Gospel in Art: Saint Edward the Confessor

Richard II presented to the Virgin and Child by his Patron Saint John the Baptist and Saints Edward and Edmund (The Wilton Diptych). Unattributed, Made for Richard II. Image public domain.

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 13 October 2023
Matthew 5:1-12a

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

'How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.

Happy those who mourn they shall be comforted.

Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.

Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.

Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.

Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called sons of God.

Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

'Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.'

Reflection on the Diptych

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Edward the Confessor, king of England, died on 5 January 1066. He is called 'the Confessor' to distinguish him from King Edward the Martyr (died 978), another Saint who lived and reigned in pre-Reformation England. We see Saint Edward the Confessor depicted in the The Wilton Diptych painted in 1395. The left panels shows Saint Edmund the Martyr, Saint Edward and John the Baptist presenting King Richard II to the Virgiun and Child. The Confessor is holding a ring. This ring refers to a legend about Saint Edward told in the Sarum Breviary. The Use of Sarum is the liturgical use of the Latin rites developed at Salisbury Cathedral and used from the late 11th century until the English Reformation.

The Sarum Breviary tells a charming story of St Edward and his devotion to St John the Evangelist. While attending the consecration of a church, Edward was approached by an elderly man who asked him for alms in the name of God and of St John. As the royal almoner was not present, and having nothing else on him, Edward gave him his ring. A few years later, two English pilgrims in Jerusalem met an elderly man who, on learning where they were from, said to them, "I ask you brothers, return to your king, and give him the message which I shall send by you. I am John, the Apostle and Evangelist, and I love the holy king Edward for his chastity, for I know him to be near to God." He then explained to them how he received the ring from Edward, "which I have kept unto this day for love and reverence for the man of God; I now send it back to him with glory, and within a short time, shall render even more pleasing gifts. For within half a year's time, he will be clothed as I am in the robe of immortality…"

The pilgrims returned to the king, delivering both the message and the ring. And indeed, St Edward took ill on Christmas night of that year, and by Childermas, was too sick to attend the consecration ceremony of the abbey of St Peter, which he himself had founded and built. The original Romanesque building was replaced by the Gothic church now known as Westminster Abbey in the mid-13th century.

On our small diptych, we see on the inside the King being presented to the Virgin and Christ Child. Richard holds out his hands to give or receive the standard with the red and white cross, the arms of Saint George. Christ raises his hand to bless the standard and with it, Richard's rule. Richard's emblem of a white hart, or stag, is shown as badges worn by the host of angels. The King adopted this symbol from his mother, but it also acted as a visual pun on his name Rich-Hart.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-5-1-12a-2023-2/