Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

Continuing to draw from the resources at ChristianIconography.info (where you can also find a larger image), The Angelus Project presents this Annunciation from late 18th century Mexico (today found in the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York City). It is on a "nun's badge."

Dr Richard Stracke explains:
Mary kneels on a carpeted dais in front of a book on a small table, rather than at a prie-dieu. This and the angel's entry from the right are unusual for this period, so it may be that the badges reflect actual practice among the Mexican nuns.

The secondary figures are, clockwise from the top: The Trinity, Unidentified saint, St. Anthony of Padua (tonsure, Franciscan habit, Christ Child in arms), St. Francis of Assisi (Franciscan habit, stigmata), two unidentified friars, unidentified woman saint, unidentified nun (pen, book), St. Gertrude of Helfta, unidentified saint, unidentified martyr (armor, palm, crucifix), St. Hyacinth (monstrance, Madonna and Child) unidentified saint (cruciform banner, Dominican habit), St. Nicholas of Tolentino (sunburst on chest).

Photographed at the site by Richard Stracke,

shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.    

Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

The green vestments at this morning's Mass tell us that Ordinary Time has resumed, and with it, the praying of the Angelus after 7 weeks of the Regina Coeli. For the next few weeks, our Annunciations will be drawn from those featured on the fascinating Christian Iconography website where you may find yourself lost for hours investigating the way the faith has been encoded in art through the ages. Many thanks to Dr Richard Stracke for this resource!)

This first Annunciation is a modern-day tribute to the Annunciations of the medieval era; a detail from a 1950's stained glass window in Munich, Germany.

Photographed by Richard Stracke,
shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.    

Praying the Regina Coeli with Art: This Week's Image

During the Easter season, we traditionally replace the Angelus prayer with the Regina Coeli. And so Call to Prayer: The Angelus Project will feature images of the Coronation of the Virgin in place of the usual Annunciation.

From the 14th century Wettinger Graduale (Switzerland) comes this Coronation within the letter G. Dr. Richard Stracke explains on his Christian Iconography website:

The text on the page contains the beginning of the hymns for the Feast of All Saints. Accordingly, saints of various kinds in the lower half gaze up to Christ and the Virgin Mary, who wear identical crowns and sit amid angels with censers.

From Easter to Pentecost, pray the Regina Coeli (in place of the Angelus) three times a day: morning, noon and evening.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia!
R. For he whom you deserved to bear, Alleluia!
Has risen as he said, Alleluia!
R. Pray for us to God, Alleluia! 

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
For the Lord has truly risen, Alleluia!

Let us pray:
O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant, we beseech thee, that through the intercession of his Mother, the Virgin Mary,
we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.