Prayer doesn't need proof,
it needs practice.
IMAGO SACRA MILLE GRATIARUM VALET. ("A holy picture is worth a thousand graces")................... This blog is a means to show some of my holy card collection along with some interesting thoughts and inspirations. "....artists have the privilege in the Church and throughout history, to open up so that people can see the mystery of God. The artist speaks, not just literally, but symbolically. Visual images, if well done, can move us. That's a ministry." Quote from Brother Michael Moran, C.P
15 comments:
Dear Micki,
what a lovely picture of Child Jesus praying! There are also two small crosses on the floor; one before Him and one His right side.
Ceci
Really love this one.
Thankyou, Micki! Another wonderful Chambers! So beautiful!
Diane S.
Isn't He cute! Hardly a way to describe our dear Lord, but if Father Larry can say He had His 'diaper changed', I am probably safe saying He is cute.
Ceci - I wonder if He is thinking of the "cross" that awaits him.
Saintos - That's high praise. Thank you.
Diane - One just can't get enough Chamers can "we"?
Anonymous - "Diaper Change", "Cute", sounds like a wonderful way to be able to think of our adorable Lord.
What a cool concept for a blog - I've literally never seen a blog like this. Do you follow the liturgical calendar, or how do you organize the seemingly endless supple of holy cards you have?
Joe H. - Welcome to your first visit here. I hope you continue to come by and find a blessing or two of inspiration.
I don't follow the liturgical calendar exactly but do try to pick a card that matches a certain day, saint feastday, or a quote (as best as I can)...sometimes it's just a holy card.
Another by C. Bosseron Chambers. It is unmistable. And the same little boy that sat for The Light of the World only about 5 years older. I've not seen tihs one before. Awesome find!
ST - I'm so glad you got to enjoy this one also. One of my favs.
Do you know the name of this print by Chambers?
"Christ at Five"
Christ at Five
Blessed Charles de Foucauld( https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/64437.Charles_de_Foucauld ) took a picture of the monstrance that held Our Blessed Lord. When he developed the plate, it is said that this picture of the child Christ appeared instead of a photo of Our Lord in the Monstrance (http://www.ebay.com/bhp/monstrance ) Blessed Charles de Foucauld died 12/1/1916. However, please consider the possibility that Chambers' painting "His Utmost for the Highest" has a different, though somewhat similar blond child in it---a child he discovered in the congregation and used as a model for a painting of Joseph holding Yeshua in a church in Chicago: that painting is still there. Chambers painting that painting long after Blessed Charles de Foucauld unveiled the Miraculous photograph of Christ. Therefore, Chambers' little boy is looks similar to the Christ child in the Miraculous picture but is not the true Christ, and it is possible that Chambers had actually viewed the miraculous photo and purposely chose a child model who looked like the Christ child.
Thank you Linda. I truly appreciate your information that adds to our love of this holy card. I believe what you are bringing here but wonder where one can see the photograph that you are speaking about. The words "it is said" sounds like it has not been seen so it could be nothing more than a passed down story. No one is saying that Chambers painted the true Jesus.....he was an artist so I doubt he copied Bl. Charles' photograph. Only my opinion of course.
In reply to Linda Kendall-Hagan~~~
I would be very interested in knowing how this image originally came to be connected with Blessed Charles de Foucauld or, as is sometimes told, "a monk in the desert." There are several variations to this story. Brief accounts of de Foucauld's life do not include this incident. Members of his religious order were unaware of it. Where is this negative and this print? Did it really happen? I tend to be doubtful due to the fact that de Foucauld died in 1916 and this painting, "Christ at Five," was copyrighted by C. Bosseron Chambers in 1933.
Another image (with a different model) that hangs in St. Ignatius Loyola in Chicago was painted by Chambers using a model, Gilbert Demille, who was the son of the custodian at that church. The very famous Christ Child image "Light of the World" derived from this image. There is a story about that here.
I've never encountered a Chambers image with the title "His Utmost for the Highest." There is a book written by an Oswald Chambers in 1935 called "My Utmost for His Highest." I wonder if there is some confusion.
Actually, it seems that there is quite a lot of confusion about all this. Most of the references I've seen to this "miraculous" image appear on Pinterest which isn't really a very reliable platform for research.
We do sometimes long for miracles to confirm our faith.But as Christians, we have a responsibility to seek and adhere to truth. A professor in Italy who was researching the stories about this image observed that while it is unfortunate if false stories are promulgated, those who are going to believe in God will believe, and those who are going to disbelieve will continue to disbelieve. But I think stories about "miracles" which can't be verified can create scepticism about the true miracles that occur.
Meanwhile, we can thank C. Bosseron Chambers for creating so many beautiful images that can inspire us. God bless.
Kay
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