THE GLORY OF THE MASS : A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR A RECENTLY ORDAINED FRIEND, A FITTING SUBJECT FOR THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST

This is a pretty ambitious project that I am working on for a friend who was recently ordained. He commissioned it some time ago and I confess that I had been avoiding it because I knew it was going to be difficult to do well. This album is a thank you to him for his patience, and to let him know that he doesn't have to despair of this project getting underway.

The image is meant to be an exposition of the experience of the Priest and the very great responsibility that is his to minister to all of God's Children, facilitating their lives in Christ through the Ancient Tradition and Faith of the Church. The Priest does this especially by first cultivating a profound friendship with Christ, especially through personal prayer and frequenting of the Scriptures. He learns from the great saints who have gone before us in faith, many of whom he has developed a special veneration for. They are literally his heroes, and the example and experience of their faith informs his own. He speaks to them and asks for their prayers, as he reads their writings and the stories of their lives. He communicates the insights he gains from his own prayer, the Gospels, and the tradition of the Church to the People of God.

The Saints have been especially important to my recently ordained friend, and they have enriched his life greatly. He has also obviously been enriched by his varied experiences of ministry to many different groups and individuals during the course of his formation. He wanted the image to include an image of a Priest offering Mass to a congregation made up of several different types of persons, many of whom he reverences (such as law enforcement or firemen) or has learned from in a special way during the course of his formation in the Priesthood. In the upper portion of the drawing is a small "who's who" of saints, many specifically requested by my friend, who has learned from each of these great men and women of the Church.

The Communion of Saints is complete! I will have more updates soon.

IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM TEACHEY, WHO WAS AND IS MY WIFE'S BEST FRIEND

This is a drawing of William Michael Teachey. He was and is a beloved son, brother, and friend, and he was and is my wife's best friend. Will was so good to my wife in his life that even I wouldn't dare to dispute his claim to the title "best friend." As it turns out, he was also a performer whenever there was a crowd to laugh, and I feel blessed to have been able to experience his humor and his presence.

I have thought of Will even more often than usual of late, and I felt that although I knew it would be hard for Emily, it was high time that we had a special place in our home (besides the many small photographs of him we already have) to honor his memory and the joy and happiness that he brought to so many family and friends. I have long had the idea of this drawing on my heart, and felt that Emily would be ready to receive a new portrait of her friend.

I only met Will a handful of times, but every time we crossed paths I laughed and was quickly able to understand why Emily loves him so much. As I have journeyed with Emily as her husband I feel that I have truly come to know Will from her own precious memories of his friendship. I love Will Teachey for the same reason that I love his whole family and hers - He loves my wife, and he was good to her at the most difficult times of her life. For that I am eternally grateful. We cherish his memory and he will never be forgotten.

This portrait was rendered from a small photograph we have which is very special to Emily, of her "loving on him" before he headed off to the Prom. I have always been drawn to that photo of him. I knew that I wanted to make it the inspiration for this portrait. I hope that it gives some glimmer of the eternal joy that he already shares with Our Heavenly Father.

Many thanks to Will's father and mother, who gave their blessing that this drawing of their beloved son should be shared in this venue. We love you both very much! And by the way, the drawing doesn't do justice to just how good lookin' the dude really was. Many thanks Will! God love and bless you forever.

THE SUMMIT: A WORK OF FICTION WITH FRIENDS

This little illustration is for my funny, weird, and somewhat disturbed group of friends who are all collaborating together to write ongoing chapters of a spontaneous, pointless, rambling, silly, and thoroughly entertaining story that we have all either been written into or written parts of. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing chapters and I always enjoy reading what others have written. This is one funny group, folks. The story is "The Summit," and it follows the exploits of a despotic King, his minions, and the small group of revolutionaries (or criminals, depending on your point of view) that are out to bring it all crashing down. As you can see from the illustration, everybody has a gun or guns, and the story does get violent from time to time, and its not a kids book per se. Also, if you don't like vulgar language and liberal use of such words not all chapters will set well with your literary palate. However, I should say that so far the only people to die have been a large group of gang members and a couple of White House Interns. I laugh out loud and its just plain fun to be creative. I've enjoyed it so much I wanted to do an illustration of each of the characters in the story for my fellow writers.

I have to say this is the most fun I have had drawing since I was in High School. My old pal Chris Jefferies will remember as I did while drawing the many times that we would sit around a draw comic book characters and the like. I don't do this kind of free flowing work enough, and it was a world of fun. I just quickly found photos to work from and put pencil to paper. I love it when a creative work organically comes together. This drawing and "The Summit"are like that. Look for more comic-style art in the future!

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST: 3RD POSTER

This drawing is of my very dear friend, Father Gregory Plow, T.O.R. and is intended for use in my newest "Year of the Priest" poster. Father Gregory and I have been best friends since my Sophomore year of college, when we met each other at a time when both of us were experiencing a conversion back to the faiths in which we were raised. Father Gregory was raised a Catholic, and I was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition. What endeared Father Gregory to me, then, as now, was his absolute genuineness, generosity, and contagious enthusiasm. When I met him, I could easily have said "Here is an Israelite in whom there is no guile." He is a man, now a Priest, who is alive with the Joy of the Holy Spirit. He has been that way as long as I have known him.

There were many roads which carried me towards the Catholic faith: Art, History, Scripture, Tradition, etc... But of all the things that God used to give me this precious gift, our friendship and spiritual brotherhood were the most vital. Years later, when I finally made the decision to come into the Church, I was also diagnosed with cancer. Father Gregory and his mother Jean were my co-sponsors, and were present when I was confirmed in my hospital bed by a local Priest. Over the next nine months, they came to the hospital and brought communion whenever I was inpatient, and took turns taking me to daily Mass when I was at home. This is only one of the examples of why I am so indebted to the generosity and friendship that Father Gregory extends to everyone he meets. He is a Priest's Priest, and he was meant to be a Priest. I chose to use his image in this new poster because Father Gregory is the perfect "poster boy" for the Priesthood.

Frank Bua took the photo that this drawing was rendered from. Frank caught this shot of Father Gregory at his "Mass of Thanksgiving," that is, his first Mass as a Priest. The image portrays Father incensing the Gospel before proclaiming its message to the People of God. I was immediately struck by the grace and symmetry of the image. Frank has a great eye, and Father Gregory's manner of offering Mass (with the order and precision of a mathematician - he is one) lends itself to this type of image. It is interesting that the poster focuses on the mandate by Christ to "preach the Gospel to every creature," because Father Gregory is a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular, and Saint Francis is famous, among other things, for preaching to creatures (birds) when humans wouldn't listen, and for his oft quoted line "preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."

The image can be seen as an icon of the intense relationship which exists between the Priest and the Gospels. The Priest is commissioned by Christ to embrace the Gospels, and to open Christ's words to us in their proclamation and also in his preaching. The Proclamation of the Gospel is so sacred that incense is used. I found an excerpt from a website authored by the Abbot of a Monastery. His description of this rite is very beautiful, and explains well the significance of incense in the context of the Mass, especially with reference to the Gospels:

"What are we expressing with this incensing of the Gospel Book? It is a sign of devotion toward these holy words of and about our Savior, which have been preserved for nearly 2000 years, in reverence and love. As the sweet smoke (always first blessed by the priest) rises toward and surrounds the holy book, we are acknowledging: these are the words that God spoke when He became man and walked on this earth; this is the story of our salvation; here is the promise of everlasting life; here is the testimony of God’s love for us."

You can find the entire article at:

http://wordincarnate.wordpress.com/2009/

01/08/incense/

God send us Holy Priests!

SECOND DRAWING OF BLESSED MIGUEL PRO, MARTYR

Finally finally finally! My first drawing in MONTHS :(

This drawing is a companion to an earlier drawing of the same subject. Blessed Miguel Pro (seen in this image kneeling in prayer before his execution by firing squad) was a martyr for the Catholic Faith in Mexico during the early 1900's. He died in 1927 after very successfully helping faithful Catholics to practice their faith in secret.

At that time in Mexico the government was militantly anti-Catholic, and this anti-Catholicism, which began when Mexico declared independence from Spain, had reached a fever pitch. Father Pro was extremely clever and even humorous in the creative ways that he eluded the authorities and made his way around the towns to say Mass. Apparently he took great enjoyment from sketching new disguises and characters he might play. (dressing like a Priest would get you jail time or worse) When an attempt was made on the life of the Mexican President, the government used this as a pretext to arrest Blessed Miguel Pro and his brother, accusing them of being involved in the plot. This was done despite the fact that the actual perpetrator, who was also captured, vehemently denied their involvement.

Blessed Miguel Pro was executed by firing squad, and his execution was meticulously photographed, including a point blank gunshot by an officer when the firing squad failed to kill this faithful priest. It was thought that the distribution of these photographs would stir up fear and weaken the Catholic rebellion. They had quite the opposite effect. In this image Blessed Miguel is shown at prayer, clutching a crucifix in one hand and a Rosary in the other. When he stood to be executed, he lifted his arms in the shape of a cross (see earlier drawing) and prayed "May God forgive you, as I do. Viva Christo Rey!" (Long Live Christ the King)

FOR THE BEST OF FATHER IN LAWS

This drawing is a gift for my Father-in-law, in gratitude for his constant generosity to Emily and I in every way possible. I have a deep respect for Ron. He's a man who seems to have the tools for just about any problem you might come across, and he has been a moral compass for my wife throughout her life, and has by extension become an example to me of what it means to live a life that is committed to doing what is right. I would put him in the same category as my grandfather in that regard. When Ron shakes your hand and tells you what he is going to do, you don't have to guess whether or not he'll do what he says. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever known personally, and his daughter is second only to him in that regard. What I love most about my father-in-law though is the same quality that I admire most in my sister Karen: He's as tough as iron, but there are certain subjects (his daughter being one) that he keeps a very soft place in his heart for. I've never seen a man so stoic, who at the same time can be so quickly brought to tears by a conversation about his daughter, or other members of his family. I am very blessed to have Ron as a friend and as a father-in-law, and will always be indebted to him for his generosity and his desire to help anyone who is experiencing any kind of difficulty. I have come to learn that this is a guiding principle of Ron's life, and hope that I can one day live the way he does.

When I was trying to think of what Ron would enjoy seeing in a drawing, I thought of the usual things, NASCAR, Oklahoma, Chevy Trucks, hunting, etc. but then remembered that the one thing most precious to Ron is his family, both immediate and extended, and I remembered this little photo on the mantle in his home. It shows a very young Ron Nimmo (on the left) standing with his baby sister Cathy and his brother Joe. Joe is and was a tank. From what I have heard, "Ron would start fights.... Joe finished them." To be fair, Ron usually didn't need the back up, but Joe was apparently always ready to assist at need. :) I love the picture and hope the drawing will be special for Ron, for his folks, and for his brother and sister.

A GIFT FOR MY SISTER ON THE OCCASION OF HER WEDDING TO CAPTAIN BLAKE SMITH

This drawing was done in honor of (one of) my beautiful sister's wedding Memorial Day weekend. She is pictured with her husband, Capt. Blake Smith. It was truly a blessed weekend, and I told my Brother-in-law that his faithfulness as a Christian, and the way his faith informed his decision to marry my sister, was evident in all of the pomp and ceremony surrounding the event, and their example made me want to be a better husband and a better man. God bless them both with a wonderful life together, and GOD BLESS ME WITH LOTS OF LITTLE BLOND HAIRED NIECES AND NEPHEWS! :)

You can see images from the wedding at http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=64442&photographerID=10703

In Progress: DRAWING OF THE RESURRECTION

Ever since I began the Stations of the Cross which were completed last year, I have been wanting to do a drawing representing the Resurrection of Christ. As you can see, this drawing is also inspired by The Passion of the Christ, specifically the awesome Resurrection scene at the end of the movie - It made me wish that the movie kept going after that point, or at least that a sequel could be made. I am drawing Christ's face in a much larger format than I usually work in, so his face is able to contain much more detail than other works that I have done. I am very happy with the way this drawing is going.

In Progress: PORTRAITS OF ARCHBISHOP FULTON SHEEN AND SAINT JOHN VIANNEY

These two drawings, both in their beginning stages, are intended for The Year of the Priest - my vision is to have the full image of these great priests of the Church, Archbishop Fulton Sheen (his cause for beatification is underway) and Saint John Vianney (Patron Saint of all priests) in the lower corner of two larger posters, with a quote (on the priesthood) from the person depicted taking up a larger part of the poster.

Archbishop Sheen

This is the very beginning of a drawing I am doing of Archbishop Fulton Sheen for the Year of the Priest. My plan is to draw portraits of great Catholic Priests, not necessarily all confirmed saints, but Priest's Priests. Archbishop Sheen is such a figure. Frankly, he is the definition of the saying "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

Archbishop Sheen is the total package - his writings are beautiful, filled with meditations on the Christian life and Christ Himself that reveal a life spent in prayer. His writings and his teachings, shared by radio and television, are still profound and illuminating insights into Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, Poetry, Art, Music, Politics, and all aspects of human culture. Most significant to me are his insights into the Gospel, revealed in his masterpiece, "The Life of Christ." The Church cherishes his memory for these reasons as well as the example of Priestly heroism that his life constantly bore witness to. His cause for canonization is underway and I for one pray for it, if for no other reason than that more people might be exposed to his wisdom, humor, and desire to help each of us live lives of true goodness.

Archbishop Sheen is famous in the world and the Church for his celebrated Television Series "Life is Worth Living." Ed Sullivan, when he came to the halfway mark of his show, would always welcome the viewers who had just finished watching Bishop Sheen's program. Imagine! A Bishop of the Catholic Church with a television show so popular it rivaled "The Late Show" of its time. I hope you will take a moment to experience a sample of Archbishop Sheen's show. He is a very rare example of a man whose speech is as brilliant and gripping as his writing, and/or vice versa. A true orator. Here is a great clip from a 1957 episode of "Life is Worth Living." It is a good example of how seamless Bishop Sheen's transitions were as he moved from tenderness and humor to serious discourse and even righteous anger when appropriate. Profundity like this is rare today.

He tells a good story at the beginning of the show about a letter from the mother of one of his younger viewers:




Saint John Vianney

This is very early (and highly edited) progress on a drawing of Saint John Vianney that I decided to do as part of a series for "The Year of the Priest."

I wanted to do this drawing in part because I LOVE Saint John Vianney, but also because there really aren't that many representations of the Saint, and the best ones are not in paint or even naturalistic images, but stained glass. The paintings that probably hit closest to the mark portray this Patron Saint of Priests as very somber and grim, but his words, recorded in most cases by others, paint a picture of a man caught up in the Joy of God. This is what I wanted to portray in my work - I hope that it will be well received, but I confess it has frustrated me more than a little while working on it - let me know what you think - sometimes the artist is too close to really see the work.

Given the shortage of (good) images of Saint John Vianney, I searched for photos and/or persons who seem to resemble existing depictions of the Cure of Ars, but who also have expressions of joy and or mirth. Saint John Vianney was famous for saying "If we knew how much God loves us, we would die from sheer joy."

I found, I think the perfect countenance to work from. I used an actor in this case, as I did with my recent drawing of Saint Michael. David Kelly was in the great Irish Comedy, "Waking Ned Devine," and there is a beautiful scene where his character, Michael O'Sullivan, is hearing his dearest friend express his great regard for him. He looks up at him with a beautiful expression of calm joy, tears just welling in his eyes. Its a wonderful scene. I wanted to capture some of the Joy of Saint John Vianney in the way that Michael O'Sullivan's joy was captured by the director and actors of Waking Ned Devine. Hopefully, it is an expression of joy inspired by the knowledge of how much one is loved.

SAINT AUSTIN REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2009: ARTICLE FEATURING MY WORK

I am so excited to be able to share with you a great opportunity that I recently had to have my work featured in the cultural magazine “Saint Austin Review,” which is published by Ave Maria University and edited by Joseph Pearce. I was able to meet Professor Pearce at the Ignited By Truth Catholic Conference this year, and shared a portrait of him that I completed for the conference. He was EXTREMELY gracious and complimentary of my work and asked if he might contact me to do an interview with me for this magazine. Above are the first two pages. (The third follows) Below is the interview.

Joseph Pearce: We met at this year's Ignited by Truth conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, at which 2,500 enthusiastic Catholics heard a number of talks centred on the need to evangelize today's secular culture. What are your views on the evangelizing power of beauty?

David Myers: As you noted in your wonderful talk on this subject, beauty pierces the hearts of people rather than their thought, and is therefore very important if the culture we live in is to be drawn to the truth. This is especially true now when the arguments of those who oppose Gospel values are founded so often on emotional arguments that are not arguments at all. The emotive impact of audio and/or visual art that is at once beautiful, well informed by the Gospels, and tailored to the attention span of our culture, can be a spark or a catalyst that leads towards conversion. The most powerful recent example of such art's power to turn the heart and mind of a debased culture to the Lord has to be Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." The Gospels, like their Author, are deeply beautiful. Saint John's Gospel is perhaps the most beautiful and certainly the most poetic. "We saw His glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth." The beauty of Christ, of His teaching, and especially of His Love, drew the world to Him.

JP: As an artist, how do you see the role of the visual arts in evangelizing today's culture?

DM: As (I think) Saint Therese says of the prayers she made to God, artists of every discipline have the ability to "shoot little arrows of beauty" into the hearts of people, hopefully ones that will remind them of all that they may have believed to be lost. In a world bombarded by grotesque images, perverted images, and meaningless images, it is the artist's calling to communicate in his art the true, the good, and the beautiful. When he does this, casting his pearls out into the darkness, prodigal sons unknown to him may leave the husks and the swine, and turn towards this new "epiphany of beauty" that they have either forgotten, ignored, or been robbed of. 80% of the Billboards you will see on your drive home are the darkness. True Christian art, in paint, stone, glass, film and song, is the light.

JP: What is the role of the Catholic artist in today's culture? What do you perceive your own vocation to be? What is the nature of your relationship with God in connection to your creative work?

DM: I have come to believe that to be an artist means to be a servant of all, and especially of God. "Art for art's sake" is a blasphemous term in my opinion. This servanthood is true in all aspects of the artists work from the earliest days of his development to the maturity of his skill, for in order to communicate (which all true art must) to an audience, the artist must be obedient to what he sees, for it is in the created world that the artist will find his vocabulary for communicating inspiration to a hungry world. I love the words that are put into Raphael's mouth when he speaks to Michelangelo in the film "The Agony and the Ecstacy:" "But what are we artists but harlots, peddling beauty at the doorsteps of the mighty?" Those who would put the word "elite" next to art have lost the true meaning and purpose of art. This is why my site has as its address "artisservant.blogspot.com “artisservant.blogspot.com." Because art IS servant.
I firmly believe that art is meant to serve others, especially in lifting the hearts of people, through "ephiphanies of beauty," (John Paul II's letter to artists) to the contemplation and the glory of God. The artist participates in a unique way in the inspiration of the Creator of all things, and knows something of His joy in the act of creation, for "the act of creation is an act of love."(The Agony and the Ecstacy) This act is essentially bound up with the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus, in which what had been invisible was made visible in His person, His life and work, and finally in His death and resurrection. The artist is exhorted by the very perception of his gift to its service. Art is not merely, nor should it ever be, a vehicle for selfish ends or cheap shock and awe, but it must seek to give joy to the lives of others. The artist is then in the end merely a servant of truth, beauty, and goodness, and his work must serve to convey these to a wider audience. "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 15-16)I believe that the artist finds in the lives of Jesus, and of His foster father Joseph, essential role models, especially in their hidden life at Nazareth. Though very little is handed down to us in the Gospels or in tradition illuminating this period in Jesus' life, I believe that this hidden, simple, carpenter's life of "working quietly" (2 Thessalonians 3:11) can be a model for all artists, in which delight is daily sought in the manifestation of beauty in wood, paint, charcoal, dance, the stage, and music. This is a life of humility, where the artist freely accepts that this world, including his own work, "will pass away," (Matt. 24:35) but what it points to never will. Obedience to inspiration, especially as it is inspired by God's Word (itself the revelatory self-expression of God) is the artist's highest calling.

JP: Who has been particularly influential in your own development as an artist?

DM: There are so many people, both the heroes that I have never met but studied, and those that I have had the blessing to call my friends. Of the latter group, I would place my Art History professors at the front of the lineup. Dr. Kemille Moore, Dr. John Myers, and in a special way, Dr. Anthony F. Janson (of Janson's History of Art) each helped me to experience more richly than I could in any studio the highest ideals of art, as well as its greatest achievements. Their love for art was communicated to me, along with my own growing awareness of what moved me most in art. It is this that I aspire to communicate in my work. I am indebted also to Leslie, my babysitter, who, when I was in first grade, inspired me to pick up my pencil and draw. My favorite artist of all history is Michelangelo, but I must qualify this answer. For the "Michelangelo" I refer to are actually two Michelangelos, one being the most famous, the other being Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. I believe that both artists have deeply influenced my own work and my made me aware of the subtleties that make for meaningful, compelling art, as well as the more verbose elements that give it fire, passion, and the ability to expand the horizons of others. I am most recently indebted to the work and the advice of Cameron Smith, a great Catholic artist, who, in one conversation, completely revolutionized my drawing technique. It is as "clear as the summer sun" to anyone who looks that my work owes as much to Cameron as the work of Raphael did to that of Michelangelo. Last, but certainly not least, I owe so much to my good wife, who puts up with the ungodly hours of the artist, the all nighters, and the hours stolen from her to contribute to my growing body of work. She teaches me daily what it means to sacrifice for those we love, and to make their dreams our own.

JP: Your excellent website (www.artisservant.blogspot.com) highlights a cross-section of your work, including portraits of contemporary Catholics and portraits of the saints. Why were you inspired to work in portraiture in particular?

DM: Unfortunately, being an art history major and being lazy combined in my college years to prevent me from developing very much in the areas of painting and sculpture. However, I did develop and gain some mastery in life drawing. Professor Donald Furst taught me how to draw from life and to be obedient to what my eye saw before me. He also gave me the very best advice I have ever received in the area of art. I was blessed to receive a scholarship to study in Rome for a summer, and Professor Furst told me: "Take a sketchbook with you. Resist the temptation to snap photos and move on. Each day pick something, a statue or other work of art, that you will commit to sit down in front of and draw. You will forget so much about the photographs, but you will remember everything you experienced when you were drawing." He was so right about this, and this experience of drawing for a full month in Italy taught me more about drawing and what was possible for this medium than any of the classes I had attended. Ultimately, I work in portraiture and life drawing because it is the skill I have been able (I believe) to master to an extent that makes me capable of producing "fine art" in charcoal and graphite. It is very important for the artist to be able to convey the good and the true in the most beautiful way possible. This is why I choose the most suitable way my skill and my training currently affords me.

JP: I was particularly struck by your artistic representation of the Stations of the Cross. Could you explain your relationship, as an artist, with such monumental spiritual themes? Is there something truly spiritual, or even prayerful, in the creative process when working on such themes?

DM: Without a doubt. I began working on the Stations of the Cross over four years ago at the beginning of Lent. You will remember that this was wen the Passion of the Christ came to the theaters. I was so moved by this MASTERPIECE, that I felt compelled to make the drawing of the stations part of my Lenten journey, directly inspired by the film. I got pretty far that first Lent, but did not complete the stations. Those first stations and those that followed opened my awareness to the power of art to move the heart of the artist who makes it as well as his audience. Each station became a desert in which I could walk and think about the subject I was illustrating, and it was always a contemplative experience. Each Lent the wave came closer to the shore, until in this past year I was able to complete the project. The final series is somewhat motley, as it draws from several different sources, including some works by Tissot and Caravaggio. It also serves as a visual biography of the development of my style as I have slowly over the last four years left charcoal behind to focus almost exclusively on works in graphite. It is profoundly humbling to undertake the illustration of Christ's life or any given aspect of it, and I find that I get so much more out of the beautiful experience of drawing such themes than my audience does, or seems to. "We saw His Glory, the Glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth."

LATEST DRAWING OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

This is my latest drawing of Saint Michael the Archangel. As is evident to most, the image owes a great deal to the movie Troy, especially Brad Pitt's character, Achilles. Whenever I've pictured the Archangel in my mind I see him with the same long hair and fierce countenance, so I thought it would be cool to use an image from that movie to portray a more virile representation of the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts. This is my third drawing of Saint Michael, whom I feel gets a bad rep from the many works of art that portray him with a less than threatening effeminate character, tip-toeing on the devil's head. The goal in those images was to portray the beauty of a perfect being that has never denied God anything, and this I accept and understand. However, the goal of my drawings of the Archangel is to show the other dimension of his character, i.e. that of a dude who won't hesitate to split the devil's skull with the business end of a flaming sword. "Michael" means "Who is like God?" Which I imagine is what he asked Lucifer before sending him down to the hot place. Among other groups, Saint Michael is the patron saint of soldiers and police.

Included is a jpeg showing how the drawing developed as it progressed.

A HEROIC CONVERT: THE LATE CARDINAL LUSTIGER, ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS

This drawing is a gift for the Papal Nuncio in Washington that was commissioned by a friend of mine. I included with the image a version of the recently completed 2nd "Year of the Priest" drawing (posted below) which I translated into Italian using the Pope's address where the special year was announced. (www.vatican.va has most of the Pope's messages and writings in all the major languages of the world, and I believe it was presented in Italian) I am hopeful that the Nuncio, if he feels it is appropriate, might share that image with the Pope! (I can dream can't I?) I also sent some prayer cards made from drawings I have done in the past.

The late Cardinal Lustiger, who is here portrayed, was a very dear friend of the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi. Lustiger was a Jewish convert to Christianity and became the only Jewish convert in modern times to become a bishop in the Catholic Church. He was archbishop of Paris for many years before retiring in the early 1980s and was made a Cardinal by John Paul II in 1983. When I say he is known as the only Jewish convert in modern times to have become a bishop I believe what is actually meant is that not since Peter and the other Apostles has there been a Jewish convert to Catholicism who has been consecrated Bishop. I may be wrong - you Catholic P.I.'s out there can correct me ;)

What IS certain is that for his faith in Christ Cardinal Lustiger sacrificed much, being disowned by his family and many of the Jewish people. On top of this he experienced distrust from many of his Christian brethren because of his Jewish origins. He isn't shown carrying the cross because of this, but his life certainly fulfilled Jesus' words ''he who would my disciple be, let him take up his cross and follow Me.'' Indeed, by suffering through these things, the Cardinal became a great force of ecumenism between the Jewish and Catholic faiths.

He is carrying the cross in the drawing because the photograph I worked from shows the Cardinal taking part in a ''way of the cross'' procession in which several different people take turns carrying the cross from station to station in a meditation on Christ's sacrifice for all of us. In the original photo you can see others helping him with the burden. This image was chosen to work from because it was one of the Papal Nuncio's favorite images of his old friend, whom it is clear he loved very much. Pray that God will bless this image to be a reminder to the Archbishop of his great friend. Theirs seems to have been a shining example of Christian fraternity and charity.

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST: 2ND DRAWING

I am VERY happy with the way that this drawing has turned out! I hope that you will be too. I found a STUNNING photo by my friend, Paul Tomas, of a Priest who is a very dear friend and Pastor. I thought it was a great image of my friend, but I was even more profoundly moved by the universal qualities of the image. It seemed almost an icon of the priesthood, or a view into the heart of the priest. A Priest who is truly heroic in his vocation is first and foremost a man of prayer, who seeks friendship and conversation with Christ before all others. It is there that he is made ready to help all of us who thirst for "living water." One of the reasons that this image speaks to me so eloquently of this aspect of the priestly vocation is that the priest depicted is one of the most successful and dynamic pastors I know, but it is always evident that this flows from his life of prayer. Thank you to all our priests for your great vocation! Never feel guilty to spend time in prayer "when there are so many other things to do!"

This image will also be used for a friend's Ordination this Spring, and I hope it may be of some use to our local Diocese or parishes. Please contact me at davemyers1977@gmail.com for more info.

I am especially proud of the seal you see that anchors the image - the phrase in latin is "You are a Priest Forever," and is shown in the Latin Vulgate translation of that verse. The symbol in the middle is a traditional one for the "Holy Name of Jesus," and the nails and the Cross represent Christ's Sacrifice, which Priests and all Christians are called to share in. The seal took a long time to put together, but it was worth it!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS USED BY LOCAL CONGREGATION FOR GOOD FRIDAY MEDITATIONS

God continues to richly bless my poor work, and I want to take this moment of Holy Week to express my profound gratitude to the congregation of Crosspoint Church in Cary, North Carolina for their use of the Stations of the Cross I finally completed last year. This series represents about four years of work. I began the work as a private meditation that I continued with each passing Lent, but I have hoped that it might one day be placed in a setting where it might benefit the prayer of fellow Christians. I am deeply grateful to the leadership of Crosspoint for their valuation of my work and their desire to place it in a truly beautiful setting.

The work was enlarged to a size of about 2 x 3 feet and I was very excited to see how well the originals transferred to this much larger format. It fit the space perfectly!

As you can see in the video and the photos I have posted, the lighting and the music were perfectly suited to the subject matter, and combined to create a wonderful space for meditation on the suffering of Christ. The decision to loop music from the soundtrack of “The Passion of the Christ” was especially ingenious I thought, and set the tone immediately as you approached the space. I was humbled and honored to see my work in this setting, as it was so greatly inspired by Mel Gibson’s masterpiece of faith. You will see that I also drew from great works of art that have illustrated the Passion through the centuries, particularly the work of Caravaggio, whose paintings obviously contributed to Mel Gibson’s vision of the Passion.

Above all, I was moved almost to tears to see this work so thoughtfully considered by faithful souls devoted to Christ and His Cross. I cannot express my gratitude sufficiently for this amazing opportunity. Jesus, Son of God and Savior of the World, have mercy on me a sinner. We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, for by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the world.

THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST

"The centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of ordained ministry." - Pope Benedict XVI.

The Holy Father has decided to name the coming year "The Year of the Priest," and is asking all Catholics, especially the Church's Priests, seminarians, and priestly candidates to focus their attention on the unique importance of our ordained ministers and the continuation of Christ's ministry on earth through them. The Pope said in his remarks on this decision that without priestly ministry, there would be no Eucharist, no mission and even no church. I was blessed to have been asked by a very good friend of mine, a priest I have known for many years, to complete this drawing as an emblem of the year for use in publications of his own (and hopefully of our Diocese) drawing attention to the intention of this upcoming year of reflection. I have included both the original composition and one that I added text to. I hope you are as pleased with the result as I am!

A TRIBUTE TO SAINT THOMAS MORE AND SAINT JOHN FISHER OF ENGLAND

This is a somewhat lesser version of a video I posted to my facebook profile. Unfortunately the "embed video" option no longer seems to work. Hopefully I will be able to post a better version soon. I put together this tribute to Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher from inspiring scenes taken from the incredible show "The Tudors." I intend no copyright infringement, I have simply been so taken with the series and especially with its portrayal of these heroes of the faith that I hope that everyone will get the chance to watch the whole series themselves. If you love history, you will LOVE it. Catholics and other Christians will not be disappointed, as all the players in the English Reformation are treated fairly. I have had a great love for Saint Thomas More ever since seeing Paul Scofield in "A Man for All Seasons," and since then have read about his life and asked his intercession, especially when I had to make difficult decisions. Although I would still choose "A Man for All Seasons" in the scenes which are identical or nearly so, I am still very grateful that "The Tudors" has given an even more thorough cinematic portrayal of these great men. I shudder when I see how unlike them I am. May their example, as it has now for centuries, inspire all of us to become, like them, people who do what is right, no matter the cost.

SAINT MARK COMPLETED

This drawing was commissioned by the Pastor of Saint Mark's Catholic Church in Wilmington, North Carolina, a church that holds special significance for me, as it was there that I went through the process of becoming Catholic. There are MANY good and faithful souls there who have done me great good. The drawing is done after the famous statue of Saint Mark in Florence, carved by Donatello. I have always loved this sculpture, and thought it would be appropriate to depict Saint Mark with his traditional symbol, the Lion. Saint Mark wrote one of the four Gospels, and although not an apostle himself, is said to have been the companion of Saint Peter during the latter's Apostolic journeys to spread the faith. Scholarship suggests that Saint Mark's Gospel was the first to be written. Hopefully my good friend, the pastor, will be pleased, and will forgive the time it has taken me to complete this work. Saint Mark, pray for us, and help us by your prayers to seek Christ's Face in His Holy Gospels and in all of Sacred Scripture. O Jesus Christ, Savior of the World, have mercy on us poor sinners.

PREVIEW: CHRIST IN THE DESERT

This is only a very little progress on a much larger drawing I am undertaking as a Lenten meditation of my own for this year, but may not complete before Easter. The scene is Christ seated on a rock alone in the wilderness, surrounded by stillness, silence, and the harshness of the wild. The drawing is a copy of the very best painting I have ever seen of this subject, by the great Russian painter of the 19th Century, Ivan Kramskoy. You can see in Christ's eyes the fatigue of the fast and the grim understanding of all that his mission to redeem the world will cost. Christ has his battle face on, because that is why he went out into the desert: "To be tempted by the Devil." He went into the desert to face down every kind of evil the world has known through the weakness and sinfulness of man. Kramskoy's painting captures the seriousness of this moment, and also the paradoxical beauty of the lonely deserted places where we can be quiet, and hear the "still, small voice" of God. I love the ruggedness of the Christ Kramskoy envisions in his masterpiece. Move over Bear Grylls. Hopefully I will be able to complete this work before Lent is over.

PORTRAIT OF BLESSED MIGUEL PRO

This is the final piece for a request I was very happy to receive from a family who found this website and enjoyed some of my portraits of beloved saints. This family has a deep devotion to two Saintly figures in very recent Church memory: Saint Gianna Beretta Molla and Blessed Miguel Pro. You can read my own words about these two holy people at the links attached to their names in the previous sentence. One thing I might not have mentioned about Blessed Miguel is that he apparently also liked to sketch! He would sketch disguises that he would subsequently use to elude the authorities while visiting Catholic families in secret. The portrait is taken from a mug shot of the Priest shortly before he was executed by the corrupt government of the time. I have taken the liberty of removing the Martyr from the tie and cardigan he was forced to wear as an outlaw Priest, and have placed him in the Jesuit clerics he would have worn before going underground in his ministry. The second image is a proposed gathering together of the three drawings I have done to illustrate this family's devotion to Saint Gianna and Blessed Miguel. In the latter's words on the day of his death: "VIVA CHRISTO REY!!" ("Long live Christ the King!")

STATUE OF SAINT MATTHEW: BASCILICA OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN, ROME

This is a very large drawing I got started on just this weekend. Amazingly, the entire figure is done after just two days. I think it was a combination of my love for this particular sculpture and my awareness that if I didn't finish most of it now I might not get back to it.

This statue of Saint Matthew stands in one of the huge niches dedicated to the Apostles in the Pilgrim Church of Saint John Lateran in Rome. When I visited Rome in the summer of 2001, I was immediately drawn to it, and spent hours sketching it there in the bascilica. Matthew is pictured resolutely gripping the Gospel of Christ with his strong arms, while simultaneously triumphing over his former life (and the love of money) by trodding it under foot. It is truly a stunning image, especially when you are able to see it in person. It is several times larger than life.

This image is not finished, as I will be adding a backdrop of sorts, mostly darker hues to bring out the image of Matthew, much as I did in the image of Saint Paul that I completed last year. The original of this drawing is on a 14'' x 18'' piece of paper. Once it is completed, I am hopeful that I will be able to have it matted, framed, and placed in the gallery at Bull City Art and Frame.

MY GOOD FRIEND (BEGINNING OF A LARGER DRAWING)

This is the very beginning of a much larger drawing of my dearest friend, Father Gregory Plow, T.O.R.

Father Gregory is a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular, and we came to know each other in college. His faith had a huge impact in my life and was the catalyst to my eventual conversion to the Catholic Faith. He is the most genuine person I have ever had the pleasure to call my friend. He is truly "an Israelite in whom there is no guile." Father Gregory was ordained last year and has spent this first year of priesthood ministering to college students at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

I hope to use this drawing of Father Gregory (which is of him incensing the Gospel - note the lighter areas on the left of his face from the smoke passing in front of him) as part of a poster that I hope to put together highlighting Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life for our Diocese. I am very pleased with this likeness of Father Gregory, and hope that those who know him will be too!

BLESSED MIGUEL PRO: FIRST DRAWING

This drawing depicts the final moments of Blessed Miguel Pro, a Jesuit Priest who was martyred in Mexico during the early twentieth century. The Mexican government of the time had become vehemently anti-Catholic, and began imprisoning priests who spoke out against the government. Blessed Miguel Pro utilized disguises to make his way through the city, and in this way continued to care for the Catholics he found. He was finally arrested and was sentenced to execution on the trumped up charge that he had helped devise a plot to assassinate the Mexican President of the time. A photographer snapped photographs of the execution, including this image and another portraying Pro's final prayer on his knees before his death by firing squad. This was lucky for the Church, but not so lucky for the government. Miguel Pro's death led to a massive revitalization of the Church and the encouragement of the people's opposition to the corrupt regime. Blessed Miguel Pro is reported to have put his arms up in the shape of a cross, and (I believe) holding a Rosary. Before the soldiers fired, he cried out "Viva Christo Rey!" (Long Live Christ the King!)

IGNTITED BY TRUTH 2009

This weekend was a great opportunity to showcase some of my newest work at the 7th annual Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center. My table did well, but my favorite part of the conference was the interaction I was able to enjoy with old and new friends, and it is always wonderful to get feedback from my "target market." A VERY big thank you to all those who have given so much support to my work! I hope you like the finished poster I put together for the conference from portraits I drew of the main speakers.

JOSEPH PEARCE & TIM STAPLES : FASCINATING STORIES OF CONVERSION

These latest drawings are the last of the portraits I have been assembling of the principal speakers who will be presenting this February at the Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference in Raleigh, NC. Joseph Pearce and Tim Staples are very interesting individuals, especially with regard to their conversion stories. I hope you will have a moment to read a little about them below:

JOSEPH PEARCE

Joseph Pearce is a celebrated and prolific author, having written biographies of literary figures such as G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, Oscar Wilde, and C.S. Lewis. Pearce is a professor of literature at Ave Maria University, and his conversion story is remarkable. Pearce confesses that when he was younger he was a “fanatical” neo-fascist, and even edited literature for a group promoting this agenda. Pearce attributes his conversion to Christianity to the works of G.K. Chesterton, and he writes that his “racism stemmed from hatred, and that his conversion to Christian belief completely changed his outlook.” Eventually Pearce became a Catholic, and now continues to add to his already impressive body of written works.
To me, the most interesting of the titles he has produced is one of his latest books, and I cannot wait to read it. The Quest for Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon and the Church of Rome has as its theme something I have been tempted to believe since becoming Catholic and subsequently re-experiencing the plays of Shakespeare. It seems clear that plays such as “Henry V,” “Hamlet,” and others have embedded within them a very rich and unmistakably Catholic understanding of the world. Whether this was a post-protestant hangover from the post-Anglican reform, or Shakespeare was secretly Catholic is the question posed by Pearce’s latest book.

“O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts;
Possess them not with fear; take from them now
The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers
Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord,
O, not to-day, think not upon the fault
My father made in compassing the crown!
I Richard's body have interred anew;
And on it have bestow'd more contrite tears
Than from it issued forced drops of blood:
Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay,
Who twice a-day their wither'd hands hold up
Toward heaven, to pardon blood; and I have built
Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests
Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do;
Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
Since that my penitence comes after all,
Imploring pardon.”

- From Henry V

Some of the many books the author has written:

• The Quest for Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon and the Church of Rome
• Flowers of Heaven: One Thousand Years of Christian Verse (editor)
• Literary Giants, Literary Catholics
• Tolkien: Man and Myth
• Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc
• Literary Converts
• Tolkien: A Celebration
• C.S. Lewis and the Catholic Church
• Wisdom and Innocence: A Life of G. K. Chesterton
• The Unmasking of Oscar Wilde

TIM STAPLES

Tim Staples is a dynamic speaker and a convert to Catholicism. If he looks like a tough guy, its probably because he’s a former Marine. It was in the Marines that Staples experienced his conversion through the friendship of a fellow soldier who was deeply devoted to his own faith. You can read more about Tim and his work as a Catholic Apologist at Catholic Answers, an excellent resource for anyone who has questions regarding what things Catholics believe and why they believe them. I have enjoyed the talks that I have heard Mr. Staples give, and look forward to seeing him this year at Ignited by Truth.

CELEBRATING FAMILY

I put this movie together for my family, and it is made up of some silent movies that my mother had and a lot of old photos from childhood. The song is a new favorite by Trace Adkins, "You're gonna miss this." For me this is a celebration of the beauty of family life and of those that I love. I hope that you will like it!

SURVIVOR OF GENOCIDE, CHAMPION OF FORGIVENESS: IMMACULEE ILIBAGIZA

This drawing is the latest in a series of portraits I am completing of the keynote speakers who will be presenting at the Ignited by Truth Catholic Conference in Raleigh this February. This drawing, I can safely say, is of a beautiful survivor of an abhorrent atrocity. It is also a portrait of a hero of forgiveness.

Immaculee Ilibagiza is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. She and several other women were saved by a Protestant pastor who hid the girls in a small bathroom that they shared for four months. Immaculee's father and mother, friends, and many other family members were all killed. When hidden in the cramped little bathroom, she kept her sanity, her hope, and her faith by praying the Rosary over and over again, meditating on the life of Christ and of his Mother Mary. One day a man came with a group of thugs looking for more members of Immaculee's tribe. This happened often, but somehow the bathroom was always overlooked. The man who came that day explained (in earshot of the hidden women) that he was looking for Immaculee Ilibagiza, and had killed 399 people and his intention was that she should be number 400. Immaculee recognized the voice. It was a young man she had gone to primary school with growing up. Can any of us imagine the evil that she and her fellow survivors witnessed, endured, and still endure?

Immaculee chose in the course of her ordeal, amid thoughts of hatred and anger and vengeance, (naturally given the unspeakable trauma she was experiencing) that she would forgive those who killed her family and her friends. She found the grace to do this in her continual prayers, especially her meditations on the suffering of Christ and His Mother when the Savior was crucified. She says that she thought of how Mary and Jesus responded during the atrocity that was perpetrated on Christ himself : "Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do." She knew that the men killing her family and friends could not have a full awareness of the depth of evil they had given themselves over to. In fact, she faced her family's killer in prison, and told him to his face that she forgave him. She stated that when she saw him, he seemed "so confused" and misled. Compassion for a serial killer? Coming from the heart of a victim of his crimes? Truly she is a glowing witness to the Forgiveness of God.

I hope that you will watch this short clip featuring testimony from Immaculee herself:

BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI : THE MAN OF THE BEATITUDES

I hope that you will like this portrait of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a personal hero of mine and of countless others. I was first introduced to Blessed Pier Giorgio by my good friend Brad Watkins, who founded a Frassati Society at the local Catholic High School in Raleigh, Cardinal Gibbons. What struck Brad and many others about this young man who died at the age of 24, is that he proves, as John Paul II said of him, that "holiness is possible for everyone."

Blessed Pier Giorgio was, as you might expect, a radically prayerful and devoted Christian soul. But he doesn't fit the profiles of the great saints across the ages. He wasn't poor. He was wealthy. He wasn't weak or underfed. He was an athlete who was full of strength. He was not a drag. He was a practical joker and a rascal. He was different from his friends. However they did not hold this against him. On the contrary they loved him for it. He was not brought up in a home that encouraged his Christian aspirations. Yet he fought with valor in order to live them out. Although he was rich, he found his home among the poor. Indeed, he cared for them in ways that no one else knew until his death.

Pier Giorgio died suddenly, due to polio contracted during his frequent visits to the families he cared for. Pier Giorgio gave food, he (a rich son of an aristocratic family) begged for money, he bought medicine, and he sacrificed unceasingly to give to those who had nothing, but also to bring them to Christ. Blessed Pier Giorgio came to a home where a woman lived whose husband had been sent to prison. He saw her baby and asked if the child had been baptized. The mother said that the baby had not been, because she did not have the money for the baptismal garment. Blessed Pier Giorgio paid for the garment, attended the baptism, and became the Godfather of the child. When the husband was released from prison, Blessed Pier Giorgio was waiting for him at the gates, and immediately took the man to a factory where he knew he could be hired and begin work.

This was a great, holy, loving man. He was also handsome, athletic, and virile. He was all that our society glories in, yet he counted it, with his favorite Saint, the Apostle Paul, "so much rubbish, that [he might] gain Christ." (Phillipians 3:8) Imagine a cross between Brad Pitt, Bear Grylls, and Saint Francis of Assisi, and you've just imagined Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. When he died people his family did not even know he had been ministering to filled the streets by the hundreds. On his deathbed Pier Giorgio gave to his sister lists of the people he needed to follow up with, to supply medicine, food, and the like. John Paul II called Blessed Pier Giorgio "The Man of the Beatitudes," and championed him as a great beacon for Christian youth. I hope that you will enjoy the following short film about his life:

FATHER LARRY RICHARDS

This is Father Larry Richards, a great priest of the Diocese of Eerie, Pennsylvania, who will be speaking in our Diocese of Raleigh in the coming month. It is the second portrait in a series I am putting together for the "Ignited by Truth" Catholic Conference this February in Raleigh, NC. Father Larry is best known for his preaching style, which is at once funny, engaging, and somewhat rough around the edges. He's not a man who minces words. Father Larry epitomizes the phrase which defines the duty of every preacher of the Gospel: "To comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable." Father Larry's sometimes harsh directness and his very challenging message are always salted with a wonderful sense of humor. A friend of mine, who was once a seminarian assigned to Father Larry's parish, said that every time Father Larry would see him coming, whether others were present or not, would always yell out to him "Hey Pagan Baby! Need to go to confession? I'll be right there!" His homilies are filled with this same playfulness, but he never swerves from the serious message that is being delivered. You can visit "The Reason for our Hope," an apostolate of Father Larry's, at this website:

http://www.thereasonforourhope.org/meet_father/index.html

I hope that you will enjoy a very moving example of Father Larry's preaching style:

SAINT GIANNA BERETTA MOLLA : A WITNESS TO THE PRECIOUS GIFTS OF LIFE AND FAMILY

This is a drawing of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, a Wife, a Mother, a Physician, and a Martyr to the Sanctity of Life. Saint Gianna is one of only a handful of married men and women who have been Canonized Saints by the Church. She is also one of the only (if not the only person) saints whose canonization was attended by her husband and her children. She is a remarkably beautiful witness to the beauty of the vocation of matrimony, and also to the sacred love of a mother.

A Saint, in the Catholic tradition, is understood to be a person who lived their Christian faith with true heroism and radical charity. Saints are canonized by the Church and the Holy Spirit, in a process that has developed across thousands of years. However, the cause of sainthood always begins with the "Sensum Fidei," which is translated "Sense of the Faithful." This is why it was so significant, at John Paul II's funeral, that the people where chanting "Santo Subito! Santo Subito!" in unison at the end of the Mass. Translated this means "Sainthood now!" This, according to the commentators, used to be enough to Canonize someone. In any case, the sensum fidei was very strong at the time of Saint Gianna's death. It cannot be denied that she is a much needed witness for our times, and this in some part explains why she is so universally loved by all who get to know about her life and her death.

Saint Gianna is remembered especially for the way in which she died, and the reason she died. When pregnant with the latest of many children, Saint Gianna was found to have a large tumor, which threatened both her life and that of her unborn child. She had these choices for treatment: 1) The doctors could do a radical hysterectomy, one side effect of which would be an abortion 2)The tumor could be removed surgically in a relatively safe procedure that would also have among its results an abortion, or 3) The doctors could, in a very risky procedure, remove the tumor but suture the wound in such a way as to protect the baby. Saint Gianna chose the third option, and the procedure was done, against the objections of friends and family. It is reported that Saint Gianna told her husband before going into surgery: "If the choice is between me or the baby, you must choose the baby. I demand it." To a friend who protested that her other children needed her, Saint Gianna replied "For my children who have already been born, it is true that I am necessary to them. But to this child, I am ESSENTIAL." Saint Gianna's tumor was removed, but she died shortly after the birth of her baby, due to complications. She was able to hold the child before she went to her eternal award. If this were the only story of her life, it would certainly be remarkable and heroic, but not enough for a cause for canonization. Blessed we are indeed that Saint Gianna was not merely the doer of a heroic deed, she was a hero of faith and prayer throughout her life. If you have made it through this treatise (my apologies) I hope you will also read the following short biography from the Vatican's website. I am also embedding a couple videos about Saint Gianna's life that may be less time consuming.

Saint Gianna is a witness in our times to the responsibility of fathers and mothers to their children and to each other, as she is to the Sanctity of Life. All who come to know her, and who necessarily come to benefit from her courage and charity, fall immediately in love with her. I learned this today as I read about her life. Thank you for your time. During this week, on the eve of the March for Life, we ask Saint Gianna's prayers for us all, that we may find within ourselves the courage and the charity of Christ, to stand against the evils of our times.


Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962)

Gianna Beretta was born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922. Already as a youth she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvellous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the necessity and effectiveness of prayer.

She diligently dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university education, while, at the same time, applying her faith through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and charitable work among the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. After earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pavia in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized in Pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and there after gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor.

While working in the field of medicine-which she considered a “mission” and practiced as such-she increased her generous service to Catholic Action, especially among the “very young” and, at the same time, expressed her joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through her prayers and those of others, she reflected upon her vocation, which she also considered a gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marriage, she embraced it with complete enthusiasm and wholly dedicated herself “to forming a truly Christian family”.

She became engaged to Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and happiness during the time of their engagement, for which she thanked and praised the Lord. They were married on September 24, 1955, in the Basilica of St. Martin in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of Pierluigi, in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura. With simplicity and equilibrium she harmonized the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life.

In September 1961 towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required surgical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued pregnancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was carrying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Providence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in incomparable strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that.

A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: “If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child - I insist on it. Save him”. On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you», the mother died. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. The Servant of God lies in the cemetery of Mesero (4 km from Magenta).

“Conscious immolation», was the phrase used by Pope Paul VI to define the act of Blessed Gianna, remembering her at the Sunday Angelus of September 23, 1973, as: “A young mother from the diocese of Milan, who, to give life to her daughter, sacrificed her own, with conscious immolation”. The Holy Father in these words clearly refers to Christ on Calvary and in the Eucharist.

Gianna was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 24, 1994, during the international Year of the Family.

"APOSTLE" : BISHOP MICHAEL BURBIDGE, BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH

I hope that you like my latest portrait of a man that I admire deeply. Bishop Burbidge came to our Diocese from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia a little more than two years ago, but his zeal for the Gospel and his love for the people he shepherds has endeared him to us all. When he speaks, I can feel myself getting stronger. Stronger in my faith, stronger as a man, and stronger as a husband. This is the mark of a great leader and a great pastor. This is why I chose to draw him speaking. The drawing is from an excellent photograph by my friend Paul Tomas. I hope he likes it!

This drawing is the first in a series I have on a fast track to prepare for Ignited by Truth, the Catholic Conference to be held in Raleigh the week of February 13th. I am going to be drawing portraits of the keynote speakers, to be assembled into an IBT 2009 poster. Thank you for following this blog and for your patience with the infrequency of new posts! It takes a while to put this stuff together!

To see an example of the great gift of preaching that Bishop Burbidge has been blessed with, please enjoy the following video. In this video Bishop Burbidge is delivering a homily, or sermon, to a large group of married couples celebrating their anniversaries.

CHRISTMAS WITH OUR FAMILIES

These are two drawings I did for my family and my wife's family. The first portrays my father with my grandmother, who passed away this past August, and also with my nephew Max. It is meant to portray the passing of love and goodness from one generation to the next. All that is good in each of us we owe to someone else.

The drawing for my wife's family includes portraits of my father and mother in law, me and Emily, and her brother, doing what he does best.

A VERY PEACEFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

I hope that you enjoy this little drawing of the Savior. It is taken from a beautiful painting by Simon Dewey.

THE MAGI ARE COMING (under construction)

This year I thought that instead of jumping the gun with a drawing of the Blessed Mother and her Son, I would do something specific to the Advent Season. This drawing of the three "wise men," or "magi" is taken from the movie "The Nativity Story" with a few alterations. As you can see it is unfinished, but I wanted to get it out here before its completion just in case I get slowed down. I have tried to re-focus their gazes to suggest they are looking at the Star that is guiding them to the Savior, or staring purposefully into the West, from which their salvation will spring. Perhaps they are resting in their journey. As they rest, their anticipation is so high that they cannot bring themselves to lay down. So they stand, watching. In the light of the brightest star that anyone has ever seen, they stare into the deep blue distance and wonder: "What will we find when we come at last to the end of our journey? Surely it will be something wonderful and amazing. An event that will change our lives... and the very world." Nothing could prepare them or us for the overflowing generosity of God which comes to us in Christ Jesus. May each of us experience some small share of their longing to "seek and to find" the Christ. Happy Advent!