Our Lady of Good Counsel

Recently I learned something new about Our Lady of Good Counsel. While I was with a group touring a chapel I heard a person describing a stain glass window dedicated to Mary. It peeked my interest due to the fact that I live on Good Counsel Hill.In 1989 I had the opportunity to view the original fresco of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy about 30 miles south of Rome. I remember being very surprised at the appearance of the piece.After we finally discovered the church where it hung, we realized everything was all locked up because of siesta time. While waiting outside I remember the huge bronze doors on the front of the church which had beautiful sculptures on them. I thought the fresco must also be quite large. When the doors opened we muttered with broken Italian that we wanted to get in to see the fresco. To my surprise it was only 15 inches wide and 17 inches high.According to the legend in the 5th century the entire town of Genazzano was participating in a yearly celebration. The church was unfinished and roofless as it needed repair. The people saw a mysterious cloud descend upon the church. The church bells rang without anyone pulling the ropes. The cloud parted and revealed a portrait of Mary and the child Jesus. The painting was not mounted or attached at the back. It was believed to have originally been in Albania and journeyed miraculously to this Augustinian Church in Italy.The part of the story I never knew before is that the image on the painting appears to have different expressions according to particular situations and different skin tones at different times. It spoke to me about being one with the moment and entering into what is. I find when I work with wood I am often called to respond to what is, not what it is that I would like it to be. May Our Lady of Good Counsel, counsel and direct us.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Linocut, 3 1/2"h x 3 1/2"w