August 15th, is the Feast Day of Saint Mary the Virgin, Mother of Jesus. The Greeks call her Theotokos, God-Bearer. We learn a great deal about Mary through the eyes of artists, who often serve as our best guides, seeing and connecting us with God. I share a traditional view of the Annunciation by Fra Angelico, featuring Mary, at San Marco in Florence. I see a peaceful Mary surrendering to God’s call.
Fra Angelico San Marco
A modern painting of the Annunciation by John Collier reminds us of Mary’s youth.
john collier
Michelangelo’s Pieta at St. Peter’s Basilica depicts the depth of a mother’s love for her deceased son. No words can express the sorrow in this statue, as in real life.
Pieta Michelangelo
Kelly Latimore’s wood print reminds us that the members of the Holy Family became refugees, hastily journeying to Egypt with King Herod at their heels. We must never forget that all of us in this country were refugees, except for Indigenous People.
kelly latimore
The image of Mary and Jesus from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is a traditional icon that teaches us to see God through the eyes of Mary as we look through the icon to see God.
Hagia Sophia
My favorite image of Mary is with her relative Elizabeth, who is in early pregnancy
and the other near term, at the Church of the Visitation in Jerusalem. Two women see God in each other, and Mary explodes with joy and prophecy with the Magnificat. Mary is calling us to do the same. Pray that we may have eyes to see God, the Christ, in ourselves and one another.
Church of Visitation Jerusalem
Joanna Seibert joannaseibert.com https://www.joannaseibert.com/