Original Work
Biblical Women
The Matron Saints Project
It all started with Sunday School lithographs that were a bit musty and old-fashioned and of no use to today’s kids. Still, they were beautiful and something in me thought they still had more life in them.
We are shaped by our stories, and just as those lithographs told one set of stories, those same pieces of paper, pieces of art, now tell another story.
And that is the story of saintly women who might be needed today. They are named after strong women in the Bible, and interpreted for this post-modern world that hungers so much for humor, and courage, and resilience, and kindness, and truth. Originally I made twelve matron saints, but in light of our current political realities, I’ve been inspired to make more. Cards and calendars of these images are available - go to the “shop” section.
Each saint is made (mostly) of pieces of the old Sunday school pictures, on 12x16 boards. Some have found new homes, and some of the originals are available for sale; they are marked with an *. For more information about these saints, please visit my blog at holdfasttowhatisgood.com/matron-saints/
Click on image to see full picture.
Eve, Matron Saint of Those Who Persisted
Sarah, Matron Saint of Complicated Women
Hagar, Matron Saint of the Deported
Shiphrah, Matron Saint of Foster Moms
The Daughters of Zelophehad
Jael, Matron Saint of the Mansplained
Ruth, Matron Saint of the Constant
Tamar, Matron Saint of Victims and Survivors
Elizabeth, Matron Saint of Favorite Aunties
Mary, Matron Saint of the Bereaved
Anna, Matron Saint of Baby Whisperers
Magdalene, Matron Saint of Women Who Aren’t Believed
Martha, Matron Saint of Clergywomen
The Canaanite Woman, Matron Saint of Those Who Speak Truth to Power
Lydia, Matron Saint of the Hospitable
Trinity
Afternoon Tea in the Garden of Eden
Noah’s Wife
The Woman Who Danced (Miriam)
The Five Sisters Who Inherited Their Father’s Land
The Wise Queen Who Bested a Rich King (The Queen of Sheba)
A Woman Clothed with the Sun (Revelation 12)
