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The devastating deluge of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina
has already left a flood of new art in its wake commemorating the disaster.
This painting was inspired by a photo that McKenzie Birnie happened to see
of a statue of the Virgin Mary in the grounds of a church soon after
Hurricane Katrina had devastated New Orleans. The painting was
exhibited in a show called "NOLA 2005" at the Gypsy Sisters Gallery in
Claremont, California, in October 2005 .
The painting depicts the statue of the Virgin with water
up to her waist. Tide marks are visible across her upper chest
indicating that the flood waters had at one time almost entirely immersed
the statue. Some rosary beads float in the water in front of the
statue of Mary and the waters reflect Mary's downcast face.
The prayer known to Catholics as "Hail, Holy Queen" comes
to mind with this image of Mary lost in her own valley of tears, and serves
as a wonderful prayer for the exiled victims of Katrina and all other
disasters:
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 our
exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O
loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That
we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
The patron saint of New Orleans is Our Lady of Prompt
Succor. Find out more about the
patron saint of New
Orleans. |
