In April, while I listened to a moving talk shared by Fr. Scott Braathen, an image from the Holy Spirit appeared in my mind.
It was an image of the Child Jesus, 4 or 5 yo, by candlelight, alone in a simple room, reading from a parchment, and learning to pray it as every 1st century Jewish child did.
I held onto that image, and when I was able, painted it while praying for Fr. Scott with each brush stroke.
Finally, I was able to gift him this painting last night at an art exhibition/presentation of the Come & See series at Our Lady of Corpus Christi, on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
All clergy in attendance were gifted an original painting from the series, and I had set aside this painting just for him. Providentially, he told me he had chosen this painting out of the series before I told him about it. God is amazing, and it was my Holy Spirit gift
All of my paintings are also titled with scripture. I painted on the parchment of the painting in blurred Hebrew the scripture verse, John 17:26. Fr. Scott shared that his favorite book in the bible is the Gospel of John 
I didn’t know that, so another Holy Spirit gift 
“Child Jesus praying by candlelight (John 17:26)”
24″x20″ Oil on Linen
Merci F. McCoy, May 13, 2025
