The new painting of the Mother of Perpetual Help with St. Joseph is the inspiration of Bro. Bonfilio who completed the work with the help of the artist Maria Judith from Mexico.
As Pope Francis announced the Year of St. Joseph on Tuesday in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church starting from Dec. 8, 2020 and ends on Dec. 8, 2021.
The decree stated that “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.”
In addition to the decree, Francis issued an apostolic letter dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. The pope explained in the letter, entitled Patris corde (“With a father’s heart”) and to share some “personal reflections” on the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “My desire to do so increased during these months of pandemic,” he said, noting that many people had made hidden sacrifices during the crisis in order to protect others. “Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble,” he wrote.
“St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”
When we celebrate the year of St. Joseph we continue to reflect on the life of St. Joseph as a humble servant of God and foster father of Jesus, the Son of God. Amidst this we have an image of Holy Family of St. Joseph being part of the Icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help. The Virgin of Perpetual Help with St. Joseph could be one of the true images of reflection and meditation.
Small description about the Icon:
In the icon we see the addition of St. Joseph with the letters in Greek, and added those 3 hills along with the redeemer cross. We could call this as Holy family Perpetual Help. The three Mexican mountains below the Redeemer Cross are: Popocatepl, Iztaccihuatl and Malinche. The angel beneath the 3 hills, is that of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It is done with Oil on canvas measuring about 50 X 60 cm.
Inspiration:
Fr. BONFILIO CUAUHTLI MENDOZA, C. Ss. R. MEXICO
Painter: MARIA JUDITH IRINEO ZAYAS, MEXICO
