 |
| Esteban Murillo "Immaculate Conception' |
The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a treasured feast among Catholics. Incidentally, it is the patronal feast of the United States, and her image is one of the most popular paintings done by Esteban Bartolome Murillo, a Spanish artist who painted no less than 12 different versions of the Immaculate Conception. The reason he painted so many was because of a controversy between the Franciscans and Dominicans. The Franciscans claimed that Mary was conceived without the stain of sin, while the Dominicans claimed that Mary was born with original sin, and during St. Anne's pregnancy, her fetus was purified, and eventually sanctified inside her womb. Pope Alexander VII in 1661 declared that the Franciscans were correct.
 |
| The restored statue of the Cospicua parish |
But the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was not proclaimed until 1854 by Pope Pius IX. 4 years later Mary appeared to a young country girl Bernadette Soubirous, and proclaimed to her 'I am the Immaculate Conception.' Two parishes in Malta are dedicated to her, including the one in Cospicua, with a beautiful statue which was restored this year.
 |
| Remembering my brother Paul who died 8 years ago today. |
No comments:
Post a Comment