A book of illustrations weighing 37 pounds. That was the gift brought to Pope Francis by a group of almost 60 artists from the Dominican Republic. The illustrations are inspired by the original painting of the Virgin of Altagracia, protector of the Dominican people.
LUIS EMILIO MONTALVO
Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Holy See
In addition to the paintings, they were in charge of generating a big book. That book weighs 37 pounds. It is so big because the book has all the paintings and has a lot of literature and some representations.
Days before, the Embassy of the Dominican Republic to the Holy See and the Center for Altagracia Studies organized an exhibition in Rome's Basilica of St. Peter in Vincoli.
All this was done to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of the Virgin of Altagracia and to make her more known to the world.
BP. SANTIAGO RODRÍGUEZ
Diocese of San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic
Looking at the beautiful work and what they have done, we saw that it was necessary to make it known, to take it out of our country, out of our Dominican Republic and, then, to bring it where the cradle of our faith is—where precisely everything comes out—in Rome. And I reiterate, it is a great opportunity to continue making known the devotion to our Mother, the Virgin of Altagracia.
In the original portrait, the Virgin Mary is depicted in the center. Below is the Child Jesus in the manger and just behind is St. Joseph.
For the Dominican people, the Virgin of Altagracia is not only a Marian devotion but a collective spiritual mother and protector.
LUIS EMILIO MONTALVO
Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Holy See
Everyone is devoted to the Virgin of Altagracia, even atheists, non-believers and those who never go to church. The Virgin of Altagracia is an emblematic figure of the culture of the Dominican people. So, these painters have been inspired by this original painting and have added some variations.
The Virgin of Altagracia has been crowned twice: the first, in 1922, by Pope Pius XI; the second, in 1992, by Pope John Paul II during his second trip to the Dominican Republic.
CA
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