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Title: Vessel of the Preborn Jesus
Watercolor by Artist Lea Ravotti
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Vessel of the Preborn Jesus in Watercolor
As the original sketch began to circulate, a friend asked me if I would consider having the image done professionally in watercolor. She introduced me to a local artist, Lea Ravotti. While somewhat familiar with Lea's artistic talent, I had never had the opportunity to meet her. We arranged to meet and within a few short months, Lea rendered the image of Vessel of the Preborn Jesus in Watercolor, a beautifully painted Preborn Jesus, wrapped in a rosary within the womb of His Mother.
You may wonder why the Lord revealed the umbilical cord as a rosary. While the umbilical cord is the physical lifeline between mother and child, the rosary is the spiritual lifeline. Consider the baby who is in danger of losing its precious life to abortion. The rosary wraps the baby in prayer. Prayer is protection from evil. As the Word of God is announced and meditated on in the first and second chapters of Luke's Gospel, Satan flees. Life triumphs.
Next, consider that the master of lies, Satan, has never wanted the rosary prayed. Yet through this inspirational work, Preborn Jesus shows us His own truth. I humbly suggest to you that Jesus wants the rosary embraced because, in the image, He is embraced by this prayer. He offers the rosary as a way to meditate on His life and pray. Then, in a supremely intimate sense, Jesus offers the rosary to each expectant mother. It is almost s if His little preborn hand is presenting this prayer as a gift to the mother with child.
Finally, the Lord put on my heart a very simple sentence that summarizes the vision for Preborn Jesus Ministry. I did not audibly hear these words. I can only tell you in all humility that I felt them in my heart. The words still resonate, "Bring them to the picture and I will bring them to My Mother."
Motherhood
Remarkably, there is more to this story. People from all faith backgrounds are embracing this rosary devotion to Preborn Jesus. Personally, I can attest to recently teaching non-Catholics to pray the rosary. As a result of hearing the above testimony, they trust that they are saving lives through this rosary devotion to Preborn Jesus. Also, they acknowledge God's esteem for the marvelous vocation of motherhood, as He has revealed so clearly in "Vessel of the Preborn Jesus."
In closing, I have a confession to make . Have you ever had the sense that the Lord wanted to be in control of a situation and that you were getting in His way? I am embarrased to confess that I initially did not want to place too much focus on Mary, for as so often happens, people turn away. But as Our Lord takes this apostolate in the direction that He desires, I recall His words: "Bring them to the picture and I will bring them to My Mother."
Jesus wants us to imitate Him in all things, most especially in His gratitude and boundless love for the woman who mothered Him in every moment of His earthly life. He truly wishes that expectant mothers who are fearful and confused will look to His Mother and imitate her trust in bringing forth life. In a profound way, He wants us to have respect and love for the vocation of motherhood.
Lovingly submitted to Preborn Jesus through Mary, the Vessel,
April 26, 2010
Bernadette
Prints and other items are available at [email protected]
or
Preborn Jesus Art.Com