The Inspiration
I was invited to paint this painting by a priest to celebrate the canonization of St. John Paul the Great. To be honest, at the time I really didn’t know much about Pope John Paul II other then that he was the pope of my childhood. So I began as any clueless person begins today by “googling” more info. During my research, there was a title that stood out to me, that being “The Fatima Pope”.
Some months before while attending the SEEK 2013 Conference, I had met a woman who had gifted me with a book called “Fatima for Today by Fr Andrew Apostoli.” I kindly thanked her for the book knowing in the back of my mind that I hate reading. Feeling desperate with no painting inspiration, I decided I would sit down and begin reading this book. To my surprise, this book was beautiful and I couldn’t put the book down. And what was even better is that Fr. Apostoli thoroughly explained why Pope John Paul II was known as “The Fatima Pope”. So all the symbolism in this painting is inspired by what I read in the “Fatima for Today” book.
The Painting Explained
This painting is titled Totus Tuus. St. John Paul II had a close connection with Our Lady of Fatima. He believed it was through Our Lady’s intercession that his life was spared after being shot on May 13th 1981. That is why St. JPII placed that bullet in the crown of the Our Lady of Fatima statue. Totus Tuus was the motto on St. John Paul II’s coat of arms, meaning “Totally Thine,” inspired by the book True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort.
In the background to the left, is St. JP II’s childhood church, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Wadowice, Poland. The mountain plains are significant to the Third Secret of Fatima and St. JP II’s trials and journey to the Vatican. In the foreground, St. John Paul II reverently bows his head in prayer holding his pontifical staff with Jesus on the crucifix. Mother Mary and St. John Paul II are covered under the protection of the Holy Spirit’s wings. Finally, hidden within the red roses are the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
