A gift for a future priest!!
This painting is very special as it is filled with personal symbolism for a wonderful seminarian, Javier Ebertowski, who will be leaving for Rome in a few days to continue his studies. He said he will have it at his desk there.
Just a bit of a backstory: I’ve heard of Javier from his loving parents, Elizabeth and Richard whom we met through a Marriage Encounter Retreat where they were presenters but I never met him. Fast forward 6 years later, at a mass in our parish, our pastor introduces a seminarian, Javier, who will be helping out for a month. Later on the connection was made and I was thrilled. I invited him to our prayer group and prayed the rosary then discovered he was to leave for Rome to continue his studies. After visiting my studio, he requested a small painting or icon that he would be able to carry with him to Rome and place on his desk to remind him of his calling. After praying on what might be the theme, he shared with me that it would be the Annunciation of Mary where the Angel Gabriel is kneeling before her for she is the Queen of Angels. ‘
Due to time constraints, I decided to create it with acrylics. At first, it was going to be an icon in the Byzantine style but after a few days of effort, I decided to switch to a figurative style in order to finish before he left for Rome. I’ve included special symbolism for him within this painting. There are 3 red roses at the window that represents both the Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The roses as a whole represent the rosary. There are also 3 earthen jars which represent the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry at the urging of Mother Mary at the wedding at Cana. The colors are also symbolic.
With much prayer and smaller brushes, I was able to complete the painting in time. As with all the paintings that I have created with the help of the Holy Spirit, witinessing his joy was my reward!!
Please join me in praying for him – may the Blessed Virgin accompany him through his heroic journey in becoming a Catholic priest!