An Offering to Mary

Don Bosco, with ever greater trust, saw to it that work on the Church of Mary, Help of Christians went on steadily. His main preoccupation, however, was the painting to be placed above the main altar. When he broached the matter to the artist - Thomas Lorenzone – he astounded those present with the grandeur of his conception: high in the heavens, Our Lady amid choirs of angels; around Her, the Twelve Apostles; then, in descending order, martyrs, prophets, virgins, and confessors; on earth, below, banners proclaiming Mary's great victories and, finally, peoples of all races raising their hands to Her in supplication. He talked as if he had actually seen what he was so minutely describing. Lorenzone listened in amazement. "And where are you going to put this painting?" he asked.

"In the new church, of course."

"Are you sure it will fit?"

"Why not?"

"Where will you find a studio large enough for such a canvas?

"That's your problem!"

"There is no place huge enough for this job. I'd have to make Piazza Castello my studio, unless you want a miniature painting to be seen through a magnifying glass." Everybody laughed. Ruler in hand, Lorenzone, proved his point. Regretfully, Don Bosco had to agree that in the painting only the Apostles, Evangelists and a few angels would represent the heavenly court doing honor to Mary, and the Oratory alone would stand in the foreground below the Blessed Virgin.

Lorenzone rented a loft in Palazzo Madama and began working. He had a time limit of about three years.

When he was nearly through, noticing that the lion beside St. Mark was so striking as to divert attention from the main subject, he toned it down. Our Lady's features came out splendidly.

When the painting was set into place in the new church, Lorenzone fell to his knees in tears. BM Vol. 8, ch. 1, p.2-3

Keep in mind that Don Bosco was always immersed in the glory of Mary. This always lets him offer something to her, however simple, however grand, however silly. He knows that Mary will always accept his offering and bring them to its perfection.

ARTICLE 9: Patrons and Protectors of our Society ...Don Bosco entrusted our society in a special way, to Mary, whom he made its principal patroness, as well as to St. Joseph and to St. Francis de Sales, the zealous pastor and doctor of Charity...