Page 16 - LOTN Summer Issue 47 2021

FAITH AND CULTURE

took the place of books. Many paintings told more than one Rejoice, for your Son,
story and the person meditating on the picture before him delivered to death for us,
would move from one section to the next, often reciting hymn buried, you seeing it,
verses or prayers learned by heart. One such painting is The rises in victory.
Seven Joys of the Virgin by Hans Memling (c.1480), painted a
century after Conrad wrote his hymn. Sometimes called Scenes Not only does Memling show us a traditional image of the
from the Advent and Triumph of Christ, it is a huge picture, Resurrected Christ but he also depicts the Risen Jesus appearing
74.4 in. wide and 31.9 in. high, depicting multiple scenes and to his Mother in an image that parallels the scene of the
offering many opportunities for meditating on the lives of Annunciation. Here both figures are more animated: the Son
Mary and Jesus. Originally commissioned for the chapel of the raises both his hands in loving blessing; the Mother raises hers
Tanners' Guild in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, today it in joyful recognition.
sits in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Rejoice, seeing Christ destroying Limbo,
Rejoice, O Virgin, Mother of Christ: delivering from there the just,
with a word you conceived the Word, transcending the heavens,
when you heard from the angel, by his own power.
“Hail, full of grace.”
We see the traditional image of Christ ascending into the
We follow the events in Mary’s life from left to right in the clouds, watched by the Apostles and Mary, in prayer and
painting. First: the Annunciation of the Angel to the young wonder below.
maiden in her “inner room”, the Dove of the Holy Spirit
descending upon her. It is a tranquil image of stillness and Rejoice, for in fire,
acceptance. Christ sent his own
the sacred Spirit, as he promised;
Rejoice: a Virgin, you gave birth, it was then he sent you this Spirit in plenitude.
without painful labour;
nay, you brought forth your Son rejoicing, Pentecost follows, with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon
you his Mother, his daughter. the Apostles and Mary. Filled with fire by the Spirit, the Apostles
are obviously aflame with zeal, while Mary sits in their midst,
Next, we contemplate the scene of the Nativity, depicting tranquil, eyes fixed on her book in contemplative joy.
the new Mother proudly showing her son to two of Memling’s
contemporaries, perhaps representing all those baptized in that Rejoice: when Christ raised you in the flesh,
Son’s name. Joseph stands by protectively, with the ox and the and placed you above the stars,
ass, as added by St Francis. No shepherds here, though behind the entire court of heaven
this scene we see the Annunciation to the Shepherds. went forth to meet you.

Rejoice: the Magi prostrating, Lastly, we contemplate first the Dormition of the Virgin and
recognising your Son, her Assumption, body and soul, into Heaven, followed by her
professing him to be their God, their King, crowning as Queen of Heaven and all the Saints.
three gifts they bring. There are many scenes in this painting – 25 in all apparently;
see if you can find them all. It is an enjoyable exercise in prayerful
Then follows the visit of the Magi, representing the people of meditation.
the Nations, the Gentiles, to whom the promise of the Messiah
is now given. We watch the first to present his gift of gold as he Behold, we rejoice with you, O Mary,
bows low in love and reverence and kisses the tiny hand of the that we may love you
Infant King. and praise you unto eternity;
lead us to the things of heaven.

You can see Hans Memling's Seven Joys of the Virgin in more detail in the video below:

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