> Interim Saints - July 26th
>
> ANNE, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Of all the depictions of St Anne (The Kiss at the Golden Gate, Birth of the
Virgin, Teaching BVM to walk / spin / read &c) surely the most curious is
the
Ste-Anne-Trintaire ?
In its classic form it shows the matronly St Anne with BVM and Christ-Child.
In some cases she is full size and the other two are both like small
children. I have a fascinating catalogue of an exhibition on this theme that
was held in Nantes in 1966. The cult of St Anne is particularly strong in
Brittany, of course.
Brittany is Celtic and we are all familiar with the celtic mother-goddess
who has a triad manifestation (the maiden, the matron and the crone), yes ?
Any comments on this from honoured fellow members ?
Has anyone done a / know of a study of the rise of the cult of St Anne in
Brittany ?
PS I am very attached to the image of St Anne teaching the BVM to read. It
suggests a hidden tradition of female literacy - in the upper classes of
course - which is encouraging.
> Summer Competition: assuming that the various relics of St. Anne are
genuine, >draw a picture of her as you imagine her to have looked, and put
it up on the web >for our admiration.
I do not have the resources, but I hope she will be shown in her role as
mother/teacher .....
>BTW, a dog's head, dug up recently in a local churchyard, is believed to be
that >of St Christopher.
Naturally, we ALL know he was a reformed werewolf.
Brenda M. COOK
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