August 2023—St Lawrence, Deacon
“The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence”
by Valentin De Boulogne | in the Museo Nacional del Prado
One of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered in 258. Deacon Lawrence (c.225–258), who was executed on a grill for refusing to surrender the Church´s treasures to the Emperor.
During his execution, the legend suggests, he cheerfully declared:
"I'm well done on this side. Turn me over!”
July 2023—“Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist and Mary Magdalene”
by Frans Pourbus the Elder (1545-1581) - 1656 | at The Hermitage Museum
Mary Magdalene was one of those who stood by the cross of Jesus with his mother. And, of all the “official” witnesses who might have been chosen for the first awareness of the Resurrection, she was the one to whom the privilege was given. She is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
June 2023—Baby Jesus with St. Anthony of Padua
Elisabetta Sirani - 1656 | Bologna, Italy
Like all saints, he is a perfect example of turning one’s life completely over to Christ. He whom popular devotion has nominated as finder of lost objects found himself by losing himself totally to the providence of God.
May 2023—"Visitation"
from Altarpiece of the Virgin (St Vaast Altarpiece) | by Jacques Daret, c. 1435 | Staatliche Museen, Berlin
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”
(Luke 1:46-47)
April 2023—“The Resurrection of Christ”
Paolo Veronese c.1570 | oil on canvas | Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden, Germany
“They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground.
They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?
He is not here, but he has been raised.”
(Luke 24:5-6)
March 2023—Sacra Conversazione - Mary with the Child, St Felicity of Carthage and St Perpetua
Unknown Artist
Painting - tempera and gold leaf on panel
National Museum, Warsaw, Poland
“When my father in his affection for me was trying to turn me from my purpose by arguments and thus weaken my faith, I said to him, ‘Do you see this vessel—water pot or whatever it may be? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?’ ‘No,’ he replied. ‘So also I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am—a Christian.’”
Perpetua, a well-educated, noblewoman from Carthage, before being martyred
