For God So Loved The World Church-Sized Canvas Art

Does not come with glass

One of our most beloved images, the 18th century original escaped destruction and was rescued by an American priest. Order this image of mercy for yourself or as a gift today!

The original painting was in a centuries-old church slated for demolition. A priest from Michigan saved it from certain ruin and brought it to the United States, where it became a family heirloom for a young Catholic doctor and his family. As far as we can tell, the original was painted in the 1700's by an unknown artist. The Latin inscription at the bottom reads, "Sic Deus Dilexit Mundum," and is translated, "For God So Loved the World" (John 3:16). This beautiful image, which bears a strong resemblance to the Shroud of Turin, has been an inspiration for thousands since we began publishing it in 1997.

Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Catholic author and speaker, has used it extensively in his books and meditations. He tells the story of how angry, torn, and sad he was on the afternoon of 9/11, when many of his friends and associates were killed in the World Trade Center attacks. This image of the Sacred Heart, which hung in the monastery chapel, ministered deeply to him a message of forgiveness and mercy. Soon after, he used the image as the basis of a series of meditations in his book The Cross at Ground Zero.

This particular item, an archival-quality giclee canvas in a beautiful gold solid wood frame, comes in large sizes so that you can use it for a church. Handcrafted in Steubenville, Ohio, this touching devotional piece is sure to be treasured for years to come!

Available in several sizes, our oversize framed canvases are the solution churches are looking for, the statement your parish council wants to make, or the centerpiece of your Catholic home life.

Nelson framed canvases are second only to the original masterpieces themselves! Solid wood, deluxe gold frames and premium stretcher bars support our breathtaking giclee religious canvases. Giclee is a french word that means "sprayed ink," and it refers to our museum-quality printing process whereby 8 different colored inks combine to create millions of colors that are slowly sprayed into canvas material. This high-tech method of art reproduction offers the highest possible fidelity to the original work and results in a clear depiction with colors as good (or sometimes better) than the original painting. Under archival conditions, giclee canvases have a total color fidelity guarantee for 70-100 years.

For the faithful Catholic that wishes their sacred art to be blessed with holy water: canvases are sparingly water repellant, so while a typical blessing should not damage the canvas whatsoever, those who favor more robust uses of holy water should take caution near the art. ;)