I have chosen to conclude this year’s May Devotion with an extraordinary offering: a captivating book by an ardent Marian artist who painted the famous best-seller Scottish Blue Madonna in 1987. Michael Felix Francis Gilfedder‘s “The Gift of Human Life” leaves readers enveloped in the profound essence that defines this remarkable work. Crafted in accessible language, the 95-page book serves as an artistic commentary on Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Beginning with the creation narrative, where Adam and Eve experience original solitude, the author utilizes 55 striking photographs to interweave their original unity with the spousal love they embraced.
“It is quite natural for a man or woman to desire self-mastery over their passions.” – Gilfedder
He then addresses the tragic fall yet reminds us that the magnificence of the incarnation brings forth a Good Shepherd, “Our Bridegroom” (Chapter 8), who bears suffering on the cross. Echoing the passionate verses of the Song of Songs, Gilfedder guides the reader through the concept of continence for the kingdom and the promise of a restored paradise, culminating in the joy of the resurrection.
In his moving artistry, the author reveals the beauty of marriage as a foretaste of the heavenly wedding. In the fifteenth chapter, he praises Humanae Vitae (Human Life), describing it as “Pope Paul VI’s courageous encyclical” to emphasise the “procreative meaning of the body” (p.57). Following this, he argues that “it is quite natural for a man or woman to desire self-mastery over their passions and, for good reasons, to abstain from sexual intimacy at certain times” (p.58).
Stunning image of Michael Felix Gilfedder’s 1987 painting titled Mary, Mother of God (Blue Madonna) in my collection.
Humanae Vitae inspired my parents “to raise a large family.” – Gilfedder
Throughout the 24 chapters of this book, the author expresses pride in how his parents “made a generous decision to raise a large family” based on Humanae Vitae number 10, which asserts that couples must “conform their activity to the creative intention of God” (p.64). This work stands as a masterful tapestry of art interwoven with prose that comes alive in dramatic forms. The author attributes the debasement of the human body to an exaggerated sense of freedom, arbitrary political and social systems, a loss of true humanity, unchecked access to media, and an unrealistic reliance on technology as the solution to all human problems (Cf. p.84). I wholeheartedly agree!
Michael Felix Gilfedder, an ardent Marian artist who painted the famous best-seller Scottish Blue Madonna in 1987. Credit: FB
Printed in Poland by Amazon Fulfilment, the piece of literature dedicated to his younger brother, Paul Vincent, features an inscription by Gilfedder: “As a painter, I have designed the entire work in a circular manner, beginning with creation and culminating in the resurrection of the body.” While the size could have been more compact for easier handling, it remains a remarkable work that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking solitude, appreciating art, and anticipating the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come.
“My ethos of imagery is firmly rooted in the Classical, Judeo-Christian tradition” – Gilfedder
The author worked as an itinerant art teacher in the Southern Isles of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, United Kingdom, until 2008. Following that, he took on part-time work as a supply teacher. In his own words, “I have only ever exhibited in group shows and have primarily focused on private commissions. My ethos of imagery is firmly rooted in the Classical, Judeo-Christian tradition, which can be seen on my blog, particularly in light shows like the ‘Dream of Gerontius.’” His poetry has also been published by Jerry Nolan, a London-based poet known for his emphasis on imagery.
