MIAMI SHORES � What started out as one family�s tribute to their mother has now become a source of blessing for families throughout the archdiocese.

�It was all the fruit of the Holy Spirit,� said Sharon Miller, who is marking her 25th year as bookkeeper at Mary Help of Christians Church in Parkland.

Her mother, Dolores Murphy, worked 17 years as bookkeeper at St. Helen Parish in Fort Lauderdale. She died on the feast of All Saints, Nov. 1, 2009.

Her children � three boys, two girls � wanted to �thank God for the gift of our mother�s life and love,� Miller said. �We knew the best way to do this was to create a masterpiece of his merciful love and the sacred treasury of our faith.�

The icon came together on a bare wall in Miller�s office. As she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament each day, an image would come to mind, and she would place a rendering of it on the wall. Then she would send that rendering to the iconographer, who copied it to create the final image.

�It began as something small, to be passed down the line of birth in our family, to keep our family united in faith, hope and love, as we are scattered all over the map,� said Miller. �But, as the Holy Spirit continued to lead us step by step, we came to know it was meant for all mankind � a gift for everyone.�

The icon is a striking, colorful, 34� by 40� depiction of Mary and the Child Jesus, with God the Father, the Holy Spirit and seraphim above, all encircled by a golden frame decorated with grape vines that recall Jesus� words: �I am the vine; you are the branches.� Fifty pearls, over 200 gemstones and several miraculous medals are embedded in the image.

The pearls, conveying innocence and purity, represent the 50 United States, and the hope that this country will turn back to God. The gems, including the 12 birthstones, represent �every saint in heaven, every soul in purgatory, every soul on earth, and (are) a sacred memorial for every aborted child.�

According to Miller, the icon took nine months to create � the same gestation period as a pregnancy, which is what the Church marks on the feast of the Annunciation, since nine months after March 25 is Dec. 25, the feast of the Lord�s birth.

Fittingly, Archbishop Thomas Wenski blessed the newly-created United Hearts Icon on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, during a Mass at St. Martha Church in Miami Shores.

Miller attended the Mass along with her sister, Mary Lou La Macchia of Milwaukee, her mother-in-law, Helen La Macchia, and friends and parishioners from both St. Andrew Church in Coral Springs and Mary Help of Christians.

According to Miller, this �is the first icon ever created in the U.S.� and it comes with a prophecy: �For every house that shall permit entrance to this �Heavenly Portrait of Love - A Gift Offered Unto Mankind,� with acts of honor and humble tribute, this house shall be covered with perpetual graces from my Immaculate Heart and the visible miraculous power of God's victory over evil.�

Miller, her sister and three brothers have printed up holy cards and flyers explaining the symbolism of the icon and the prayer to be said while contemplating it. They also set up a website, www.unitedheartsicon.com, where all the symbolism is explained and prints and note cards can be ordered.

�It is not about us, but about God only,� said Miller, stressing that her family is not looking for publicity. �In his merciful love, he accepted this gift of love from our unworthy hearts, and made one of his own for the whole world.

During his homily at the Mass, Archbishop Wenski expressed hope that �this beautiful representation of Mary and her child� will �stimulate prayer and contemplation � and thus in turn help open the hearts of those who gaze upon this image of Mary to God as well.�

The icon is scheduled to visit a number of parishes during Lent, among them Mary Help of Christians, St. Helen, St. Vincent in Margate, St. John the Baptist in Fort Lauderdale and St. Malachy in Tamarac. Visits to other parishes may be arranged by calling Miller at 954-323-8029.