Our lady of sorrows / Softener of evil hearts

“My eyes are exhausted from weeping, and torment afflicts my innermost being. My gall is poured out on the earth because of the destruction of my people, as children and infants faint in the streets of the city… To what can I liken or compare you, O Virgin daughter of Jerusalem? Your ruin is as vast as the sea. Who can heal you?”
- (Lamentations 2:11, 13)
Our Lady of Sorrows/Softener of Evil Hearts
Acrylic on canvas, 24x36 🌎💙🗡️

For this icon the focus was on color psychology, atmosphere and minimalism - inspired by St. Alphonsus of Liguori’s meditations on the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
It’s said that in ancient Greece the iris flower symbolized the bridge between heaven and earth and was used for funerals and gravesites, but in Christian art they are also associated with the sorrowful Virgin as the “sword-lily” due to their upright petals, in reference to the prophecy of Simeon.
In my own life I’ve searched through different spiritualities for how to deal with the suffering problem - avoid it, transcend it, etc. - but the common consensus always seems to be “the best way out is through”, implying a deep-rooted need for our suffering to have meaning. And to suffer well means to unify with God’s will and trust that through Him, death will be followed by resurrection…
So whenever I’m reminded of the dark atrocities of this world, I can remember the story of the Sorrowful Mother’s steadfast faith in the face of Death, and continue through towards Resurrection… 💙🗡️