Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Dear Friends in Christ,
Today, your prayers have borne fruit in this icon. The transformation over the last two weeks has simply been incredible! Not only is the icon done, but finished on a very special day for me: the anniversary of my Confirmation, and the anniversary of my Marian Consecration 5 years ago!

This image was written originally by Br. Claude of Mt. Angel at the request of my former spiritual director. He envisioned it as a "healing icon" for priests. It has truly been a blessing to write this icon during the year of the priest.

The lettering is Greek, and stands for "St. John", "Mother of God", and "Jesus Christ". The scene is, of course, reminiscent of John 19:26-27 where Christ from the cross says to Mary, "behold your son" and to John, "behold your mother". Mary is presenting the stole of the priesthood to John, emphasizing her title as "Mother of Priests".

As with any icon, everything is done for symbolic value. The colors reveal the truths of our faith as much as anything else: Mary is in Blue (Divinity, mystery, eternity) and Purple(royalty) emphasizing her as Queen Mother; John is in Red-Passion, Love; White-purity, uncreated light showing his innocence and love for Jesus and the Virgin; and the Gold leaf represents the Light of Grace and heaven. The shapes are not intended to be "natural" because it is meant to jar us into a different way of thinking: these are windows to heaven, where we will see things differently than we are used to. The perspective is skewed so that we see multiple angles at once (perhaps not in mine, because I'm not the greatest artist), and typically the "vanishing point" is "behind" the icon--drawing the faithful to look beyond the icon and into contemplation of heaven.

May Mary, the Mother of Priests and Mother of God pray for us, that we might follow her Son Jesus more closely everyday. Blessings to all of you!