theological mystery in Mouthomet

 Bob, Lily and I took a day out to go to the seaside. Despite the heavy rain and the grim forecast we trusted to luck and went over the mountains via Mouthomet.

 At Mouthomet there is a wayside chapel, iron-gated and generally not too accessible but with the camera it was possible to see the statue over the altar. Astonishingly it seems to be St Anne hitting her daughter Mary.
Of course child abuse and the church are well-documented but this image is baffling as Mary was born without sin and therefore could not be naughty.
Couldn't be bad; shouldn't be chastised.

Perhaps it isn't St Anne and the Virgin? In the many images of Anne and Mary - normally Anne teaching her child to read - she has this kind of kit on - plus the child is carrying a book. And who else could it be?
It took a few kilometers before I realised a credible answer.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, that says Mary was conceived, born and died without the possibility of sinning - hence without free will, though as far as I recall the doctrine doesn't spell that out - wasn't made dogmatic until 1854. In 1854 therefore it became an obligatory part of catholic belief. Before that, not so. We can assume then that the statue pre-dates 1854; or that there was an heretical group in Mouthamet. Given the Cathar history of the region that wouldn't be a surprise:)

 

It turned out to be a fabulous day. There were layers of mist and rainbows over the mountains. One I'II never forget seemed to come out of the roof of the Chateau at Villerouge and as we saw it an eagle flew through it feet first. Missed the photo, bah.

Temperatures at the med went up to 18 degrees, no-one on the beaches, moules frites and a local thin white wine for lunch. Paradise.