I was in a Church a few days ago when I saw a copy of a newly discovered painting by Leonardi Da Vinci (?????) called SALVADOR MUNDI. Whoeever painted it (for what its worth I don't think it was Leornardi) iot is deeply mystical. Why ? Well after St Bernadette saw Our Lady everyone wanted to know what she looked like. But no matter how many great works of art she was shown nothing satisifed her. Even the finished statue at Lourdes didn't do it for her. It was jsut the best going... However towards the end of Bernadettes life she came across an impressinist painting of Mary by a Breton artist and this DID HIT the mark! Why should impressionist art come closer? Because the person of prayer sees with the eyes of the heart. One visionary at Medugorje asked Mary why she was so beautiful and she said , 'I am beautiful because I love..' So the Impressionist who sees with the heart draws closer to the truth of the mystical. You can see this in Monet for instance in the picutre below of the British Houses of Parliament were the artist looks with the heart: Another example of the heart-seeing is in the Hollywoood film , 'What dreams may come' starring Robin Williams, where heaven is seen the only way heaven could ever be seen, with the heart But the bottom line is, I suspect this newly discovered painting Salvator Mundi may be miraculous. Why? Well for one reason Impressionism didn't start till 19th centruy France. Da Vinci was 16th century Italy. ..and Impressionism is the perfect medium to portray mystical visions. ..but this comes three centuries early...and seems to me clearly Impressionist.
It is a powerful image Padraig - it's almost as if the image is 3D - a pure soul could only have drawn that - can angels paint?
As you know, I too saw Jesus, and never have come across any painting that captured Him. The closest I've seen is the one I use for my Avatar. There are specific things I remember of some of His features, and some of the features of the above painting look correct to me! One is the upper lip, which I saw as being fuller than the bottom. Also the almond shaped eyes, although I don't remember them that far apart. Also they seemed larger, more doe like and gentle. The nose looks correct....long but beautifully shaped and not TOO long looking. A cleft in the chin but much less distinct than that one. He had beautiful thick chestnut colored hair, with a slight wave to it. My hair is auburn, and his was an altogether different color, more unique. His eyes seemed to change color, so I could only think they may be hazel? They seemed to change (darken or lighten) with His mood. He was SOOOOO beautiful and yet VERY manly at the same time. I felt like I had known Him for eternity, and could not believe I had forgotten His face in my lifetime until I saw Him again. He was bathed in a light that radiates from Him, so just that in itself was a "part" of His looks that I don't think could ever be captured. It would be great to find out the actual origin of this painting.
I would imagine that Jesus must cause the immense feeling of reverential awe. Jesus does not want our awe but He wants our love. I suppose that is why He keeps coming to us in smallness. A baby, a piece of bread, a word, a lamb.
I suppose in heaven we will be completely in awe and in love for we shall see Jesus for all eternity. But we must start loving Him now or we may not get to heaven Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
I heard a very old recording of Mother Angelica (EWTN) yesterday. She says God wll bring us joy (but not necessarily) happiness. She put great emphaiss on this and it threw me a little; what did she mean? Then I remembered Our Lady saying to Bernadette at Lourdes, 'i can only promise you happiness in the life to come but not in this life'. It has me thinking; as we enter the New Year about the difference between joy and happiness. But again and again in the lives of the saints we hear reports about how joyous they were despite often the most appaling crosses. Anyway it has e thinkig of the difference between joy and happiness...and what Mother Angelica meant. But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits. Psalm 5:11
padraig , if you could provide some more details , better still the painting itself .... i wouldn't ask but you seem so good at finding the images on the internet.
