Illuminated around 1500 by the artist
Jean Poyer, The Hours of Henry VIII
receives its name from the possible but
unproven eighteenth-century tradition
that holds King Henry of England once
owned this splendid manuscript. By
following the simple instructions, you
can explore every painting of this
Renaissance masterpiece and learn
how Books of Hours helped their readers
to pray.
Books of Hours contain more or less
standard texts—Calendar, Gospel
Lessons, Hours of the Virgin, Hours
of the Cross, Hours of the Holy Spirit,
Penitential Psalms with Litany, Office
of the Dead, and Suffrages—as well as
a number of common accessory
prayers. Based on the frequency and
variety of added devotions, it appears
that scribes included these for owners
who wished to personalize their prayer
books.
St. Christopher: Conversion of Christopher
Border: Christopher Carrying Christ (fol. 178)
The miniature portrays the moment
when St. Christopher embraced
Christianity, acknowledging the
Cross's power with a reverential
glance and gesture. The Devil,
on horseback, gallops away in
terror.
The name Christopher, which
means "Christ-bearer" seems
to suggest the basis of the
saint's legend. As a Canaanite
named Reprobus before his
baptism, Christopher was a
fearsome giant of a man.
Deciding to serve only the most
powerful lord on earth,
Christopher became a follower
of Satan. However, the Devil fled
upon seeing a crucifix planted
in the roadway. Seeing Satan's
fear, the giant resolved to follow
Christ and his Cross instead.
In the margin, with the young
Christ Child perched on his
back, the saint struggles to
cross the raging river. He leans
heavily on his staff, panting with
exertion. On the opposite bank
is his mentor, the old hermit,
who holds a lantern to light the
way. (Feast day: formerly
July 14)
Christopher's Resolve to Follow Christ
A hermit subsequently instructed the newly baptized Christopher in the Christian faith and gave him the task of helping travelers across a river. One stormy night a child asked the saint's assistance in traversing the current. The child was so heavy on Christopher's back that he nearly did not manage to cross. On the opposite bank the child announced that he was Jesus and Christopher had just carried the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. As proof of this, the child commanded the saint to plant his staff in the ground, where the next day it would blossom with flowers and dates.
