Description
Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar and Eucharistic devotion
Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa (1904-1955) was a Portuguese laywoman from Balazar whose long illness became the setting for an intense life of prayer. She joined the Salesian Cooperators and offered spiritual support for the Church, especially for young people. Saint John Paul II beatified her in 2004. Vatican sources emphasize her devotion to the Eucharist and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Reading the portrait
The image presents Alexandrina in plain twentieth-century clothing rather than a religious habit. Her crossed hands rest over her heart, while her lifted gaze and halo express prayer, surrender, and hope centered on Christ. The inscription identifies her specifically as Blessed Alexandrina of Balazar, distinguishing this modern devotional portrait from an ancient icon type.
For prayer in illness and Eucharistic life
This icon is suited to Eucharistic adoration, prayer for people living with chronic illness, and support for caregivers and families accompanying suffering. Alexandrina's witness does not promise physical healing; it encourages dignity, perseverance, and trust within weakness. The image can be placed in a home prayer corner, chapel, retreat room, or offered to a Salesian community or Eucharistic minister.
Crafted on linden wood in Poland
Art Christiana makes this icon in Poland on a carefully prepared linden wood board. The surface receives two primer coats, hand-applied metal leaf and a directly transferred image. A certificate and hanging fixture are fitted on the reverse, and the icon arrives in a protective presentation box.