Across the country in Fremont CA, the painting “The Wedding Feast of the Lamb” has been installed as part of the renovation of at The San Jose Mission on this its 227th anniversary.
As you gaze upon this piece of sacred art, which spans fifty feet, it is hard not to become mesmerized by the wonder and joy of those before you. We are met with the reverence of over sixty saints as they partake in the Feast where the lion lays down with the lamb and the central focal point is the Holy Family.
It’s difficult to think of someone who is not present, St. John Paul II, St Francis, the Fatima Children, St Joan of Arc, St Padre Pio, St Bernadette, St Therese, St Faustina, St Francis De Sales, St Kateri, St Teresa, St Elizabeth Ann Seton and on and on and on. For sure, each one of their paths to Christ was as unique as their personal dignity and worth, but they are all now filled with the love of Christ, surely a picture of heaven.
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb was painted by artist Michael Corsini who I have been blessed to know and work with for well over twenty years. In addition to his incredible artistic talent Mike also is a talented musician who has worked alongside me in “Entering Canaan – a Sacramental Journey to an Inheritance of Mercy”, a ministry of healing for those who have experienced abortion. Michael provides music for our retreats which reach out to
women, men, and the siblings of aborted babies.
In addition to the music, Michael also painted our “Entering Canaan” artwork, a visual of a repentant woman symbolizing all of us, surrendering h er aborted child into the arms of Mary at the foot of the cross, and allowing her to lead us to The Promised Land - the love and mercy of Her son Jesus Christ, who died so we may have eternal life.
Over the years, we have been blessed in working in this ministry, to witness the love of Christ take hold thousands of times, as people who come
burdened, filled with the despair and hopelessness of abortion, become transformed by the Mercy Himself so it was no real surprise to me to find that Michael had included in the Wedding Feast someone no one could recognize or name, but who is present in each of our lives, knowingly or not. Those who have had abortions. It is in the far-right corner that we see a child lovingly gazing at his mother, pulling her with joy, hope and determination towards the Holy Family. He seems to be assuring her that this is the place she needs to make haste to go – to partake in the feast herself.
It is common for God to use our worse sins to bring us to Himself and very often in the case of abortion it is the unborn child who has died that is the catalyst for bringing the mother and father to repentance and on a path to the mercy of God. Some may look at this and say,” How can it be that a woman who has killed her child is included in this sacred painting.” But the truth is, how could it not be?
Since 1973 over sixty-three million abortions have occurred in our nation. The souls of millions of men and women have been lost to God because of this grievous sin. Mother, fathers, aunts, uncles, friends,siblings, we have all been touched by the scourge of abortion. But all is not lost!
Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. He died on the cross for all our sins, even the sin of abortion. In the end, we are all called in different ways to partake of the feast where we can find the worst sinners transformed by the blood of the lamb to spend
eternity in His presence adoring Him for the love and mercy He has shown us.
Thank you, Michael, for extending the invitation through this image of hope for those who feel hopeless. I have no doubt many will be brought to His love and forgiveness through it.
T. Bonopartis
