The foster-father of Jesus is also our father: such is depicted in our Joseph, Patron of the Church framed canvas! The original image is in a side altar in the Sacred Heart Church in Rome, painted by Giuseppe Rollini. Surrounded by Angels watching in great reverence and saying, "Go to Joseph" (Ite ad Joseph), St. Joseph is pictured holding the child Jesus with the humble handmaid Mary by his side. While Joseph holds a lily to symbolize his great purity in one hand, his other hand extends in blessing over a miniature church building which is presented to him by an Angel and represents his patronage over the Universal Church. As Jesus was entrusted to Joseph, through Mary, for protection, leadership, and provision, so, too, is the Church, "the Body of Christ," entrusted to St. Joseph's heavenly intercession and aid.
In 1870, Pope Pius IX officially declared St. Joseph the Patron of the Catholic Church. In the document Quemadmodum Deus, Pius IX entrusts the Church, which is under much travail, to Joseph: "On account of this sublime dignity which God conferred on His most faithful Servant, the Church has always most highly honoured and lauded the Most Blessed Joseph next after his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has implored his intercession in all her great necessities." St. Teresa of Avila also taught people to "go to St. Joseph" in all of their needs, due to Joseph's profound union with the hearts of the King and Queen of Heaven and earth. And if you don't believe the great intercessory power he has been given, as St. Teresa would say, "make the trial" of entrusting yourself and your need to him, and you will see the great good he pours out!
May each heart be entrusted more greatly to St. Joseph while meditating upon this image.
This particular item, an archival-quality giclée canvas in a beautiful gold solid wood frame, comes in large sizes so that you can use it for a church. Handcrafted in Steubenville, Ohio, this touching devotional piece is sure to be treasured for years to come!
Available in several sizes, our oversize framed canvases are the solution churches are looking for, the statement your parish council wants to make, or the centerpiece of your Catholic home life.
Nelson framed canvases are second only to the original masterpieces themselves! Solid wood, deluxe gold mouldings frame our breathtaking, board-mounted giclée religious canvases. Giclée is a french word that means "sprayed ink," and it refers to our museum-quality printing process whereby 8 different colored inks combine to create millions of colors that are slowly sprayed into canvas material. This high-tech method of art reproduction offers the highest possible fidelity to the original work and results in a clear depiction with colors as good (or sometimes better) than the original painting. Under archival conditions, giclée canvases have a total color fidelity guarantee for 70-100 years.
For the faithful Catholic that wishes their sacred art to be blessed with holy water: canvases are sparingly water repellent, so while a typical blessing should not damage the canvas whatsoever, those who favor more robust uses of holy water should take caution near the art. ;)
~Sizes listed are of the image only~
( NWC-1444 )
