Our Lady of Tihaljina (near Medjugorje), Our Lady of Grace Gallery Wrapped Canvas

“Our Lady of Grace, Our Lady of Tihaljina, (near Medjugorje)” by Richard L George.

This particular image of Our Blessed Mother is a painting made by artist Richard L George after the famous Italian-made statue of Our Lady of Grace which is located at Immaculate Conception Parish in the village of Tihaljina, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Because of their parish namesake, the parishioners there have come to regard the statue as the Immaculate Conception. And still another title given by the many pilgrims who visit Medjugorje is Our Lady of Tihaljina or Our Lady of Medjugorje. This last title is given because the pilgrims to Medjugorje would also visit the village of Tihaljina in order to hear talks by Fr Jozo Zovko who was the pastor of St James in Medjugorje in 1981 when the apparitions began.

Over the years I noticed the photographs that represented the presence of Mother Mary appearing in Medjugorje where the face of the statue was either looking down or away from the viewer.

However, whether we gaze at an image of the Blessed Mother or not, when we address Her in prayer we can be assured that She is always looking right at us.

And for that reason, I painted this painting. At first I made it with Her gaze looking right at you. However, I wasn’t happy with it. It looked too cold like a painting of a statue and the face just didn’t appeal to me. I Kept coming back to rework the painting and altering the way she looked until I felt the painting looked more alive with a warm, motherly face.

My prayer and my hope is that you, the viewer, imagine Her looking at you as you look at Her and be drawn ever deeper in prayer with the heart as you gaze at this image. May you find yourself drawn ever closer to Her Immaculate Heart in prayer and realize She is looking at you personally with the gaze of a most tender loving Mother.

“If you knew how much I love you, you’d cry for joy” – Mother Mary (21 Jun 1984 – Medjugorje)