Today's Gospel in Art - Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady

The Assumption of Our Lady, Sculpted by Egid Quirin Asam © Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 15th August 2021 - Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, 'Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.'

And Mary said:

'My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid. Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him. He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy - according to the promise he made to our ancestors - of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.'

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

Reflection on the Altar Sculpture

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, when according to our faith, Our Lady, "having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". It celebrates the end of Mary's earthly life as she goes to Heaven to be reunited with her Son, Jesus. The Assumption completes God's work in her.

One of the more dramatic and spectacular depictions of the Assumption of Our Lady is this over-life size group of the Assumption by Egid Quirin Asam at the monastery church at Rohr, Germany, executed 1718-1722. We can see Our Lady being carried by angel floats, seemingly unsupported, mid air, above an altar almost conceived as a stage setting. It is a daring and complex sculpture. This tour-de-force sculpture is a great example of German late Baroque sculpture.

Today is a day where we not only celebrate Our Lady, but also where we join in her happiness... the happiness of her being reunited with her Son. We hope to join her one day too, if we have the courage, like her, to give our unconditional 'Yes' to God and do His will…

Happy Feast day to you all. May we join Our Lady in her hymn of endless love and praise.

LINKS

Today's story - https://christian.art/en/daily-gospel-reading/899
Christian Art - www.christian.art