Beneath Mary's Mantle: Fra Angelico
St. Dominic once had a dream in which he saw all the saints of the Order safely beneath the mantle of Mary, Protectress of the Order of Preachers. In this blog series, we’ll introduce our beloved Dominican Saints, learn about their lives and work, and come to see how they still inspire and pass on their gifts to today’s faithful.
Patron of Artists
Born: 1386 or 1387 in Tuscany
Died: February 18, 1455 in Rome
Feast Day: February 18
Guido of Vicchio entered the Order of Preachers with his brother at San Domenico in Fiesole after studying art in Florence, and there he took the name Giovanni (John). This was also the home of another holy friar of the Order, St. Antoninus. Throughout his life, Fra Angelico created many famous pieces of art, including illuminations, altarpieces, and frescoes. He was commissioned to paint parts of the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Nicholas V’s private chapel, and many other cathedrals and convents. At one point he was asked to become bishop, but out of humility passed the honor on to the aforementioned St. Antoninus. Not much of Fra Angelico’s life is known outside his artwork, but what we do know points to his great love of Christ, and in his art he shares that love with all God’s people.
The otherworldly quality of his work, especially in those pieces depicting heaven, reveals the depth of his life of prayer. Artwork was both a method and fruit of Fra Angelico’s prayer life, and indeed he prayed deeply before and while he painted. A true son of St. Dominic, Fra Angelico preached the truth of the Catholic faith with his art. Where the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, the “Angelic Doctor,” teach the truth with words, so Fra “Angelico” communicates God with paint.
Perhaps most familiar are his many paintings of the Annunciation. We have a print of one of them hanging in the novitiate hallway, outside the Novice Mistress’ office, where we have our daily morning meeting. There it serves us as a perfect reminder to always imitate Mary’s generous “yes” to God’s plan, even in the minutia of daily monastery life! Then, outside of choir, above our holy water font, a small picture of St. Dominic at the foot of the Cross reminds the nuns to maintain silence out of respect for our Eucharistic Lord. We have many more examples of Fra Angelico’s work throughout the monastery, from framed wall hangings to books to prayer cards. Even now, more than 550 years after his death, our brother still shares with us the fruits of his contemplation!
Fra Angelico, pray for us!
