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Pentecost. The apostles surround Mary, who sits with a book in her lap, as tongues of fire seem to leap from the dove. The two-tiered structure of the illumination may represent the upper room where they awaited the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Christ as Man of Sorrows. Half-length Christ figure. Christ is depicted as the Man of Sorrows. References to royalty are seen in his crown of thorns and his purple garments shown below. Also below are the dice, which represent the soldiers' gambling…

Sext: Adoration of the Three Magi. Typically a star guided the Magi to Bethlehem and represents Divine guidance. Melchior, the older of them, with crown removed in reverence towards the Infant, brings Frankincense in a chalice; Balthasar brings…

St. John and Seven-headed Dragon. The evangelist John appears on Patmos with his writing implements and eagle, as usual. What differs in this illumination is the presence of the seven-headed dragon, a memorable figure vividly described in the…

Penitential Psalms. Christ as Judge returns for the Last Judgment. He stands on an orb, representing his dominion over the world. The scene represents the return of Christ to judge both the living and the dead. Heavenly trumpets announce the event…

Virgin holding an egg, with Peacock. In a unique portrayal, the Virgin appears here outside her room with the infant Christ and a red egg. The Virgin holding the egg shows her hand in the matter and foreshadows Christ's resurrection. The peacock,…

Hours of the Passion

St. Mary Magdalene. Commonly Mary Magdalene can be identified by her ointment jar (from when she anointed Christ's feet). Here she is shown in the wilderness; according to the Golden Legend, she spent 30 years in the wilderness as a hermit. Angels…

Root of Jesse. The Root of Jesse literally sprouts from the chest of the reposing Jesse, the father of King David. Mary stands at the top of the genealogical tree as the virgin (Latin virgo) who exemplifies the prophecy of Isaiah (playing upon the…

November. Central Text: November with Holy Days. Border Illuminations: Zodiac sign, Sagittarius, the archer. Monthly Labor, Thrashing for acorns.