Easter

Exsurrexi, et adhuc sum tecum 

 I rose up and am still with thee. Psalm 138:18

...Jesum quaeritis Nazarenum, crucifixum: surrexit, non est hic...

...Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he is risen, he is not here... Mark 16:6

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?

Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?

Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour,

let them receive their due reward;

If any have come after the third hour,

let him with gratitude join in the Feast!

And he that arrived after the sixth hour,

let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.

And if any delayed until the ninth hour,

let him not hesitate; but let him come too.

And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,

let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.

He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,

as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.

He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.

The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;

rich and poor, rejoice together!

Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,

rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.

Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.

Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,

for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;

for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.

He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,

"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.

It was in an uproar because it is mocked.

It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.

It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.

It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.

It took earth, and encountered Heaven.

It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?

O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!

Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!

Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;

for Christ having risen from the dead,

is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

St. John Chrysostom, Easter Homily

May you all have a very Blessed and Joyous Easter.

AMDG

Holy Saturday

Et eduxit eos de tenebris et umbra mortis, et vincula eorum dirupit. 

And he brought them out of darkness, and the shadow of death; 

and broke their bonds in sunder. Psalm 106:14

...et redemisti nos Deo in sanguine tuo ex omni tribu, et lingua, et populo... 

...hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, 

and tongue, and people... Revelation 5:9

For some reason I don't think I ever noticed that poor sinner on the left being dragged back into hell, and the watcher in the top left corner. The joy and light on the right demands all your attention. Both Adam and Eve in this one, but only Adam in the one below.

You know, I never noticed that there is demon under the door before. I just perceived it as a crack. No wonder those other guys on the left are so scared--and some up in the top left corner, too.

If you haven't read this, you should. I think it's very important. When I started writing this blog, I had no intention of it's being so intentionally spiritual. I knew that would be part of the mix, but not such a very large part. But I am increasingly aware that there is nothing else that really matters, and there is certain, how can I say this, a certain pressure or encouragement to write these things. 

It's not that I think I won't ever write occasional mundane posts, but I think they will be the exception. I had a conversation with a friend a while back about how you have to write what you are given to write. I don't entirely mean given in a spiritual way, although that is a part of everything, but I also refer to the natural talent that you have been given and for me, this seems to be it. Of course, I think I also have a natural ability to make people laugh, and I miss writing things like that, so hopefully there will be more of that, too.

And I can't have Holy Saturday without this.

What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: 'My Lord be with you all.' And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

'See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

"The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages."

From an Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday

Now we wait.

AMDG

Good Friday

As I did yesterday, I'm going to go ahead and post these pictures and then work on the post as the day progresses. The texts I'm using are from the Latin Vulgate, which is in most cases the same as that on the scrolls, and the Douay Rheims. Although most of the texts from the scrolls are only part of a verse, I haven't made any note of that. I just cite the verse the fragment comes from.

...percutient maxillam judicis Israel. 

...they strike the cheek of the judge of Israel. Micah 5:1

 ...unus assistens ministrorum dedit alapam Jesu, dicens: Sic respondes pontifici?

...one of the servants standing by, gave Jesus a blow, saying: 

Answerest thou the high priest so? John 18:22

I've seen the above painting labelled as Jesus before Pilate, and that is a natural mistake since we are so used to thinking of the Passion in terms of the Stations of the Cross, and also, since most of us don't know Latin, that word, pontifici, is similar enough to Pontius to fool us. This, however, is Jesus before Caiaphas, high priest. The Old Testament verse from Micah immediately precedes a prophecy of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem

[Quoniam] ego in flagella paratus sum, et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper. 

[For] I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.Psalm 37:18

Tunc [ergo] apprehendit Pilatus Jesum, et flagellavit. 

Then [therefore], Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. John 19:1

A couple of things about the Old Testament scroll. It looks like it says Psalm 26 or possibly 27, but it is definitely Psalm 37. There is also a change in the text from dolor meus--my sorrow--to dolor tuo--your sorrow. 

...faciem meam non averti ab increpantibus et conspuentibus in me. 

 I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me, and spit upon me.Isaiah 50:6

...illudebant ei, caedentes. [64] Et velaverunt [eum, et percutiebant] faciem ejus

...mocked him, and struck him. 

[64] And they blindfolded [him, and smote] his face.Luke 22:63,64

Well I'm having a really hard time with this one. That Old Testament scroll has so many abbreviations in it that I can only determine one word for sure, and it's not Isaiah 5, so this will take more detective work than I have time to do now. As you can see, there is text omitted from the New Testament scroll so that it says blindfolded his face instead of blindfolded him and smote his face.

Aha! I have figured it out, as you can see above. I'm getting pretty good at decoding these abbreviations. The little thing that looks like the moon rising over the letters is an n and ib with a little mark over it is ibus and the thing that looks like a 7 is et.

Convent of San Marco, Cell 7

Can you imagine sleeping with this every night?

Convent of San Marco, Cell 28

Tamquam ovis ad occisionem ductus est. 

That's not Old Testament. That's definitely Acts 8:32

He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. It is a reference, though to Isaiah 53:7:

He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.

Et bajulans sibi crucem exivit in eum, qui dicitur Calvariae.

And bearing his own cross, he went forth to that place which is called Calvary. John 19:17

Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestem meam miserunt sortem. 

They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they cast lots. Psalm 21:19

diviserunt vestimenta ejus, sortem mittentes 

they divided his garments, casting lots; Matthew 27:35

Ipse autem vulneratus est propter iniquitates nostras, attritus est propter scelera nostra

But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins Isaiah 53:5

Et postquam venerunt in locum qui vocatur (dicitur) Calvariae, ibi crucifixerunt eum

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there Luke 23:33

The Crucifixion, circa 1420, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

St. Dominic Adoring the Crucifixion, perhaps St. Dominic's face is a self-portrait of Fra Angelico. This is in a corridor in the Convent of San Marco.

The Grand Crucifixion. I wish I could find a better image.

Descent from the Cross, San Marco

Descent from the Cross, again San Marco

Much to look at here. Off the top of my head, there's the self-portrait of Beato Angeli to the left of Jesus in blue. Also, Mary Magdalene in her customary position at the feet of Jesus. Also, I just read that the man on the right, dressed bluish gray, and with a red cap, sleeves and shoes, who is holding the crown of thorns and nails (You may have to click the picture once to see that.) is Pallo Strozzi, member of a rich Florentine banking family and patron of the arts, who commissioned this picture.

...ipsum gentes deprecabuntur, et erit sepulchrum ejus gloriosum.

...him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be glorious. Isaiah 11:10

Joseph...corpus Jesu: [53] et depositum involvit sindone, et posuit eum in monumento 

 Joseph...begged the body of Jesus. [53] And taking him down, he wrapped him in fine linen,

and laid him in a sepulchre Luke 23:50-52

AMDG

Holy Thursday

I'm going to start now, and go ahead and publish the post, but add more as the day progresses.

Jesus washes the feet of his apostles.

Lavamini, mundi estote; auferte malum cogitationum

Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices Isaiah 1:16

mittit aquam in pelvim, et cœpit lavare pedes discipulorum, et extergere linteo

he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them John 13:5

The text in the Vulgate, as you can see, is a bit different from that on the painting. I wonder where the one on the painting came from.

I

The Institution of the Eucharist?

Et agnum ejusdem anni immaculatum faciet holocaustum 

And he shall offer every day for a holocaust to the Lord, 

a lamb of the same year without blemish    Ezekiel 46:13

I wish I could find the bottom text.

Well, here it is.

As you can see, it's almost impossible to read, but I know it's from this scripture text.

...paraverunt pascha.Et cum facta esset hora dicubuit, et duodecim apostoli cum eo.

...made ready the pasch. And when the hour was come, he sat down, 

and the twelve apostles with him. Luke 22:13-14

The above picture has me really puzzled. "What, I wondered, is He blessing?" Is it bread? Then I enlarged it (you can do this by clicking once) and I think it must be an apostle. There seem to be a lot of Last Supper paintings with one of the apostles, (John?) sleeping on the table. Does anyone know anything about this?

...ego immolo vobis victimam grandem super montes Israel, ut comedatis carnem, et bibatis sanguinem.

I slay for you, a great victim upon the mountains of Israel: 

to eat flesh and drink blood. Ezekiel 39:17

Qui manducat meam carnem, et bibit meum sanguinem, habet vitam aeternam.

He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life. John 6:55

This fresco is in one of the monk cells in what used to Santissima Annunciata, and is now part of the Museo di San Marco. There are twelve apostles here. Some artists portray Judas as being there at the institution of the Eucharist, and some do not. I wonder if Judas is the very dark man kneeling on the right. And there is Mary on the left, and I don't suppose that well is visible through that door on the right for no reason.

.

Ne timeas, quia ego tecum sum; [ne declines, quia] ego Deus tuus: confortavi te. 

Fear not, for I am with thee: [turn not aside,] for I am thy God: I have strengthened thee, 

Isaiah 41:10

Apparuit autem illi angelus de cælo, confortans eum.

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven strengthening him. Luke 22.43

 Another fresco from a monk's cell. I love Martha and Mary awake and praying.

AMDG

Spy Wednesday

Because of today's Gospel, Matthew 26:14-25.

. . .qui edebat panes meos magnificavit super me subplantationem

...who ate my bread hath greatly supplanted me

                                                                                                Psalm 40:10

I can't find this rendering of Matthew 26:25, nor can I quite make out the Latin on the scroll, but it's the verse that reads, "Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, 'Surely it is not I, Rabbi?'”

More later.

AMDG

The Armadio degli Argenti

In the 13th century, a monk by the name of Fra Bartolomeo was painting a picture of the Annunciation in the church of Santissima Annunziata, the motherhouse of the Servite order. Reportedly, he was unhappy with his portrayal of the Blessed Mother's head, and while he was sleeping, an angel came and finished the picture for him. This is the miraculous picture.

I would like to ask a few questions about this picture. I would especially like to know why the angel's arms are crossed, but I digress.

This miracle at Santissima Annunziata was soon followed by others attributed to the picture, and as the church became the center of a wide-spread devotion, the motherhouse became the recipient of many donations, including a great many silver devotional objects. This generous accumulation of silver required a suitable repository, thus the Armadio degli Argenti (silver chest). In keeping with the magnificence of the silver, Piero de'Medici, who had assumed patronage of the picture, commissioned Fra Angelico to paint a series of panels portraying the major events of the life of Christ for the shutters of the chest.

There were 35 panels (two of the panels are joined to make one image of the Last Judgement) painted by Fra Angelico and his assistants. The panels have been divided and rejoined since they were in the original silver chest, but I believe that this is how they are currently displayed. 

Unfortunately this is the only image of this last panel that I can find, and I can't find the either the Wedding Feast at Cana or the Baptism of Jesus elsewhere. I did find a bigger image of the Transfiguration, and I think it's evident that it must have definitely been done by an assistant, or later artist. It might be for the best that I can't find the other two.

That's about all the time I have tonight, so I'll leave the discussion of the over-arching theme until tomorrow.

As I said last night, my prime source of information is this wonderful book by Diane Cole Ahl, which I just ordered from Amazon and which will be much better than an Easter basket.

The story of the miraculous image of the Annunciation was found here.

And I also want to mention that although I have always loved the work of Fra Angelico, I never had heard of the Armadio until Angelico Nguyen posted some of the paintings on the Korrektive blog last Easter.

AMDG

Ecce Rex Tuus

Lately, as was evident in my post on the Annunciation, I have been spending a good bit of time looking at pictures by Fra Angelico, and I thought that during Holy Week I would post his depictions of the events of Christ's Passion and death. This painting of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem is a panel from the Armadio degli Argenti, a large silver chest in the at the church of Santissima Annunziata in Florence. I'm going to write more about the Armadio tomorrow, but today I want to talk a bit about the scripture references at the bottom and top of the picture.

At the top, we see a passage from the Old Testament, Zachariah 9:9 which reads:

     Ecce rex tuus venit tibi mansuetus sedens super asinam et pullum filium subiugalis.

The words "et pullum" aren't on the scroll in the picture and the word "filium" doesn't look quite like that.

In the Douay Rheims translation it reads:

     Behold thy King will come to thee, the just and saviour: he is poor, and riding upon an ass, and 
     upon a colt the foal of an ass.

I know enough Latin to know that it doesn't seem like an exact translation but not enough to be able to tell exactly what's different. Still, the main thing is that its relationship to the scripture at the bottom (from Matthew 21:9) is clear.

     Osanna filio David benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini

     Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord...

And, of course, a few verses earlier we have read that:

     ...they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon.

The inclusion of these two scriptures in the picture reveal Christ's entry into Jerusalem as more than a single event in the life one man. It indicates that the the New and Old Testament are integrally woven together and that Jesus plays his part in both. He more than the son the Mary, he is the son of David, and the long awaited King.

Fra Angelico frequently painted the same events in the life of Christ many times, but this is the only painting I can find of the entry into Jerusalem. I can't say that I'm much of an expert; however, so there may be more.

Guido de Pier(t)i was born sometime in the early 1390s and died in 1455. In religious life, he was known as Fra Giovanni, Brother John. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 3, 1982. I don't know much about his life, but Diane Cole Ahl, who wrote the book, Fra Angelico, which is my prime source for much of which I will write the week, writes about, "Gelati's painting [which] was inspired by [Georgio] Vasari's evocative description of the devout friar, who 'never took up his brush without saying a prayer or painted the Crucifix without tears streaming down his cheeks.'" (Vasari had written about Fra Angelico in 1568.) This is the picture about which Ahl is writing.

Fra Angelico is the kneeling figure. 

This isn't the only portrait we have of the angelic painter. Here are a few others.

Micheletto

Raphael

Signorelli

Dolci

And that is all for today. Tomorrow, I'll write about the over-arching theme of the Armadio degli Argenti.

AMDG