This Octave day of the Assumption "crowns" last week's Feast with the completion of Mary's Glory, the feast of the Queenship of Mary (Sunday takes precedence, however).
We are so used to identifying rulers like kings and queens as spouses, it can be confusing to think of Mary as Queen in relationship to Jesus (though the mystical tradition does just that). But Mary's Queenship is strongly rooted not in medieval tradition, but in the Bible, where it was not the King's favorite wife who was second in command, but his mother.
By the Maestro de las Once Mil Vírgenes comes this breathtaking Coronation, created in 1490 (one year before Ignatius Loyola was born!). See those flame-like creatures behind the throne? Those are seraphim. ("Seraph" means "fire.")
| Image ©Museo Nacional del Prado |
