Inaccurate information about the Incarnation on museum placard

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See the photo for context; this was a placard at a museum that was displaying medieval religious objects.

The museum’s description of the “Crozier,” on display in a large glass case, includes the following: “The inscription around the crook is the “Ave Maria,” or Hail Mary, the words of the angel Gabriel announcing the impending birth of Jesus to the Virgin.”

The version I would argue is more accurate would be the following: “The inscription around the crook is the “Ave Maria,” or Hail Mary, a common prayer recited by Catholic Christians, which is based on scriptural passages in the Gospel of Luke. When the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, scripture holds that he greeted her, saying “Hail, full of grace.” After announcing to the Virgin that God had found favor with her, and after she consented by stating “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word,” the faithful believe Christ was conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit.”(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
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I think the placard is quite accurate. They likely have limited text space with particular guidelines; they probably have to focus on the general object itself rather than any particular inscription that may be on it.

In addition, the Hail Mary is recited by Christians other than Catholics.
 
I also thought that perhaps there are policies they have in place so as not to seem like they have an opinion. They may be avoiding getting into “what scripture says.” But the way the description states the angel was merely announcing Christ’s “impending” birth – doctrine states the Incarnation did not take place until Mary consented, so it seems the Annunciation was the announcing that God had found favor with Mary.
 
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If the museum were really willing to correct the information on the placard, the new text would probably have to fit into the same space. That means you could keep the words, The inscription around the crook is the “Ave Maria,” or Hail Mary, leaving you around fifteen words for all the rest. Your suggestion runs to eighty-something words. See if you can cut it to fifteen.
 
The same inaccurate information appears in many Bibles, in which the heading above the Annunciation passage (Luke 1:26-38) is given as “The Birth of Jesus Foretold” (NIV, RSVCE, and others) or “Announcement of the Birth of Jesus” (NABRE).

Of course, these headings are extraneous editorial additions, not Sacred Scripture themselves.

If Bible editors refer to the Annunciation in those terms, I think we must pardon museum curators for using similar language. Be at peace!
 
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This is the only picture I took of it and obviously it isn’t helpful here.(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
I know. But it is a museum and they probably would want some phrasing like that. I know, though, that Catholicism is not a “denomination” and would prefer to simply say one or the other.
 
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Crozier as it appears on the Met’s website. I think it is the one under discussion, but is similar if not identical.

The quote from the Vulgate is “Ave gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus” so their reconstruction is not perfect, in particular Be […] is beginning of benedicta, not beata (though space was running out). But it is 14 th century, ie before the printing press, so the bishop’s text may have variants. Inserting Maria is not unusual in inscriptions like this, episcopal mottoes, etc. It specifies the context.

The Annunciation is the Announcing of the coming birth of Christ. I am not sure what the objection is. With the exception of Mary’s name, it is the words of Gabriel. The bishop knows it is a prayer, but he also knows he is responsible for announcing the Gospel, so the reference to the Annunciation is likely.
 
Searching1 said:
The inscription around the crook is the “Ave Maria,”
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That is accurate.
Searching1 said:
or Hail Mary,
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That is an accurate translation of the Latin.
Searching1 said:
the words of the angel Gabriel announcing the impending birth of Jesus to the Virgin.”
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The words were spoken by Gabriel and they do indeed announce the impending birth of Jesus to Mary, for whom “the Virgin” is a commonly understood description.

There is nothing here that is inaccurate. I think what you are saying is that you think that the interpretation should be much longer and should include more theological explanation and specific references to the Catholic Church. The label as it stands tells the visitor exactly what he or she needs to know. If somebody really wants to know more about the Ave Maria prayer or the exact way in which the incarnation is believed to have taken place, they can find out easily enough by reading Wikipedia etc.
 
Searching1 said:
The version I would argue is more accurate would be the following: “The inscription around the crook is the “Ave Maria,” or Hail Mary, a common prayer recited by Catholic Christians, which is based on scriptural passages in the Gospel of Luke. When the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, scripture holds that he greeted her, saying “Hail, full of grace.” After announcing to the Virgin that God had found favor with her, and after she consented by stating “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word,” the faithful believe Christ was conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit.”
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But you need to say all this in 50 words or less.
 
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