The third reflection about the painting of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Burmarrad

I beg you, Lord,

let the fiery, gentle power of your love

take possession of my soul,

and snatch it away

from everything under heaven,

that I may die

for love of your love

as you saw fit to die

for love of mine.

St Francis of Assisi

To Mary’s left, accompanying her, are St Francis and St Maximillian Maria Kolbe—who had not yet been canonised by the Church by the time this altarpiece was completed. Apart from it being venerated inside a Franciscan church, the inclusion of these two saints in this artwork is also of theological significance. Undoubtedly, we can say that on their journey of faith, both St Francis and St Maximillian strove to transform their lives into ones more closely imitating Christ, like St Luke portrayed the beauty of Mary and narrated to us in detail in the Gospel which he wrote. St Francis chose to move away from his father’s riches and fine clothing, preferring instead to don the garment of poverty. From the adventures and foolishness of a youth squandered and wounded by war, St Francis let the story of his life become a living Gospel of Jesus Christ, who, on the holy night of Christmas 1223 at Greccio, became flesh in his arms, and whose sacred stigmata Francis received on Mount La Verna. Thus, St Francis became completely united with the one that he came to emulate so closely through his humble and simple life. Humbleness and lowliness that proved transformative and that vigorously shook the Church to remain unwavering in its fundamental choice of Christ above all else; above riches, success, fame, power and all that the world lures us into, but which even if we attain, leave us feeling empty. For in truth, who could ever fill man’s heart, which thirsts for the infinite, except the Infinite in the image of whose Heart it was created?

This was the secret of the exultation that sprang forth in Mary’s limitless praise in the Magnificat, and in Francis’ Canticle of Creation. Joy so abundant that it is still pouring out over us even though millennia and centuries have passed. How foolish we would be to let acrimony, estrangement, envy, greed, avarice, and unbridled desires rob us of this truly eternal happiness. And that is because, at Mary’s word, Jesus continues to make wine of gladness out of our worthless water, so long as we continue drawing close to these two hearts with our jars. Surely, ours are fragile stone jars, but they nonetheless remain recipients of the treasures of grace and of eternal life that begins here on earth—whether it’s already hell or already heaven. It is up to us to chart our final destiny and to start experiencing it from here, regardless of whether others perceive us as winners or losers, rich or poor, high or lowly. What counts is to let the Almighty look with favour on us, and, like Mary, let him fill us with joy.