The Blessed / El Beato

By A.Vonn Hartung

A giclee print of the original painting El Beato by A.Vonn Hartung. Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Santiago is the first Puerto Rican, and the first layperson in the history of the United States to be beatified. At the core of Blessed Carlos’ spirituality (Pope John Paul II said) was his faith in the Resurrection. He promoted the Easter Vigil as the defining moment of Christian spiritual life, repeating often, “We live for that night.” (Vivimos para esa Noche). The Portrait is painted with various symbolic elements which express a visual prayer that “speaks to the eye” of what it was that helped bring Blessed Carlos Manuel to such an intimate connectedness to our Lord and Savior. The absolute serenity and joy in Charlie’s look are the faith that we seek, the faith that seeks us.