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| Our Lady of Divine Providence By artist Stephen B. Whatley |
Our Lady of Divine Providence by Stephen B Whatley - Flickr Photo Sharing!
By Stephen B. Whatley
The month of August is dedicated to The Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Catholic Calendar. I felt compelled with an urgency as I often feel when expressing my faith through art - to pay tribute to another devotion to the Mother of God, Our Lady of Divine Providence. Everyone is aware from the current international news of the financial plight of so many in the world; and I personally know several people under this pressure, particularly in the USA.
I pray that my drawing will give peace, hope and bring relief through prayer to whoever views the drawing. I was overtaken as I drew- indeed 'charged' with prayerful energy, reciting Hail Mary repeatedly - particularly as the tender face of the Mother of God emerged through my drawing.
The history of this particular devotion to Our Lady dates back 400 years to 1611 in Rome; when Barnabites (clerics of St Paul) were unable to complete construction of their church due to financial problems. The pastor made a pilgrimage to Loreto to beg Our Lady for help and on his return was rewarded with the financial means to finish the church.
He ensured that Our Lady receive credit for the miracle by placing a factual account in the parish archives. In 1663, after an image of Our Lady was moved to the altar in the church and fell, breaking into pieces, the architect offered the Barnabites a painting of the Blessed Mother with the Child Jesus in her lap, by the artist Gaetan.
One of the Fathers found the Pastor's original writings about the miracle; resulting from devotion and trust in Our Lady, Mother of Providence.
Devotion passed to Spain where a shrine was built in Tarragona, Catalonia. A Catalan priest, named bishop of Puerto Rico, was assigned a diocese in ruin, plagued with financial problems. Putting everything in the hands of Our Lady - through prayer - the Cathedral was restored and the diocese re-established.
The way the hand of Jesus is wrapped around His Mother's hand is symbolic of Our Lady of Divine Providence..."Mother, I place in your hands the authority to act in my name. From my infinite treasure, you are to provide good things to all those who implore your aid".
I am particularly grateful to a dear American friend, James, who kindly sent me the Illustrated Book of Mary (published: William J. Hirton Co. 2010) in which I learned of this devotion; and the illustration became my starting point for this tribute.
Prayer to Our Lady of Divine Providence
God, Our Father, we give you thanks as we honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother Of Divine providence.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, She became the mother of The Saviour. As queen sitting at the right hand of her Son, she aids the church with her needs and with maternal care provides the personal needs of her children who were entrusted to her at the Cross by Jesus, Our Lord
We implore Thee Father, through the prayers of our Lady, Mother Of Divine Providence, to remove from us whatever is harmful, and to bestow on us only that which will be helpful.
We ask Thee this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
"May there be great blessings of peace, relief, new empowerment and prosperity through the Grace of Our Lady of Divine Providence, throughout August and beyond." ~ Stephen B Whatley, August 1, 2011
Charcoal on paper
23.4 x 16.5in/59 x 42cm
To view Stephen's painting of The Immaculate Heart of Mary, click on the following link: www.flickr.com/photos/stephenbwhatley/4711812117/
Copyright 2011 Stephen B. whatley
