with this statue?" It's nice enough as a statue. I suggested that I could try painting it and maybe we could incorporate it into Christmas decoration. Either that or we could leave it on our front deck for the next guy who comes around our place to drop off Jack Chick tracts. But maybe I should leave that story to Alex -- it's very funny!
I'm really quite hungry, but it's pretty late to be eating. What to do?
8 Comments:
I noticed the time that you posted a comment on my site--and then the time of this post too--couldn't sleep? I hear that a glass of warm milk with a tsp of molasses in it is a wonderful remedy and will put you to sleep....
Sounds like a nice statue--I suggest you paint it and put it on display!
Just in case you're curious, I made a post about the Chick tract on my blog.
I already left comments on the Chick tract at Alex's blog. This is sounding like a bargain basement episode of Twilight Zone.
wps+
You mean the experience of receiving the statue, the experience of receiving the tract, or the actual creepiness of the tract itself? Any of the above seem to qualify from my standpoint. =o)
I'd be tempted to send the company your blog post.
Something tells me I need to read Alex's post to get the full story... anything that is commented on as a "bargain basement twilight zone" sounds intriguing. Congrats on receiving a new "Christmas decoration". Sounds like the best use for me.
Trace K.
Okay, so this is off topic, but the name of the Colombian artist that I told you about on the phone is (Fernando) Botero--he uses bright colours and does, umm, exageratedly chubby people.
Um...I mean to put this here:
My vote: you paint it. ;}
Post a Comment
<< Home