The New Mass As A Dry Tree: The Prophetic Vision Of Petrus Christus

CHRISTUS, Petrus
The Virgin of the Dry Tree
c. 1460

 

“It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were "two Rites". Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite.” Pope Benedict XVI Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum

Is the above painting by Petrus Christus (b. 1410/20, Baarle, d. 1475/76, Brugge) a prophetic vision of the New Mass? According to Web Gallery of Art:

 “This small panel is a puzzling composition which conceals a complex symbolism. The painting is a late work by Christus, who from 1462 was a member of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Dry Tree. The dry and thorny branches could be a prefiguration of the Crown of Thorns, but the painting has also been interpreted as an early representation of the Immaculate Conception. The hanging letter A's symbolize fifteen Ave Marias.”

But the complex symbolism in this painting could also be a representation the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. A Mass that has been stripped of most of its prayers is compared to dry tree that is stripped of its bark ,flowers and leaves, thus leaving it a dry and barren tree. Is there any connection between the symbolism of this painting and the Mass of Pope Paul VI? Many medieval writers believed that if the Mass was stripped of its prayers and ceremonies it would dry up ones devotion. Thus it was believed that the purpose of the many prayers and ceremonies of the Mass was to help one lift up their hearts and minds to God. Many compared the Mass to a healthy Tree by running water that bears abundant fruit; if the prayers and ceremonies of the mass remain untouched then much devotional fruit is bore by those who attend the Mass. Comparing the prayers and ceremonies of the Mass to a tree’s bark, flowers and leaves then one can see that results of stripping the prayers and ceremonies from the Mass would have the same effect as stripping the bark, flowers and leaves from a tree making it difficult for the tree to bear fruit so then the prayers and ceremonies of the Mass are stripped from the Mass it will make it difficult for the faithful to bear spiritual fruit. Did the artist have this in mind when he created the above? I would like to think he did. One thing to point out is that the Blessed Mother and Jesus are still represented in the center of the Dry Tree just as the Blessed Mother and Jesus would be at the center of the New Mass regardless of the damage casued by the Pope and Churchmen.

For related see: The Prophetic Vision of Dante Alighieri on the Stripping of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass of Most of it’s Prayers by the Holy Roman Pontiff Paul VI