Unveiling

On August 3, 2003 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Sanctuary, Joshua Tree, California the sacred Icon of Our Lady Queen of Peace was unveiled. It is the first known Icon to be completed while apparitions of the Blessed Mother are still taking place today in Bosnia-Herzegovnia since 1981. The 8-foot Icon is composed of oil pigments on Baltic birch panel with three types of pure goldleaf, ground crystal, iridescent mica, lapis lazuli and inlaid tanzanite. The seven layer gesso underlay incorporates holy Lourdes water and Chalice Well water from Glastonbury, UK.

Shri Natha Devi Premananda, Mataji commissioned the painting in March 2000. Normally, Icons are made after apparitions have stopped. "But Our Lady has allowed this Icon to be completed and installed within 21 months, which coincides with the apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorge, Bosnia-Herzegovina." The Icon was completed on June 24th, 2003 on St. John the Baptist feast day, 22 years to the date that the Blessed Mother first appeared to the children in Medjugorge.

When Mataji viewed the painting on June 24th at the Chapel of St. John, streams of tears of joy fell down her face. In that moment she began to realize that Our Lady's request had been met and her radiance was so profound that it made Mataji speechless. Our Lady's blessing outpoured from the Icon in wave of unending bliss and great light. This would mark the great beginning of Our Lady Queen of Peace Ministry in California.

On July 26th, the sacred Icon was received at Our Lady Queen of Peace Sanctuary in Joshua Tree for the first time. Brother JK from United Kingdom, along with Mataji, and a host of devotees welcomed Our Lady with ceremony and prayers. On August 3rd, she was unveiled at the Sanctuary with a total of ten retreatants. During the celebration week of the Icon's unveiling, miracles occurred by Our Lady. On August 6th, she poured sweet fragrances of roses and shortly afterward, the holy fragrance of the cedar of Lebanon followed. Everyone was immersed in those fragrances for awhile as they experience total Joy and Peace. Cases of drinking water were transformed by Our Lady into divine nectar. Much blessings were present during her unveiling and those in attendance treasured each moment.

We welcome you to visit Our Lady Queen of Peace Sanctuary in Joshua Tree, California, especially during our annual retreat. Mataji has stated that Our Lady is the embodiment of cosmic mother descending from heaven to earth to bless all of humanity.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Ministry would like to give special thanks to Fr. JohnAlexis Viereck, Bernardette Marie, Maria Talamini and all the devotees of the Blessed Mother for contributing to make this possible.

Eternal Blessings!

In His Divine Grace & Love,
Thanks for having responded to Our Lady's call.

Note: Contact EWOEC for specific viewing dates and events related to the Holy Mother Icon.

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