Divine Shepherdess

https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/divine-shepherdess.html

September 25:
Madonna, Divine Shepherdess, Spain (1703)

In 1703 Mary was given title Divine Shepherdess, bestowed upon her by Father Isidore of Spain after a vision in which Blessed Mother appeared to him as a shepherdess.

Father Isidore was born of a rich & noble family of Seville, in 1662.
He was pride of his family & looked upon as a prince among his associates.
At age of 19 he entered Capuchin Order.
He was devoted to Our Lady from childhood & much more so after entering religious life.
After completing his studies he was sent to a monastery in Cadiz.

Here he with Father Feliciano erected small shrines to Our Lady along roadways.
They taught people how to sing rosary walking along street.
This custom Father Isadore brought with him on returning to Seville.
In such a worldly atmosphere this came as a surprise to people.
Cantina & tavern loungers found themselves sliding out taverns & joining him, to become part of sheepfold of Mary.

During one of these street tours Christ’s words, ‘I am the Good Shepherd” flashed across Father’s mind. That night he had a vision of the Blessed Virgin.
She appeared as a young shepherdess with a crook in her hand & a large straw hat falling over her shoulders.

The next morning the priest hurried to an artist’s shop in a suburb of Seville, telling of his vision; he gave Miquel de Tovar, artist, an order that a picture be painted of Our Lady as she had appeared to him.
“Our Lady,” he said, sat on a rock under a tree.
Her face radiated divine & tender love.

Over a red tunic she wore a jacket of white sheepskin such as shepherds wore; from her shoulders hung a blue mantle.
A large straw hat, held by a ribbon, dangled over her left shoulder.
Near her right hand was a shepherd’s crook, symbolic of the love & care she gives her children.

In her left hand she held a rose, while right hand rested on head of a lamb, which had sought shelter in her lap.
The flock of sheep which surrounded her carried in their mouths – the Virgin’s Flower.

After months, painting was completed.
The admiration of Spanish for Our Lady as a Divine Shepherdess quickly spread.
Practically every church had set aside a corner for Divine Shepherdess, & paintings of her became so numerous that Capuchin Fathers made a collection of them.

In convent in Seville there is today a museum dedicated to this unique & charming representation of Mary.
In this museum there is also a fine statue carved by famous sculptor Francisco Gijon, so natural & so beautiful that it appears almost lifelike.

In place of simple costume of shepherdess statue is glorified by a lavish white satin gown.
On her dark hair she wears a wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with large daisies.
There are also engravings; medals, embroideries & even laces which give evidence of this widespread devotion.

The details may vary in these works of art, but Our Lady is always recognizable by presence of a crook & a hat.
At times the hat is large & of straw; at other times it is of felt & shaped according to styles of day, which gives a uniqueness to this interpretation of the Blessed Mother as Divine Shepherdess.