AmericanPapist Comments
Can anyone make out the Hebrew in the wall hanging? When I enlarge it, it's too blurry for my contextually-challenged guess.
I love St. Anne in this: it must be a pretty cushy job giving birth to a perfect baby!
happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary American Papist!
Happy anniversary, Thomas!
What a day for AmP to be 'born'!
May Our Lady Immaculate, Patroness of the USA, watch over you and 'your baby' !
I had the same question Jason. Looks like the got better nursing care in the 1440s. I hope St. Anne wasn't kicked out of her bed 8 hours later.
Thomas,
As you should know, today is not a Day of Obligation, as the USCCB dispenses the obligation when such a day falls on Saturday or Monday, as today. U.S. Catholics are not bound to assist at Mass today. Perhaps they should be, but they are not. Just wanted to clarify...
~cmpt
I too would love to know what the Hebrew is -- scripture, one assumes? The pulled-back curtain certainly gives the impression that the artist wanted us to discover its meaning...
Okay, just where is this birth taking place in the painting? My first thought was that it must be in the room in the very background, since the foreground contains not only a male, but mostly bored looking females. Is that actually St Anne lounging in the bed??
Okay, nevermind :) My sharp-eyed son finally saw the baby and pointed her out to me!
Christopher, I suggest you check with your pastor or diocesan chancery office. Unless your bishop has decreed otherwise for his diocese, today is a Holy Day of Obligation in the U.S.
What's up with that roll of toilet paper on the ledge in the foreground?
Sidonius Apollinaris, it may be a roll of bandages. Just a guess.
I was about to say - swaddling clothes?!
I know - I'm just being playful with an object that could be identified differently than the artist's intent in a context that the artist couldn't possibly have imagined.
bill912,
You are correct. My apologies to you and to Thomas. The exemption applies only to Mary, Mother of God, the Assumption, and to All Saints, but not to the Immaculate Conception. Please excuse my ignorance and disregard my last.
~cmpt
Happy Anniversary!
Remember Sid, Bill says we can't make fun of religious pictures anymore.
Nobody expects the American Inquisition.
If you go to Art Renewal Center and search for Carpaccio, you will find a bigger version of this picture.
"Nobody expects the American Inquisition."
Damn Monty Python Addicts! *wink*
Regarding the Day of obligation, I get sad when comments like cmpt's are posted. It seems to suggest that we're more concerned with fulfilling a duty than observing a beautiful event in the life of the Church.
I know that wasn't the intention of his post, but I think that some who read it will breathe a sigh of relief and cross it (the feast) off their list.
Sorry if my comment seems like a whinefest. I love our Lady and think any feastday in honor of her(and other saints) ought to be observed.
Life may be hectic nowadays, but going to more masses never hurt anybody.
"It seems to suggest that we're more concerned with fulfilling a duty than observing a beautiful event in the life of the Church."
Anna Maria has a point --
I, myself, feel likewise in that there are those who seem to treat it as The Law rather than what it should be as she has eloquently put it in her above comment.
I *LOVE* to see art incorporated into the blog! Thanks Tom!!!
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