A Twin Cities artist painted this image of the Holy Family for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Year of St. Joseph.

A Twin Cities artist painted this image of the Holy Family for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Year of St. Joseph. The artist, who wishes to remain anonymous, was inspired by ideas about Joseph that came from the Synod Prayer Team. The painting is titled “Light for the Next Step” to emphasize Joseph’s “ready obedience to the Lord’s command,” the artist wrote in a statement about the artwork.

“The image that kept coming to the forefront for the (prayer) group was that of Joseph and Mary making the journey to Bethlehem, where our Lord was to be born,” the artist wrote. “Knowing that this image would most likely be used on prayer cards which are very small, it seemed important to zoom in on Mary and Joseph and Jesus rather than to try to incorporate the surrounding scene. There is the suggestion that Mary is on a donkey and that there are trees in the background, but the details are left largely to the imagination of the viewer. Rather, the intention is to emphasize the relationships between these three people.

“Jesus is hidden in the womb, yet very prominent,” the artist continued. “Mary, leaning back against Joseph, is looking at us and drawing us in. She is free to do so, because she knows that Joseph will take care of her and Jesus and be their guide for the journey. Joseph’s left arm is supporting Mary and she is pressing his right hand tight to her womb.”

Although the source of the light Joseph is following is not in the painting, it’s reflected on his face, the artist explained. “He will follow it to a cave in Bethlehem where he will witness the birth of his Savior and Lord, indeed the Savior of the world.”

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