Comments on: Blood, Water, and Spirit

By: Tracy M

Tracy M — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:32:44 +0000

Thank you, John.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:56:37 +0000

I would have died from hemorrhaging after the birth of my firstborn if not for the blessing my husband gave me commanding me to live, so I’m especially sensitive to the risks mothers take when giving birth. My own experience led me to think of childbirth and the atonement in a similar way. Thanks for the reminder.

By: JA Benson

JA Benson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 03:39:29 +0000

thank you John. Your thoughts are original (at least to me) and thought provoking. Merry Christmas

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:19:49 +0000

Thanks, John. I think this is a Christmas post I will remember for a long time – like Brad’s last year that still pops into my mind occasionally.

By: Jared

Jared — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:56:33 +0000

John–a great read. Thanks for sharing.

By: cheryl

cheryl — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:07:02 +0000

John, this post is fabulous. I’ve been pondering about Mary this year more than any other year; wondering how she would have felt having her very first experience with child birth (it’s VERY scary the first time, I believe. Well, at least it was for me! By the fourth child, it’s still hard/nerve-wracking, but it’s not as scary because it’s no longer the “unknown”). And I absolutely love the idea of blood, water, and Spirit.

Beautiful. Thank you.

By: John C.

John C. — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:40:29 +0000

Thanks for the clarification, smb. Let this be a lesson regarding the use of Wikipedia to you all.

Susan, that is a beautiful statue. Thank you for sharing that.

By: Susan M

Susan M — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:36:53 +0000

Neat post, John. I visited Bob Hope's grave recently. He's buried at the San Fernando (Catholic) Mission, one of the historical Missions of California, in the Bob Hope Memorial Garden. Above his grave is a statue of Joseph, Mary, and Christ as a baby. Maybe I'm not too familiar with Catholic depictions of Mary, but it struck me as really unique and interesting. You can see a picture of it here.

By: smb

smb — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:36:14 +0000

nice post. thanks for reminder of travails.
minor medical errata: “preeclampsia”, sepsis=bacterial infection, embolisms=thromboembolic disease (aka blood clots), and, rarely amniotic fluid embolism, obstetrical hemorrhages=peripartum hemorrhage.
and strictly speaking ectopic pregnancies don’t cause death during childbirth.
ok to delete errata.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:51:47 +0000

I have always loved that verset in Moses (“For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified”). I had never, ever thought to apply it in the way you have today. John C. Thanks for the beautiful post.

So, today, I would alter the angel’s exclamation to Nephi, and say, “Behold the condescension of Mary!” Ave, ave Maria, indeed.