Day Twenty Eight - The posture of prayer

Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653) - Mary Magdalene

It is quite interesting to watch people settle into prayer when I announce ‘let us pray’ during a worship service. Most close their eyes, some clasp their hands, many go for what I call ‘the Nonconformist stoop’ and bow their head and shoulders. I have never seen anyone adopt this position though.

This is Mary Magdalene at prayer. I love how her face is lifted to the light as if she is allowing God’s face to shine upon her (Number 6:24-26). I love how comfortably her hands clasp her knee as if she might rock herself with comfort or delight, the way that children sometimes do. Yes, there is a sensuality about the picture with the shoulder exposed, the falling hair and the creases around the armpit (here I am obliged to point out that this picture has been painted by a woman who understands what real women’s bodies are like rather than the artist’s ideal). If this is a bit much then consider this, if prayer isn’t offering every part of ourselves to God, including our desire, then perhaps the Song of Songs needs editing from our Bibles.

Usually, Mary Magdalene is painted as an ex-prostitute, half-clothed and repentant in a barren landscape. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Mary was a sex-worker only that she was delivered of evil spirits by Jesus. Who knows what troubles, past traumas these might have been? Mary is a form of the name Miriam who sang and danced when the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea. Magdala was an ancient fishing port on the Sea of Galilee and means ‘tower’. This is the woman who knew freedom in following Jesus and was one of the first to witness the resurrection. Mary the Tower. That sounds like a name that has come from Jesus. The artist, Artemisia Gentileschi, was an equally strong and passionate woman who had spoken up against her rapist, was tortured to see if she was telling the truth, gained a conviction against him and forged a career in the male-dominated world of Renaissance art. People cast aspersions on her character, but Artemisia carried on with confidence. There are some similarities with her own features in this artwork.

Doesn’t Mary look free as she prays? Doesn’t she look strengthened, like a tower, in prayer? Her posture is open and not closed to God.

I am not really interested in how you sit or stand when you pray, trust me I’m not, but I wonder what your inner spiritual posture might be? There are times when my inner self is prostrate but then there are other occasions when it is like I am lifting my face to the sunshine. Perhaps think first about your heart - is it heavy? Is it light like Mary’s in the painting? Try adapting your posture accordingly. I would be interested to know if it aids you in your prayer.

Suzanne Nockels