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Turn to Our Mother, Queen of Heaven & Earth

The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Catholic Church. Catholics also celebrate the Assumption (15th) and Queenship (22nd) of Mary during the month of August. Let us take a moment to fix our eyes on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother as we pray…

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
and after this exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

Amen.

It’s time to sit with the Queen Mother

This image of Queen Mother illustrates the interconnectedness of us with Jesus through Mary.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27

In His last moments before His death upon the cross, Jesus gave the Apostles His mother. He gave the Church His Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

As you enter this experience of Visio Divina with our Queen Mother, Christ and St. Dominic, don’t rush to interpret the image. Let it unfold slowly. Let it speak to your heart. And listen for the quiet question it places within you: What is the Lord saying to me today?

Praying with sacred art can become a place of deep encounter with the Lord. Taking the time to sit with the Lord in prayer can re-orient our hearts. We are each invited into rest in prayer. To let the Holy Spirit live and breathe within us. Today, let’s meet the Holy Spirit with Mary Magdalene and Jesus by praying with beauty.

Meet the Holy Spirit with Our Lady, Jesus and St. Dominic

We don’t need to overthink praying with sacred art. In this moment, Mary is physically showing us her offering of prayers to her son, Our Lord. Gaze at this image with openness, and say, Come, Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart. What do you see in this image? What you see may differ from what someone else sees.

Perhaps you notice the gaze Mary looks upon Christ with, the same gaze St. Dominic looks upon Our Lady with. Maybe you notice the rays of mercy Jesus shines upon Mary, the same rays Mary shines upon St. Dominic. What do you imagine Our Lady is feeling as she presents the Lord with the intentions offered by St. Dominic? Observe the expressions on their faces. Joy? Comfort? Peace? What emotions are do you immediately see? Who appears to be surrounding Mary, Jesus and St. Dominic? Let your eyes rest wherever they are drawn. What else do you notice? The colors? The position of of Mary’s hands between Jesus and St. Dominic? The small details surrounding Our Lady.

Now place yourself in this image. Where are you? How do you feel? Take some time and meet God in prayer here. What is He saying to you through this painting?

What is the Lord saying to you?

Here, Our Lady gazes lovingly at Christ….

What strikes you personally about this image? Do you see yourself in the position of St. Dominic? Are there things in your life that can be used to sanctify your soul? Do you allow yourself to lay your burdens at the foot of Mary to take to her son? Are there areas in your life that you need filled by the Lord’s mercy? Are you allowing yourself to hear the Lord calling out to you through His Mother, Our Mother? Do you offer your sufferings for the souls in Purgatory?

What do you want to say to the Our Lady?

Ask Mary to intercede for you. Remember, Mary is our spiritual mother. No detail is too small in your heart. She cares about you and will take your prayers to the Lord!

Ask Mary to wrap you in her mantle in times of distress
to be a model of a humble servant of the Lord
to offer your sufferings and petitions on your behalf to God
to share the Lord’s love through her Immaculate Heart

How can you receive the Lord?

After you’ve poured out your heart, the next step is to remain with the image. Rest in the mercy of God poured out to us through Mary. Model yourself after Mary, and allow yourself to be filled by God’s graces. Let the Holy Spirit encounter you with tenderness and acceptance.

We are invited to enter deeper into intercessory prayer with Our Lady and all of the angels and saints, to make space within our hearts to be more like Mary and the saints. Let us ask our Queen Mother to pray for us to become holier in the simple, radical opportunities to say yes to love!

Experience Intercessory Prayer Through Our Queen Mother in Your Own Home

Sacred art has a way of continuing the conversation long after the moment has passed. If this experience of Visio Divina stirred something in you, whether a sense of peace, a deeper curiosity, a quiet “yes”, hold onto it in a tangible way! Sacred art isn’t just something to admire. It’s more than decor or extra. It becomes an invitation to meet beauty in the every day. The right image can transform a space, turning an plain wall into a daily encounter with grace.

Explore works of sacred art such as Kate’s original works in the shop, and choose the one that speaks to you. What can be a focal point for your prayer? How can art help you return to prayer again and again?

What artists or works of sacred art enrich your prayer? Let us know in the comments below!

Kate Capato

Kate is a Sacred Art Painter, Inspirational Speaker, and Faith-filled Movement artist on a mission to spread God's love through beauty! Her inspiration comes from prayerful encounters with the Lord, and the rich traditions of our Catholic faith. When she's not creating something faith inspired, Kate is often traveling all over the world with her hubby soaking in the wonders of God's creation, or spending time with family and friends to live every moment to the fullest. To see her work, visit her portfolio below and share in this mission of spreading truth and goodness.

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