I got a little behind in my production schedule and neglected to upload two new episodes in The Lives of the Saints – Second Series. The first is focused on St. Thomas Aquinas, whose Feast Day is March 8th. The episode includes five illustrations, from the 15th, 17th and 20th Centuries. St. Thomas is best known for his Summa Theologica. In the series I avoided comment on whether systematic theology has been a plus or a minus for Christianity.
The illustration at left is one of nine scenes in the Valle Romita polyptych in tempera and gold on panel by the Renaissance artist Gentile da Fabriano from the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy, painted circa 1400 A.D. In the original, there are eight scenes in two rows surrounding a larger ninth central image of the Blessed Virgin and Holy Child. St. Thomas appears in the far right side of the top row.
Watch Episode 13 Listen to Episode 13
The second presentation celebrates the life of St. Gregory the Great,
Bishop of Rome, 590-604 A.D. I include three illustrations, one of which is a 19th C. stained glass window at Stabroek, Belgium. Gregory’s accomplishments are almost legendary in scope: ambassador to Constantinople; first monastic to be Pope; sponsor of revised liturgies, including the Presanctified Gifts still in use; founder of monastery; author of one of the earliest lists of Christian virtues in the Western Church; and advocate of the style of chanting of the Psalms at Alexandria, now known as the Gregorian chant. The illustration is the top section of the 19th C. stained glass window referenced above, showing the Holy Spirit, depicted as a dove, whispering into Gregory’s ear as the wrote his Dialogues. The image is based on the contemporary account by Deacon Peter of Rome.
Watch Episode 14 Listen to Episode 14
The next episode in the series, Episode 15, celebrating St. John Climacus, whose Feast Day is March 30th, will be uploaded next week. The newest AIC Bookstore publication, The Writing Prophets of the Old Testament is now available in both paperback and Kindle editions. Use the Virtual Bookstore links at the bottom of our Home Page at http://www.AnglicanInternetChurch.net.
As always, thank you for your intestest and support.
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