Madonna dell'Umiltà or Madonna of Humility - by DOMENICO DI BARTOLO - from Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena
Madonna dell'Umiltà or
Madonna of Humility - by DOMENICO DI BARTOLO - from
Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena
| The Marian theme depicted here is the Madonna dell'Umiltà, or Madonna of Humility. That title has come down to us more or less by accident, thanks to a number of scenes of the Virgin bearing the inscription "Maria dell'Umiltà" or some such designation. Here the Virgin is seated not on a Throne, but on a lowly cushion on the ground. It is assumed that all Virgins seated on the ground, with or without a cushion, were regarded at the time as humble Virgins. The first images of the Madonna dell'Umiltà, datable around 1300, appeared simultaneously on Altarpieces, Murals and small panels for private devotion. Frescos with the Madonna dell'Umiltà were the object of special veneration in northern Italy. In Siena, at the end of the fourteenth century, images of the Madonna dell'Umiltà for private devotion were produced en masse. |
Humility is to the Virtues, what the Chain is to the Rosary. Take away the Chain, the Beads are scattered. Remove Humility, all Virtues vanish. Saint John Vianney |
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Christ belongs to those who are Humble, and
not to those who Exalt themselves over His
Flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not come in the Pomp of
Pride or Arrogance, although
He might have done so, but in a Lowly Condition,
as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him.
He says, “He has no form nor glory. We saw Him, and He had
no Form nor Comeliness. He is a Man of stripes and suffering, and acquainted with the endurance of grief: for His Face was turned away;
He was despised, and disregarded. He bears our iniquities, and endures our pains; while we considered Him as one subject to trouble and
stripes and affliction. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon
Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray; everyone wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered
Him up for our sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings did not open His mouth. As a sheep He was brought to the slaughter, and as
a Lamb before his shearer is dumb, so He did not open His mouth. In His Humiliation His Judgment was taken away; who shall declare His
generation? For His Life is taken from the earth” (Isaiah 53). And again
He says, “I am a worm, and not man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All
who see Me mocked Me. They spoke with their lips; they shook their head, saying: He hoped in God, let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him,
since He desires Him” (Psalm 22:6). You see, Beloved, what is the
Example which has been given us.
