Art | Philosophy | Theology
Why Our Lady Loved to Read
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
7:00 pm EST - 9:00 pm EST
Catholic Information Center
1501 K Street NW
Washington,
DC
20005
United States
Description
In European art from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the Virgin Mary is frequently pictured with a book, especially at the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel arrives to announce her pregnancy. What is the meaning of this book? This lecture examines sources from the Christian tradition to try to answer this question.
The CIC and the Thomistic Institute invite you to join Dr. Zena Hitz for her discussion on “Why Our Lady Loved to Read.” This program takes place on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at the Catholic Information Center at 7:00 PM EST.
Register to attend either in-person and virtually through a YouTube livestream.
February 25th Schedule:
- 6:45 pm: Doors open for registrant check-in
- 7:00 pm: “Why Our Lady Loved to Read” presentation (this portion will be offered both in-person and virtually via a livestream)
- 8:00 pm: Light happy hour social
- 9:00 pm: Evening Concludes
The CIC thanks the Thomistic Institute for co-sponsoring this event.
RSVP today!
RSVP for this Event
About the Speaker
Zena Hitz is a Tutor at St. John’s College in Annapolis, where she teaches across the liberal arts. She is the author of Lost In Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life (2020) and A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life.
