Ascension Notecard

Depicted on this lovely notecard is an image from a Gradual in the Morgan's collection. The Gradual prayer, the most important of the sung parts of Mass in the Catholic service, lent its name to the large choir book in which it and the other changeable sung parts occur, Graduals contained the words and music for the Introit, Gradual (along with its Alleluia verse or Tract), Offertory, or Communion.

The Morgan's five folios of the Gradual of San Michele merk the beginnings of five major feasts: Third Mass of Christmas, Epiphany, Ascension, Trinity Sunday, and Corpus Christi. Each leaf contains a large historiated initial and elaborate border decoration. Reproduced in this notecard, the leaf for Ascension is especially glorious, showing a central Virgin Mary, lost in the comforting thought of her son's final return to his celestial home. Surrounded by the apostles who, in contrast to her, all cast their glances heavenward, astonished by his miraculous ascent.

This product was created to accompany the exhibition Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art and Life on view at the Morgan Library & Museum September 12, 2025 through January 4, 2026.