The Bella Pastora of Iesu Communio. Two births.
The Virgin Bella Pastora. Two nativity scenes.
WHAT IS IESU COMUNIO?
The Bella Pastora of Iesu Communio. Two births.
Iesu Communio is a female religious institute of pontifical right approved by the Apostolic See on December 8, 2010.
Its founding mother is Sister Veronica. In 1984, María José, at the age of 18 and with the name of Sister Verónica, entered the Poor Clare Community of Lerma. The young woman, who would be professed in 1990, attracted new vocations to the convent. Finally, she ended up forming a separate community with a clearly differentiated charism, which today we know as Iesu Communio.
The religious institute Iesu Communio is dedicated "to the evangelization of young people" and to the contemplative life.
The Virgin Bella Pastora
The sculpture of the Virgin of the Bella Pastora de Iesu Comunio was born as a result of the commission received by the sculptor Javier Viver. The reason for the commission was the foundation of the new monastery for the sisters of the new community located in Aguilera. Mother Veronica, its foundress, is the one who commissioned a Virgin to be called the White Virgin or Bella Pastora.
The Bella Pastora is a life-size sculpture. The Virgin is pregnant and seated with her hands on her chest, head slightly tilted forward, eyes closed and prayerful gesture.
FROM THE HERMITAGE TO THE CLOISTER
At first the destination of the Bella Pastora would be the hermitage. The hermitage is a place where only the sisters have access. However, when the sculpture arrived at the monastery they decided to place it in the cloister. The main purpose is that both the sisters of Iesu Communio and the pilgrims who visit them could have access to the Virgin.
And so it was, which is why La Bella Pastora has become a true icon of the place. Pilgrims not only approach the sculpture of the Virgin to pray to her, but also touch her and lean on her lap as a normal attitude when they have an encounter with her.
TESTIMONIES ABOUT THE VIRGIN
We have received many testimonies about the image of the Virgin. The sisters of the congregation told Javier many stories that have happened because of the presence of the Bella Pastora. Most of them are related to life changes brought about by faith. Faith that speaks of God's call to vocation. Women who decide to take their vows and adopt the name Blanca for the "Virgen Blanca" which is the other name of the virgin. Of course we also have the testimony of men who have decided to dedicate their lives to God.
Why a seated virgin?
The concept of making a seated virgin arose from the idea of closeness. The need to create a sculpture that invites the approach and with which we all find an identification. A pregnant virgin that carries within her the divine word. Virgin with closed eyes that invite to an inner journey. A gesture typical of our mother who is contemplating all the things that have happened to her.
La Bella Pastora was to fully reflect the philosophy of the sisters of Iesu Communio.
A philosophy that goes from the community's own recollection to the welcoming character that they have when they receive pilgrims. For this reason, at Iesu Communio they are attended to, listened to and cared for.
The whole project had a germinal point. That of the birth of the Iesu Comunio movement, which at that time was not yet approved, and which, consequently, was linked to the image of the Virgin as something new.
Where you can buy a replica??poe internet ... or in Madrid or Godella
Where you can buy a replica ... on the internet ... or in Madrid or Godella ....
Hello, at the moment we do not sell replicas of this sculpture. If you want to leave me your email I will send you more information later if they start to be sold.
Thank you !
Is it possible to buy a replica of the Virgin to have it at home? Thank you.
Hello Montse. Not at the moment, but it is planned to make reproductions of the Bella Pastora in various sizes.
I will communicate it through social networks, through the Instagram channel:
https://www.instagram.com/artmadeinheaven
I'm also waiting for reproductions of the Bella (beautiful) Pastora. I'll keep an eye on Instagram, hopefully it won't take long. Thank you very much!
Great Alex. Anyway as I have all your emails, I will write you as soon as I have more information.
Thanks for your comment !
Hi! I too would love to have a replica of the Bella Pastora in a slightly smaller size. I will keep an eye on Instagram. Thank you so much.
Great Macarena, I'll let you know too.
I too am interested as soon as it comes out to have a replica. Thank you very much if you can keep me informed!!!
Good morning, yesterday I met, by internet, your community, I have seen and heard Sister Veronica and all the movement of youth in love with Jesus Christ and it has gotten into my heart what they sang when they entered in Godella, "I am of Christ" and there it is, ringing like the bells of a Church and its call rings and rings. Here near where I live there is a small monastery with few nuns, they are Capuchin Poor Clares and from time to time I visit them. The church is a paradise of Silence, very rare to find someone, and of course it crosses your mind what a gift from heaven that you came here and see this House of God grow with the joy and strength of these young people. You never know, man proposes and God disposes, I live in the town of Santa Cruz, (Oleiros) A Coruña and this monastery is in an area called Os Regos.
I just want to give thanks to God for the work you do, to Sister Veronica for handling this ship with so much skill and above all with so much love and to all the crew that make the ship sail to a good port, filling us with hope. A hug
Good afternoon, I am Fabiana from Argentina, Cordoba.
At 57 years old, I feel that I need and can respond to the call to serve in the Community of Love and Faith. Like so many women here in Argentina, desirous of being instruments of adoration and fraternal charity.
I would love to have a replica, please as soon as available I would love information greetings
Hi Ana. I am keeping all the mails of those of you who are interested. As soon as I know more about when they will be available I will contact you again. Happy Holidays !
Hello Fabiana. We are not a religious community. We work with sacred art, if you want to get in touch with someone in particular and I can help you, I will be happy to. Happy Holidays
Good morning I am interested in a replica of the Virgin or if you have a holy card or something similar it would also be useful. Thank you very much for the work you do, I visited you 4 years ago and I will never forget the moment when I leaned on the lap of the Virgin. I pray for you.
Hi Debora, we still have to wait a little bit. As soon as I know more about marketing dates I will let you know as well as the rest of the interested parties.
Hello! This beautiful image is the same one that the Hakuna group commissioned from the same artist? They call it Mother of Hakuna
I ordered a small Madonna for my house, it is beautiful. It comes with the name Mother of Hakuna, does it refer to the ecclesial movement that evangelizes through music?
Hi Esther, it is indeed the same group. They commissioned Javier Viver the sculpture of the virgin of Hakuna.
I pass you a link that I posted on Instagram some time ago where Javier tells the story. I hope you like it.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCTrO5sDzGc/?igshid=i2wgu8et6bl3
Best regards !
Yes, it is ! Is it the same ?
Good morning, I am also interested in having a replica of the White Virgin. I would be very grateful if you could let me know when you have them for sale. Thank you very much!
Hi, I am very interested in a small size replica of this Madonna. I have visited the Iesu Communio website but it says it is not available, will it be available again soon?
Thank you very much
At the moment both Iesu Communio and we are not marketing them, but we are in the process of putting them on sale in a few months. I will keep your details and write you as soon as we have them on the web.
Thank you!
Hi Sofia. We don't have it for sale yet. I think it will be available in a few months. I will write to all of you who are interested.
Good morning,
I am also interested in buying a replica of this Virgin.
Please, if you can let me know when they are for sale I would appreciate it.
Best regards.
Hi Nieves. I will send you all an email as soon as we market them.
Hi, I'm sorry to nag, but my wife loves the image and I would like to give her a copy if they go on sale, please let me know.
An embrace in Christ and Mary
Hi Tino, as soon as we know something, I promise I will tell you something. I know that we will end up doing them at some point, I'm sorry I can't give you specific dates, but at the moment we don't have them. But someday for sure they will be there! You don't bother us... it's us who can't give you much information... sorry !
Please! I want a replica of the Bella Pastora too!!!! ???❤️❤️❤️❤️???
OK, I'll let you know too. Of course I will!
Good evening, I visited the monastery two years ago and was impressed by the image of the Mother, the White Virgin, the Bella Pastora. I am also interested in an image for my home. Thank you
Hello Arturo. Thank you very much for your words. Sure! I'll put you on the list. And as soon as we put them on sale I'll let you know along with the others.