THE SECOND "SISTER"

MARY SALOME is the young woman dressed in green, and supporting the Virgin Mary with her hands. Rogier paints her face as almost identical to that of the Virgin Mary, perhaps to show they are related by blood? Tradition tells us she is the sister of the Virgin Mary.  Mary Salomé’s head and part of her body are covered by heavy, olive-green velvet.  Her outfit is not as austere as her older sister's,  perhaps to denote some wealth? She  is also painted as much younger.  Interesting to note that both the Virgin Mary and her "older sister", Mary Clopas, have their hair covered, but Mary Salome  has lovely tresses showing.

St. Mary Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the apostles John and James the Greater. Known as the “Sons of Thunder”, these two great men were among the first to be chosen by Jesus to follow Him. 

She would be one of the “three Marys” to follow Jesus and minister to Him and His disciples. Thought to be the financial source for their travels, Mary Salome, along with Mary Magdalene and others, would give all they had to further the works of Jesus and His followers.

Mary Salome was a witness to the crucifixion, entombment and was mentioned by St Mark as one of the women who went to anoint the Lord’s body, finding Him to be resurrected. In the Gospel, Mary Salome asks what place her sons will have in the Kingdom. Jesus tells her that it is the Father who decides and that they will have to follow His example and earn their place in paradise.

Her grief seems more subdued  than that of Mary Clopas, though no less  piercing. One wonders what these holy women, His "aunts" were experiencing? To have walked with Him, perhaps His whole life, thinking He was the Savior of His people, and to have it all end so tragically!