Icons By Nancy Ensor

Sponsored by the Evangelization Mission Team 

of  St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Parish

About The Sacred Heart of Jesus Icon

The original image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was painted by Pompeo Bartoni in the 1760s and was based on the visions and revelations given to St. Margaret Mary Alcoque in the 1600s. Jesus said to her, “My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for men, and for thee in particular that, being unable any longer to contain within itself the flames of its burning charity, it needs to spread them abroad by thy means, and manifest itself to them (mankind) in order to enrich them with the precious treasures which I discover to thee, and with contain graces of sanctification and salvation necessary to withdraw them from the abyss of perdition.” The original colors of the icon image showed Jesus in a blue outer robe signifying his divinity and an inner robe of red indicating his humanity and passion. In later years, artists sometimes use a red outer robe to show his passion and humanity while using an inner robe of white to indicate purity and victory over death.

Consecrating America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

As part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June 2026.  Learn more here and watch for special devotional opportunities at St. Peter the Apostle.

About Our Iconographer

Nancy, our parishioner, member of our Evangelization Mission Team, and Pastoral Council Chairperson has nearly 20 years’ experience as an Iconographer. She has conducted several Icon classes at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Parish. In spring 2025, she led a team of volunteers in writing Stations of the Cross for St. Peter at the Lake Center in McHenry. 

Nancy has made Iconography her apostolate and has dedicated many hours to promoting the understanding and appreciation of religious art on her YouTube Channel Icon Apprentice @iconapprentice8756. Tune-in  for beginning-to-end instruction on creating an Icon. 

Icons by Nancy Ensor are now available for purchase at our Religious Articles Shop (RAS) in our historic Church Oakland. Several completed Icons are on display for purchase and other selections are available on a commissioned basis.  Choose one from the collection or contact Nancy about icons of your favorite Saint. 

Prices and Sizes (inches)

• $75  for a 5x7 

• $125 for a 9x12

• $175 for an 11x14

Other sizes available on a request basis. Twenty percent of all sales will be donated to our Parish. Stop by our Religious Articles Shop 30 minutes before or after our  9 a.m. Mass at the Church in Oakland or call 301.334.2202, Monday - Thursday for other days throughout the week.