Augsburg, Staats- und Stadtbibliothek — Th H 1475. Digital Reproduction: München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, 2015.
In chapter 31 of book 2, Molanus examines a further matter regarding errors and whether they are dangerous errors and how to deal with them; this discussion starts in the preceding chapter. The central position in this chapter is taken by errors that are not real errors even though they do not correspond to the Scriptures or the teachings of the Church. The problem lays often in the fact that there is no certainty in the Scriptures about the matter nor a univocal position among the commentators. The cases presented by Molanus in this and the previous chapter are also often relatively popular depictions among the popular devotees, which requires an even more careful stance from the authorities. For Molanus in these cases, the most important aspect to consider is whether these errors still can be probable, because if so, he does not see a strong motive to adjust or abolish them.
The third case addressed in the chapter is the iconography of Mary showing her heart and chest to Christ and Christ showing his wounds to God. This depiction of Christ and the Holy Virgin would have been derived from the Sermons of St. Bernard and like in the sermons also in paintings this iconography has to be understood in a figurative sense.
“The image of the Mother of God showing her breast to her Son is taken from the Sermons of St. Bernard, whose words are frequently quoted: ‘Man, you have assured access to God where the Mother is before the Son and the Son before the Father. The Mother shows her heart and her breast to her Son, and the Son shows the Father his side and his wounds. No request can be refused where such sublime charity is manifested.’ So just as I understand Bernard’s words in a figurative sense, I judge that one must understand in the same sense the image one draws from them.”
“Imago Deiparae ostendentis filio suo ubera, desumpta est ex verbis S. Bernardi quae ex sermonibus eius frequenter citati solent, ‘O homo securum habes accessum ad Deum, ubi mater ante filium, filius ante patrem. Mater ostendit filio pectu et ubera, filius ostendit patri latus vulnera. Ibi non potest esse ulla repulsa ubi tot sunt chartitas insignia.’ Verum sicut figuratem intelligo verba Bernardi, six imaginem ex eis verbis desumptam intelligendam arbitror.”
Molanus 1996, 213-214.; L. Kretzenbacher, Schutz- und Bittgebärden der Gottesmutter, Munich: C.H. Beck, 1981.
