Gospel in Art: Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!

Patrick van der Vorst
Oct 7th, 2022

The Virgin and Child enthroned, by Rogier van der Weyden. 1433, © Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8 October 2022
Luke 11:27-28

As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, 'Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!' But he replied, 'Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!'

Reflection on the painting

Two women are central to today's short gospel reading. One of them is clearly impressed by Jesus, declaring his mother blessed. Jesus responds to these beautiful words along the lines of 'Yes, my mother is blessed, but she is blessed primarily because she heard the word of God, accepted it and keeps it'. And that is what is being asked of us today too.

Each time we pray the Hail Mary, we ask Mary to 'pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death'. We are thus asking her to help us to open our hearts and our lives to the call of God's word and to respond as generously as she did.

So for today's image we are simply joining in the intimacy between Mary and Jesus; a mother and her son. This panel by Rogier van der Weyden from 1433. We see a gentle light coming in from the right, casting a shadow in the niche where both are sitting. Mary wears a gem-mounted crown. The painting pays very close attention to the smaller of the limestone carvings. An iris grows to the side of the aedicula (architectural niche) representing the Virgin's sorrow at the Passion and on the other side is a columbine, recalling the sorrows of the Virgin. Look at the top of our painting, at the lintel, which represents six New Testament scenes from the Life of the Virgin: from left to right they are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Resurrection and Pentecost. The smaller sculptures lower down represent some of the Old Testament figures such as David, second to the left holding the harp. On the opposite side, the outer figures are thought to be the prophets Zechariah and Isaiah.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/

Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-11-27-28-2022/