Pondering the Angelus with Art: into a New Year

The Royal Doors from a Romanian Church seem to be a fitting representation of our prayer as we prepare to go through the doors of 2014 into a new Year. May we take the Angel's greeting with us so that we, too, recognize how "highly favored" we are every day. Every day of 2015 may we respond, "Be it done to me."

Pondering the Angelus with Art

In these final days of Advent, Gabriel appears to be informing all of us of an unexpected and earth-changing event.

Contemporary Italian artist Bruno Grassi gave Sr Sergia permission to photograph his version of the Annunciation. Grassi's goal in sacred art is to create a work that makes a person "want to pray." His work frequently depicts Mary, and angels (winged or wingless, as Gabriel is here) are also common. But could you tell that this was an Annunciation if not for the title? What other insights might the painting offer before you told someone what the artist's inspiration really was?




Photo of Bruno Grassi's Annunciation by Sr Sergia Ballini, FSP; taken with the artist's permission.

Pondering the Angelus with Art

I have no specific information at all about the provenance of this depiction of the Angelus, which appears to be on the doors of a Tabernacle. The photo was taken by Sr Adele Carrara, FSP, who has passed on to the true Life beyond this one and is not responding to questions concerning artwork. Pauline graphic designer Sister Sergia Ballini suggests that the style represents the Italian Tyrol (Trentino-South Tyrol), an autonomous district in Italy that once formed part of the Austrian Empire. I just think it's charming.