Schutzmantelmadonna

As I was working up the previous post on St. Stephan's Cathedral in Vienna, I came across a particular image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in my helpful color booklet.  She is "Protective Mantle Madonna," "Schutzmantelmadonna" in German.

Let me quote from the booklet:

Mary with Child -- beneath her cloak, people of various walks of life seek refuge.  Since about the mid-13th century, there have been depictions availing themselves of the legal symbol of the protective mantle in order to express redemptive safety.  The oldest prayer to Mary handed down to us, discovered on a 3rd century Coptic papyrus found in the desert sands and still used today in Eastern Orthodox Litany, runs, "We flee into your mercy, Holy Mother, do not spurn our prayer in need, but save us from danger, O immaculate and blessed Mary, full of grace."

Mary stands as "Theodokos," that is, "Mother of God," in the center of saintly adoration -- but only because in her role as Holy Mother, mother of life, special reverence is due her, and through her the miraculous ways of God and Jesus are honored.

There are actually 96 representations of Mary in St. Stephan's Cathedral in Vienna, and at least three of them are "Protective-Mantle Madonnas."  I found these representations of the similar image of Mary on the net.

I find this image strangely attractive and touching. The extension of Mary's arms brings to mind the contemporary hymn, "All Are Welcome."  The first image--from St. Stephan's Cathedral--depicts Mary with a very human and kindly face.  

My first thought in looking at this is that this is a visual representation of the Vatican II understanding of the church as the People of God.  All are gathered under the mantle of the Mother of Jesus, the first to hear the Word of God.  My second thought is to double down on the "mantle," and recall the Virgin of Guadalupe.  She imprinted her own image on the mantle (tilma), the rough cloak of Juan Diego in 1531.  

A third connection is Mary as mother of mercy.  This fits very well with Pope Francis's call for an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.  

In his bull announcing the Jubilee Year, Misericordiae Vultus, Francis writes, "My thoughts now turn to the Mother of Mercy.  May the sweetness of her countenance watch over us in this Holy Year, so that all of us may rediscover the joy of God's tenderness.  No one has penetrated the profound mystery of the incarnation like Mary.  Her entire life was patterned after the presence of mercy made flesh.  The Mother of the Crucified and Risen One has entered the sanctuary of divine mercy because she participated intimately in the mystery of His love....

"Mary attests that the mercy of the Son of God knows no bounds and extends to everyone, without exception.  Let us address her in the words of the Salve Regina, a prayer ever ancient and ever new, so that she may never tire of turning her merciful eyes upon us, and make us worthy to contemplate the face of mercy, her Son Jesus."  (#24)

Perhaps you have seen this particular image of Protective Mantle Madonna in other churches.  If so, let me know.