St Michael and puny angels

'Here St Michael is battling his way through the abstract
jaws of the Dragon (beautiful "Lucifer, son of the morning" made hideous by hate and pride) and show that what is seen of evil is not the worst. St Michael is battling his way through the unseen thoughts, feelings, vibes and powers.'
- Josefina de Vasconcellos FRBS, AWG, IPI, Hon Dlitt, MBE



There is a sculpture of Saint Michael is at Cartmel Priory. St Michael, the protector of Israel and patron saint of sensible clothing retailers (possibly) is often represented as a powerful, muscular figure. In the tradition of Greek/Roman heroes/gods. His job is generally fighting against the devil, so he needs to be up to the task physically. Which is where this sculpture is different. When asked why her sculpture was not like, for example, Epstein's muscular St Michael of Coventry Cathedral, Josefina replied that "you cannot overcome evil with physical strength".

I can relate to this St Michael. Perhaps it's because I don't have muscles. Well I do, but they provide basic locomotory function and not much more. I can open screw-tops and stack 4 chairs at once, so I don't really need any more than my 'knots on cotton' (as my grandmother described the family biceps.)
Spiritual muscles are more important. We all need to work on them. Use them or lose them. Just started to read Tom Wright's 'Virtue Reborn'. I think that's what he's working towards saying. i.e. We need to be morally fit for purpose by working on our spiritual strength, daily.

I hope he is saying that, and yet if he is, I could save myself 200 pages of reading. Hopefully he goes into detail. (I may edit this later if I'm wrong!)

Not sure if it's a good idea to post something then come back later and change/delete it. People do that all the time, especially in repentance of something that could be hurtful. Life should have an undo button too, but it doesn't work like that. I suppose that's why we need to be people of virtue, all the time, as Tom probably says.

Location:Cartmel Priory