How to paint or sculpt the Immaculate Heart of Mary? So many of the pictures we see are sickly-sweet and just poor art. The painting above is one of the best I have seen on the internet but we need something even netter than this. perhaps the problem is that we can never be satisfied with any portrayal of such a mystery. I like the statues that have come out of Fatima (the GOOD ones!), and I had a fairly decent painting of The Immaculate Heart - but I gave it away to someone who needed it more.
Today I am thinking especially of the late Fr. Gobbi, and I shall be offering Mass for him. The Marian Movement of Priests came into being to promote devotion to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart.
According to Sr. Lucia of Fatima it was Our Lord himself who specifically asked for this devotion. On one occasion he appeared to Sr. Lucia (when she was a Dorothean Sister) as a little child at the convent gates. When she told Him he should go home to His Mother (!) He replied by telling her that she should do what He had asked her to do and spread devotion to His Mother's Heart!
This devotion is connected with the First Five Saturdays.
Don't forget the massive statue above the basilica entrance closely supervised by Sr. Lucia. This is far from kitsch. It portrays one tough lady. Very different from the one inside.
ReplyDeleteI suspect Lucia preferred her own version. Remember, Bernadette did not like the Grotto statue preferring the one in the garden at Nevers before which she often prayed.
I'm glad to recommend to you an excellent Irish website http://catholicheritage.blogspot.com/ that is featuring the Sacred Heart at the moment. Can you link to it please?
ReplyDeleteThanks and blessings!
Phil
Thank you for this site...I love praying the rosary with others around the world...and the pictures of Jesus and Mary are awesome...Beverly
ReplyDeleteWho is the artist? You never mentioned that detail.
ReplyDelete