Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Part II -- Reflections on the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Genazzano

 

Abundant graces are spread to all by the image. Many times, these are graces of physical cures. However, the best of the image is not the grace of physical cures, but the marvelous power it has to communicate – without evident miracles – with the many people who go there to ask about spiritual pains, doubts and troubles. The work of the image is linked to this fact:

The image changes tones, sometimes showing bright colors and Our Lady’s joy, sometimes displaying tones that show her sad. This happens without a change in her features. Nevertheless, through these changes, the image expresses what Our Lady wants to say to those who go to Her for answers and solutions to very important problems.

The image is widely venerated, mostly by Italians. Many have given sworn testimony that the image changes expression. One of the most impressive of such testimonies was that of a famous painter hired by a wealthy Genoese family to go to Genazzano, paint a copy of the image, and bring it back for a large Church in Genoa. Since this painter was very talented, he received permission to set up shop right on the altar, so he could see the image up close. He started to paint. But according to his report, it was impossible to paint the image because it changed expressions so many times.

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