the chair of peter and the artistic wisdom of Bernini

The feast of the Chair of Peter, already present in the Church since the 3rd century, and definitively set on February 22 by Pope John XXIII, recalls the authority that Jesus entrusted to Simon, the fisherman of Galilee, to accompany and guard, as his vicar, the people of God towards Salvation. Once again Rome, in […]

Dormition of Mary video

Sr Emanuela was interviewed on Relevant Radio on the Solemnity of the Assumption and she talked about the Mosaic of the Dormition of Mary in St Mary Major’sBasilica Rome.

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary

The splendid mosaics in the apse of St Mary Major’s Basilica in Rome narrate the life story of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Of particular interest is the “Dormitio Mariæ”, the Dormition of Mary, which is found just below the central mosaic. The mosaic depicts the Marian mystery that the Eastern Church refer to as the […]

The Most Famous Image of the Sacred Heart

Pompeo Batoni (1708-1787) is the painter who depicted the most famous image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was born in Lucca in 1708 and his father was a skilled goldsmith who imposed the family trade on his son. As a youth, Batoni displayed his ability in the engraving and decoration of precious metals […]

The Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity, created by Lorenzo Lotto in 1523 in Bergamo for the church of Sant’Alessandro della Croce, presents a truly peculiar reflection of the Trinitarian mystery. It is an oil on canvas work, 170 x 115 cm, now in temporary storage at the Diocesan Museum of Bergamo. The artist, a man of profound faith, […]

The Chair of Peter and the artistic wisdom of Bernini

The ancient Feast of the Chair of Peter has been celebrated in the Church since the third century and was definitively established on the 22nd February by St Pope John XXIII. The Feast celebrates the mission and authority that Jesus entrusted to Simon, the fisherman from Galilee, to lead the people of God towards salvation […]

The Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 7

Mary is the woman clothed with the sun because she is full of grace and is resplendent with the light of the Redemption brought about by Jesus. On earth, Most Holy Mary, makes the sun of her Son, Jesus, shine for us pilgrims in time. To pray the 7th day of the Novena to the […]

Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 6

The traditional iconography of the Immaculate Conception depicts the Virgin Mary crushing the head of the serpent. This image takes its inspiration from a passage in the first book of the Holy Scriptures where we read: “I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; it will bruise your […]

Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 5

Traditional Marian iconography contrasts Eve with Mary. This representation arises from the reflection of the Church Fathers on these two figures. Eve, mother of all living, condemned us with her sin. Mary, with her faith, reopened the doors of Heaven for us, by welcoming the Lord Jesus into her womb. As Tertullain explains well in […]

Iconography of the Immaculate Conception – Part 4

The woman of the Apocalypse is She who crushes the head of the serpent, thus inaugurating the time of Salvation. This is depicted by the crescent moon placed under her her feet. To pray on the 4th day of the Novena of the Immaculate Conception click here.