I was attempting to get a mosaic, a wood carving…. of such glorious images of the Holy Family’s love for us miserable wretches. I couldn’t find anything I liked.
But then I came across this, originally a holy card, as Americans call it… and now machine paint-projected onto canvas, stretched on a frame, quite large, available in various sizes.
The search for something appropriate has been going on for months. I chose a size perhaps appropriate for the front of the Altar, maybe. I have not yet seen it, in situ. It may be too big, too small… we’ll see. Because of that maybe-ness, I commissioned this with my own money. I say that publicly to keep the contrarians from far away at bay.
I hope someone doesn’t tell me that it’s not liturgical. I have often seen various kinds of art on the front of altars, including mosaics, paintings, carvings. I think there’s enough in the way of precedent.
- Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
- Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
- Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, Saint Joseph, pray for us.
And…
- Our best friends, our Guardian Angels, pray for us.
- All you saints and angels of God, pray for us.
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
Amen. Praying unceasingly.
An Aspiration
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul;
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony;
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
I remember that from my first days in the seminary!
Yes, it is a prayer one doesn’t forget. It has stayed in memory since I learnt it about 65 years ago at Our Lady of Fatima School, Caringbah (Archdiocese of Sydney) in the 1950s. It is a favourite of mine and sprung instantly to mind when I saw your picture of their Hearts that have given their all to see us safely home to heaven.
And we always wrote J M J on our school work.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph … I love you. Save souls.” That’s my waking in the middle of the night aspiration. Father, can you share where you found such a treasure?
China!
Amazon…
C’est tres beau!