Help of Christians (Auxilium Christianorum) is one of the ancient titles of Mary in the Litany of Loreto. In this image of it we have perhaps a father praying for his daughter, kneeling before an icon. Note how, though out of the frame, Christ is central figure, Mary is to the side. One of the many things we like about this picture is that it is a portrait of Mary as an icon in a setting of natural people! In the other pictures in this series, she is shown as a natural person.

For critics of icons, we are not praying to some graven image. We know the icon is only made of stone or paint. But the icon serves as a focal point for our mind, so that we can concentrate on the Heavenly person we sending our prayers to.

As with all the titles of Mary in the medieval Litany of Loreto, this one expresses an aspect of her relationship to us. The Litany has about 50 titles, and an Italian artist, Ezio Anichini, made illustrations of most of them in 1912. His work is Art Nouveau, or Stile Liberty in Italian, one of our favorite styles. He makes his Litany precise yet romantic, and emotionally engaging.

A seamstress, unknown to history, took 12 or 13 of Anichini’s pictures and made them into exquisite needlework. They are now held by the Royal School of Needlework in London, regarded as masterpieces of beauty, design, and execution.

If you love this series, you can own 8, 9, 10, or all 11 of them at big savings. Go to this link to find out how: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1166393551/loreto-embroideries-lot-of-8-9-10-or-11

** IMPORTANT ** IMAGES ARE SMALLER THAN THE PAPER. There is about an inch-and-a-third of white space around the picture. That gives it a nice finished look when framed without a mat.

– 8.5 x 11" acid-free paper
– Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
– Cardboard backer
– Above story of the art
– Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

Thanks for your interest!

Thanks!
Sue & John

“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson – Classic Catholic Art.