Mosaics

Small Round Symbols

1 THE LOAVES AND FISH - is a symbol of the Blessed Eucharist. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, anticipated the miraculous changing of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ

2 SUNBURST WITH JEWISH LETTERING - is a symbol of the first Person of the Blessed
Trinity, the translation of the Hebrew lettering is - “THE ALMIGHTY”.

3 THE MR AND STAR - MR is the monogram of our Blessed Lady. The Five letters of Maria are woven together to produce the Monogram. The Star is the symbol of Mary which originates from the Hebrew word Mariam - meaning Star.

4 ST LUKE - The ox represents St. Luke because in the power of his gospels he gives a very full account of the Sacrificial Death of Our Lord.

5 ST. MATTHEW - is shown as the Winged Man (not an angel) because in his gospels he lays stress upon the Incarnation of the Son of God.

6 THE HOLY SHROUD - of Turin, portrays the face of Christ imprinted on the shroud. During his journey to Calvary, St. Veronica wiped the face of Jesus with this shroud.

7 THE TIARA AND KEYS - are a symbol of the Papacy. The Tiara is the official Papal crown and the Keys signify the power given to St. Peter and his successors

8 THE DOVE - is the oldest and best symbol of the Holy Spirit. He
appeared in this form many times, one such occasion was the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan

9 THE CLUSTER OF GRAPES - is a symbol of the Blessed Eucharist, from which wine is produced and changed into the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ

10 THE CROSS AND WINDING ROBE - has been a symbol for many centuries, identifying the descent of Christ from the Cross

11 THE LAMB OF GOD - represents Jesus Christ, who offered His life for the salvation of mankind, on the Altar of the Cross. The Staff is a symbol of His victory over sin.

12 THE ANCHOR AND ALPHA - OMEGA - the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet are Alpha and Omega - this represents Christ as the beginning and end of all things. The Anchor is the symbol of our hope in Christ.

13 X P - this Chi - Rho symbol is the abbreviation of the word Christ, which in Greek is XPITOC. The first two letters X P, form this symbol.

14 THE COINS AND BAG - is the symbol of the betrayal of Jesus. 30 pieces of silver was the price paid to Judas, by the high priests for his betrayal of Jesus.

15 THE THURIBLE OF SMOKING INCENSE - symbolizes prayer which occupies so much of our liturgy. The ascent of the incense symbolizes our prayers rising to God.

16 THE BLESSED TRINITY - is shown with the two fingers and thumb extended, and the two closed fingers represent the two fold nature of God the Son. The triangle again, is symbolic of the Blessed Trinity or Three Divine Persons in one God.

17 I H S - is the symbol of the word “Jesus” in abbreviation, taken from the Greek word - IHCOYC. The first three letters IHC were later changed to IHS.

18 THE PELICAN PIERCING HER BREAST - as she feeds her young with her own blood, dies so that they may live, signifies Christ’s death upon the Cross so that we may live free of sin.

19 THE ANCHOR AND FISH - the crossed anchor is a symbol of Jesus, our hope. The fish also represents Christ, since the word ”fish” in Greek is comprised of the first letters of the Greek words, when translated, mean “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour”.

20 THE HARP - David is often represented by the harp. David was the great penitent of the Old Testament who was the Author of the Psalms. The Psalms play an important part in the Liturgy of the Church.

21 THE BLESSED EUCHARIST - is portrayed by the Jar of Wine and Loaves of Bread and the Stone Altar represents The Last Supper, where Christ instituted the Blessed Sacrament.

22 THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB - The typical sacrifice of the Old Testament symbolizes Christ the Lamb, who is the sacrifice of the New Testament - Calvary - The Mass.

23 THE MYSTIC ROSE - represents Our Blessed Lady, whose beauty and perfection of Body and Soul are compared to the texture and beauty of a rose.

24 THE LION - with the open book is a symbol of St. Mark. The Lion represents St. John the Baptist whom St. Mark described as "The Voice of one crying in the Wilderness" in His gospel and illustrated with the Open Book.

25 ST. JOHN - the apostle of love, is usually portrayed as an Eagle. The Eagle also represents Christ’s love for us, which is often mentioned in the Gospel of St. John.

26 THE PIERCED HEART - is the symbol of Our Lady of Sorrows. It reminds us of the prophecy of the aged Simeon when he said to Mary at the Presentation “A Sword Shall Pierce Thine Own Soul Also.”

27 THE SCROLL - with the Latin inscription “PŒNITEN TIAM AGITE” meaning “DO PENANCE” is the symbol of St. John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Christ. “DO PENANCE” was the message St. John preached to the Jewish people

28 THE MADONNA LILY - is a symbol of Mary’s virginity and purity and hence of the Virgin Birth, reminding us that Christ was conceived sinless of a spotless Virgin

Seven Sorrows of Mary

29 FIRST SORROW: PROPHECY OF SIMEON - Shows the Infant Jesus with Mary and St. Joseph in the temple with Simeon the Prophet, who reveals to Mary the many sorrowful events to take place in her life

30 SECOND SORROW: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT - Shows the Infant Jesus with St. Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt on a donkey to escape the forces of King Herod taking the life of Jesus.

31 THIRD SORROW: JESUS IS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE - shows Mary finding Jesus preaching to the doctors in the temple at age 12. He had been missing for three days and worried Mary considerably, as any mother would be anxious to find her son who is lost.

32 THE DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH - is not an official sorrow it replaces the vacancy left by the Sixth Sorrow which appears on the dome over the main altar. However, this panel sufficiently describes a sorrow, which shows Jesus and Mary comforting St. Joseph during the last moments of his life.

33 FOURTH SORROW: MEETING JESUS ON THE WAY TO CALVARY - this sorrow is comprised of several sorrowful events, but the one described is concerned with the time Mary came face to face with Jesus as He stumbled beneath the weight of the cross and revealed to her, the wounds that had been inflicted upon His body prior to meeting her

34 FIFTH SORROW: THE DEATH OF CHRIST - shows Mary with the disciple John whom Jesus loved, standing beneath Christ her Divine Son, dead on the cross. This sorrow is reserved for the overwhelming grief Mary endured at the actual death of Christ.

35 SIXTH SORROW: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS - The Mural shows Our Lady with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalen, St. John the disciple and a friend removing the Body of Christ from the Cross

36 SEVENTH SORROW: THE BURIAL OF CHRIST - shows Our Lady with John and Mary Magdelan laying the body of Christ in the tomb. The thoughts of Her Son's life was to remain in her mind until the end of her earthly life.

Jesus's Life

37 THE NATIVITY - shows the Baby Jesus in a crib with Mary and Joseph by His side and describes the story of the birth of Jesus in a cave located on the outskirts of the town of Bethlehem.

38 JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN - shows Jesus in the Jordan being baptized by St. John the Baptist and describes the story of how Jesus had conformed to the law of the times when all people were baptized, as if He had been a sinner. It indicates also, how He conformed to the Divine will of His Father

39 JESUS HEALS THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH - shows Jesus, and a disciple standing over the blind man at the entrance of a temple, and describes the story of one of the many miracles performed by Jesus during the 33 years of His life on earth and indicated the manifestation of His Divine Power.

40 THE TRANSFIGURATION - shows Christ, with three of His disciples Peter, James and John on top of Mount Thabor, where Jesus in heavenly brilliance was transfigured before them, and they saw with Him, Moses and Elias who discussed the sad days of His life to come in Jerusalem

41 THE LAST SUPPER - shows Christ at the table with His disciples for their last Feast together and describes the story of the institution of the Holy Eucharist - Jesus took the bread and wine and changed them into His Body and Blood and gave to His apostles their First Holy Communion. The same honor is bestowed upon us today, in the celebration of the Holy Mass, at Communion.

42 AGONY IN THE GARDEN - shows Jesus praying in the garden of Geshsemane, with the sleeping figures of Peter, James and John nearby. The story describes His anguish, at those moments just before His betrayal by Judas, one of His Chosen Twelve

43 SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR - shows Jesus bound to a column and being whipped by two Roman soldiers. The story describes the ultimate punishment Christ received prior to His journey to Calvary and how He withstood this punnishment, in order that He should complete the divine wish of His Father, to die on the cross for the sins of mankind.