Mano Poderosa de Dios Retablo

La Mano Podersoa de Dios Retablo
Circa 1880

Santa Anna, Santa Maria, El Santo Nino, San Jose and San Joachim are represented collectively as The Extended Holy Family in this 19th century Mexican Mano Poderosa retablo. La Mano Poderosa de Dios is considered a powerful amulet and an ancient talisman concretized centuries before as a Pagan symbol of magical protection. In Mexico The Omnipotent hand is petitioned by those seeking to alleviate poverty, illness, pain and suffering and for protection against temptation, evil and desire.  The hand represents the Hand of Christ after the Crucifixion with blood flowing from the stigmata into an open gold. Along the lower edge, in lieu of the seven sacrificial lambs that are often depicted in this subject, the author of this retablo chose instead the seven keys symbolizing the seven holy sacraments. The letters 'BCPCEOM' stand for:

'Bautismo, Comunión, Penitencia, Confirmación, Extrema Unción, Orden Sacerdotal y Matrimonio'.

or

'Baptism, Communion, Penitence, Confirmation, Last Rights, Holy Orders and Matrimony'.

Dimensions: 14 inches x 10 inches. 

Condition: paint loss, minor wrinkles in tin.

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