On September 8th, exactly nine months after the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), the Church celebrates the nativity of Mary.
Mary is the bridge between the Old and New Testament, and her birth heralds the coming of the new age— the age of salvation. The much anticipated “New Eve” fulfills the Old Testament prefigurements and opens the door for the New Covenant.
Mary’s birth is the pivotal first step in God’s plan for the Incarnation to be brought about through her “yes”. The Church celebrates only three key birthdays in the liturgical year, each because of their intimate role in the Incarnation and Redemption (Salvation history): the Nativities of Mary, John the Baptist, and of course, Jesus.
The Nativity of the Virgin by Andrea di Bartolo depicts the Virgin’s birth.
The three prominent figures, Sts. Joachim and Ann and the newborn Mary, are crowned with ornate golden halos. The parents flank the sides of the painting, offering balance and tension, while the figure of Mary is at the center.
The scene invites the viewer into a romanticized vision of the moment with the clothing and architecture clearly reflecting the time period of its painting (1400 AD) rather than attempting to illustrate the event with historical accuracy. Nonetheless, there is an approachability to the scene wherein even the plated chicken carried by the maid at the focal point of the painting is a reminder of how deeply human the event is. Even the holiest example of a saint was still human— in need of rest, food, and hygiene.
The painting depicts St. Ann reclined in bed, a fitting location for a woman who has just given birth. A servant assists her in washing her hands, while the other carries over the sumptuous meal of roast chicken. Even a life as astounding (and immaculate) as the Blessed Virgin Mary begins in the same way as every other human life – within a human family.
Questions for Reflection
Place yourself within the painting. Which character do you resonate with the most? Are you St. Joachim, starting with awe off into the distance? Or the servants rejoicing in play with the young Mary? Perhaps you resound with St. Ann in this depiction — at peace, but occupied with the essential human tasks of the moment?
This vignette depicting the moment when the Mother of God was born unto the world, into a humble family, is a compelling reminder that God’s plans are so much bigger than we can imagine. On this celebration of Mary’s birth, we reflect on the end of the time of expectation and the beginning of the time of fulfillment when the salvation of the world is increasingly at hand.
