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

Last week's Coronation had a much more subtle Trinitarian theology than this English carving in alabaster! Here, the three Divine Persons are depicted as three  people. The "unity" of the Trinity goes right out the window. (The Three aren't even seated on the same throne!)

Most of the time in art of this kind, the Heavenly Father is the central figure, and Christ is seated "at the right hand of the Father." The figure on our left is definitely Jesus: he is showing us his naked human chest, his pierced side, so we know for sure that it was the one who died on a cross for us. As for the central figure, I am not so sure: is that a dove on the his shoulder? And a triple tiara on the figure to our right? Well, however it was construed in the 15th century alabaster workshop of London or York, confusing representations of the one God as three humans are no longer acceptable in liturgical or devotional art!

Coronation of the Virgin

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.

Pray it in Latin!

Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,

R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Gaude et lætare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum lætificare dignatus es:
præsta, quæsumus, ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuæ capiamus gaudia vitæ.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

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

This incredible Gothic Coronation emphasizes Trinitarian theology. God, enthroned and in the act of crowning the Virgin, is wearing a kind of cloak-pin that is a Trinitarian symbol. The features are not those of Jesus (I can't see nail-marks in the hands), but more like a traditional representation of God the Father. Unless there is a missing dove broken from the top of the frame, or that's a dove in the center of the cloak-pin, there does not seem to be a visual sign of the Holy Spirit, either. What do you think?

From the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya:

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.

Pray it in Latin!

Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,

R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Gaude et lætare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum lætificare dignatus es:
præsta, quæsumus, ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuæ capiamus gaudia vitæ.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

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

 

"I believe in the Resurrection of the dead!" We say it in the Creed: Sancho Sánchez Carrillo and his wife Juana said it almost 1,000 years ago in commissioning art for their grave when they made sure that a full panel featured the Annunciation, Nativity, Dormition of Mary and the Coronation (above). Sadly, most of the images have suffered to the degree that we can't enjoy the beauty of Our Lady's face, but the expression of faith still comes through.

From the Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

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.

Pray it in Latin!

Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,

R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Gaude et lætare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum lætificare dignatus es:
præsta, quæsumus, ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuæ capiamus gaudia vitæ.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

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

The Lord is Risen! Celebrating the glorious Resurrection of Jesus, the Church shifts for 50 days from praying the Angelus (commemorating the Incarnation) to praying the Regina Coeli: an exultant prayer to Mary over her Son's victory over death, the grave, sin, all of it (for us!). 

Here at The Angelus Project, the Easter season means a 7 week shift from Annunciations to images of the Coronation of the Virgin. Even though that is not quite the scene we are praying with, it does reflect the first words: "Regina Coeli" (Queen of Heaven).

Our first Coronation of the year is from a Missal and Book of Hours according to the use of the Friars Minor (Franciscans). Its origin is Milanese, circa 1380. I love that it truly depicts Mary as "Queen of Heaven" by presenting the ranks of saints in prayer in the foreground.

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.

Pray it in Latin!

Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:

R. Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,

R. Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

Gaude et lætare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.

R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.

Oremus. Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
mundum lætificare dignatus es:
præsta, quæsumus, ut per eius Genitricem Virginem Mariam,
perpetuæ capiamus gaudia vitæ.
Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

Praying the Angelus with Art: This Week's Image

This mid-14th century Annunciation was created for a book of hours now known as the Taymouth Hours,  in the collection of the British Library. The muted colors are fitting as we enter Holy Week.