The Loose Rope of Freedom: Finding True Independence at the Hand of God with Ex Voto

The only way to detach is to attach.

The Santuario di Montenero, located just outside Livorno, Italy, is famous for its vast collection of “ex voto” — devotional offerings, including artworks, made to God in response to a miracle. One of them is an icon, Madonna di Montenero, depicting Mary and Jesus with a bird perched on Mary’s hand.

If you zoom in, you will see that the bird’s legs are l…