After studying Father Michael Gaitley’s book “33 Days to Morning Glory,” consecrating one’s life to the Savior’s mother, I’ve desired to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Queen of Heaven.
I’ve also included early sacred art recently in my spiritual reflections. Why early sacred art? There is astute spiritual significance and correlation to these hands-on creations.
Probably one of the oldest pieces of Marian sacred art giving queenship to Mary is the “Coronation of the Virgin” by Pietro Cavallini, found in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere in Rome. This apse mosaic depicts Our Lady adorned with a golden crown, seated at the right hand of her Son. The mosaic dates from around 1130-1143 A.D.
For centuries after Christ, artisans had profound imaginations and perceptions to create sacred art. In order to draw, paint, sculpt and design mosaic illustrations, something had to inspire these skilled artists to create glimpses of heaven.
Unfortunately, many non-Catholics do not understand, acknowledge or accept the Assumption and Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Protestant brothers and sisters would like us to believe that Mary is not the Queen of Heaven, but just a good woman.
So why do Catholics appreciate and create sacred art which depicts Mary in heaven, sitting at the right hand of Jesus, being crowned by Our Savior in the presence of Almighty God and the Holy Spirit? Obviously, the artists were inspired by something, but on what do they base their interpretations of Mary’s Assumption and Coronation?
Using today’s standards, kings and queens are married couples but during biblical times, this was not the case. Jeremiah 13:18 states: “Say to the king and to the queen mother: come down from your throne; from your heads your splendid crowns will fall.” Jeremiah’s prophecy became reality in 2 Kings 24:8-12. “Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as his father had done. At that time officers of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, himself arrived at the city while his officers were besieging it. Then Jehoiachin, king of Judah, together with his mother, his ministers, officers, and functionaries, surrendered to the king of Babylon, who, in the eighth year of his reign, took him captive.”
Another well-known mother and son, king and queen, is found in 1 Kings 2:19-20. Bathsheba, the mother of King Solomon, went to visit her son. “Then Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king stood up to meet her and paid her homage. Then he sat down upon his throne, and a throne was provided for the king’s mother, who sat at his right. She said, ‘There is one small favor I would ask of you. Do not refuse me.’ The king said to her, ‘Ask it, my mother, for I will not refuse you.’”
In John 18:37, Jesus’ kingship is pointed out: “So Pilate said to him, ‘Then you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’” If Jesus is king – and Christians universally acknowledge His Kingship – then according to the Jewish tradition found in the Old Testament, wouldn’t His mother be the queen?
Artists have also used the vision described in Revelation 12:1-5 to illustrate sacred Marian art: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and His throne.”
Some will debate that this scripture only represents the Church. However, Revelation is replete with multifaceted symbolism, especially this passage. The text also describes Israel from the Old Testament: the 12 stars symbolize the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Satan is the dragon ready to devour the Church. Who was with child? Mary. To whom did she give birth? Jesus.
Naysayers will argue that no mortal has ever been “assumed” into heaven. Actually, Mary was not even the first to be “assumed” into heaven. Enoch was, noted in Genesis 5:24: “Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him.” And Elijah, described in 2 Kings 2:9-12: “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha answered, ‘May I receive a double portion of your spirit.’ He replied, ‘You have asked something that is not easy. Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.’ As they walked on still conversing, a fiery chariot and fiery horses came between the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind, and Elisha saw it happen. He cried out, ‘My father! My father! Israel’s chariot and steeds!’ Then he saw him no longer.”
If Enoch and Elijah were escorted into heaven, is it inconceivable that the mother of Jesus was lifted up by angels and welcomed into heaven by her Son?
This little essay is not a study on scriptures, but rather what motivated artists to paint, draw, create mosaics, or sculpt early religious works of art. Evidently, they read their Bibles. That is why Mary’s Assumption and Coronation are depicted in early sacred art. Jesus gave His mother a crown of glory, the Holy Spirit was the inspiration behind the artist’s work, and God was the mastermind behind man’s salvation. Sacred art thus gives us a glimpse of heaven.
Bobby Speers is a member of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory.