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Artist Statement
Her great loving care is closer to us than we can possibly imagine. When we honor Mary, we are celebrating the mystery of the Living God and of the perfect disciple. It also reminds us that God wants a similar graced relationship with us.
After my pilgrimage based on St. Ignatius Loyola throughout Italy and Spain, I completed his Spiritual Exercises under the direction of a Jesuit brother. They are meditations and contemplations laid out for the seeker – imagining oneself as an active participant throughout Scripture. This painting is derivative of a
fresco that St Ignatius gazed upon for many hours in the Gesu Church in Rome. “Madonna Della Strada” means “Our Lady of the Way.” It is about the astounding invitation, extended to us all, to be intimate members of the Holy Family. The myriad of faces shown in the clothing of the Virgin and Child are people from different centuries and cultures – saints and ordinary people unaware of their holiness.
Everyone of us is beloved and desired to complete the family.
We receive help each day as we try to walk closer to our Lord. The communion of saints have made it easier for us to find God. Their faces in the garb show their eagerness to assist. There is no greater advocate than Mary. She hears our petitions and presents them to the Great King in her powerful sovereign position as His mother. She imparts her purity to us in order to grow in relationship with Christ. Our Queen Mother reminds us that the One to whom we belong – He also belongs to us. We are bonded even deeper than the normal ties of a family, but family life can help us grow into our true identity.
My childhood was a very good one. Hide-and-Go-Seek was my favorite pastime. Once, my father placed me on top of the refrigerator. It seemed like a long time before he “found” me again. Giggling now, I see that Hide-and-Go-Seek is a game the children of God often play with their heavenly Father.
We try to hide, and we have done so since the very beginning. “The LORD God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 We continue the game even though we cannot truly hide from Our patient Father. He knows all of our hiding places. Our best delight is in being discovered. He loves this game, too. The Almighty One fooled the world by hiding in a helpless baby. His divine genius did this so that we may one day hide under the same protective mantle of our Holy Queen along with her Son, “Within Thy wounds hide me.” St. Ignatius Loyola
I emphasized the eyes of Mary and Jesus to be warm and inviting. Their penetrating gaze symbolizes the depth of vision we receive through God’s grace. “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 Our inner sight becomes awakened to a state of trusting and believing in God’s goodness:
we begin to see Him hiding in all things.
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