The striking image above is a depiction of Mary in Filipino dress.

The description here comes from the blog Stopping 2 Ask 4 Directions:

The image above, by Araceli Dans, is the first depiction of the Virgin Mary by an award winning artist in what would be considered Filipino attire. Baro at saya is what the blouse and skirt are called. Tapis is the term for the sash over the Blessed Mother’s shoulder. The lacework, calado.

The genesis of the painting was when Dans visited the Luminous Cross of Grace shrine in Agdangan, Quezon with her niece last September. In the Araceli Dans’ native language the piece is titled “Ina ng Liwanag at Pagmamahal.” Dans has said that she feels her life’s work has been a preparation for the creation of this work.

As for the Filipino attire, “I wanted an image of the Blessed Mother that the suffering Filipinos can connect and identify with,” Dans said.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen that face countless times on the streets of Queens, on subway platforms, at corner markets. I suspect she is someone a lot of Filipinos recognize. Perhaps they’ve even seen her in the kitchen, making dinner, feeding the baby, waiting for her husband to come home from working a double shift.

You can see the wisdom in her eyes. And grace. Yes: this is a woman truly full of grace.

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