This painting took 10 whole years to finish. And yes, I needed every one of those years to complete it. The very first inspirations came after a phone call conversation with my Mom in 2014. We both were reflecting on the mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession.

At some point in the conversation, my Mom described a visual of Mary offering her heart to Jesus. This image impressed itself into my heart. I pondered. Later, while I was praying my daily rosary, I continued to meditate on the mystery of Mary’s intercession. 

Soon I found myself visualizing Jesus standing in front of a beautiful high altar. To the right of Jesus was Mary His Mother. Mary’s full attention was on her Son. Here I contemplated about how when I give my heart to the Blessed Virgin Mary she in turn gives all and everything to Jesus. Then I visualized Mother Mary presenting her Immaculate Heart to Jesus. In turn, Jesus presented me with His Most Sacred Heart.

When I first recorded the image in my sketch book it was only an image of Mary and Jesus. A year later in 2015, I began painting the image on canvas, but something felt missing in the composition. So I placed the painting aside for awhile. I wanted to figure out how to include a visual of me presenting my heart to Jesus through Mary.

In 2017, after my wedding, I finally picked up the painting again. I soon realized I was overthinking it and I decided to add a visual of my hand presenting the stony heart from the book of Ezechiel in the painting. 

“And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit with in you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezechiel 36:26

Once my hand and heart were added, I soon found myself challenged again. Architecture…

I always told my Dad, who is an architect, that architecture was too linear for me. I could “NEVER” imagine myself painting anything architectural. BUT as most of my life stories go…never tell God never. 

Here I am with a image that needed a very detailed high altar with a reredos. Growing up in Florida where most the churches were built in the 60’s/70’s/80’s, I had hardly ever seen any high altars in person before. After I discovered the Traditional Latin Mass, I slowly started to attend low masses at Christ the King Catholic Church in Sarasota. 

You can see a heavy influence of Christ the King’s High altar and reredos  in this painting. The problem was that I did not have good reference photos besides some blurry images I could find online. My shy nature didn’t have the heart to take my camera into church to take reference photos. 

Soon my husband and I unexpectedly found ourselves moving to Pennsylvania for two years. While living in Pennsylvania I was able to visit some beautiful historical Catholic Churches. These mini pilgrimages helped inspire me to complete the high altar/reredos in my painting. 

The last but not least missing piece to this painting was…St. Joseph. While living in Pennsylvania my husband and I consecrated our family to St. Joseph. This inspired me to add St. Joseph holding his Most Chaste Heart in the painting. You can find St. Joseph quietly standing behind Jesus’ left shoulder in the high altar/reredos. 

Most of the composition was done in Pennsylvania, but there was still lot of refining and details to add to call the painting complete. So the painting was placed aside once again. So we could move back to Florida, welcome our third baby into the family, buy and move into a house, welcome our fourth baby into the family… and finally…this spring 2024, our family life started to feel settled from that whirlwind of blessings… and I was able to pick up my paint brushes again for the final touches.

After more prayer and contemplation, the painting has been named”Total Consecration.”

If I had to pin point a saint who inspired me the most for the symbolism in this painting I would have to thank St. Louis de Montfort. My reading of True Devotion to Mary and the completing of the 33 Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary influenced the imagery of this painting. 

When I first started the painting I called the painting “To Jesus through Mary”, but after adding St. Joseph in the painting. I decided to call the painting “Total Consecration”. Currently, there is a movement through the Catholic Church to consecrate hearts to St. Joseph as well. So by leaving the title “Total Consecration”. I hope people will first discover the 33 day Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary then prayerfully consider the Consecration to St. Joseph. 

The painting was officially completed and unveiled on the Feast Day of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and it is no coincidence that it was finished during the year of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress. If we want souls to be drawn to the Eucharist. The heart of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph leads souls to devotion to Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart. All three of these devotions will enkindle a longing for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist.