Humans were made for connections; connections with God, connections with community, and connections with one another. As a Catholic, this idea is central to my belief.
As a Louisiana resident, who has seen my own share of storms, I couldn’t help but feel connected to the people of Texas as Hurricane Harvey slowly and inevitably hauled the ocean into the air and left a path of destruction in its wake. But for me, the connection to the people of Texas was more than an experiential one. It was spiritual as well.
In times of distress and difficulty, I connect with the Saints for guidance and intersession. When praying for the people of Texas, those whose lives and homes have been so suddenly altered by storms, it made sense to connect with Our Lady of the Annunciation, the Patron of the state. In doing so, I became aware of another connection: a dynamic, action and commitment-fueled connection-the connection of yes.
As I painted Our Lady, I couldn’t help but meditate upon her receiving the news that she would be the one to bear salvation for others. Indeed, such news must have been frightening for an unwed young girl in her time. Yet, despite her fear, despite the personal cost of such a commitment, she gave her unreserved yes.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Despite the fact that such an agreement could have cost Mary her life in her cultural setting, she finds joy in the moment. She takes immeasurable pleasure in knowing that she is part of God’s plan of healing. Like Mary at the moment of the annunciation, I am a woman who is delighted to know that I can have a role in bringing healing to others.
The process of painting this piece began with painting the entire canvas black. Then, I painted a single dash of color. This warm hue glowed like a fire in the night until it was joined by others. Eventually, there was far more light than darkness and all that caught the eye was a message of hope.
Our Lady of the Annunciation, Pray for us.
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