Mosaics

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

FIRST SORROW: PROPHECY OF SIMEON	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
SECOND SORROW: THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT	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
THIRD SORROW: JESUS IS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE	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
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
FIFTH SORROW: THE DEATH OF CHRIST	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
SIXTH SORROW: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS	Our Lady with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Mary Magdalen, St. John the disciple and a friend removing the Body of Christ from the Cross
SEVENTH SORROW: THE BURIAL OF CHRIST	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
THE DEATH OF ST. JOSEPH	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

Jesus's Life

THE NATIVITY	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
JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN	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
JESUS HEALS THE MAN BLIND FROM BIRTH	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
THE TRANSFIGURATION	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
THE LAST SUPPER	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
AGONY IN THE GARDEN	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
SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR	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

THE LOAVES AND FISH	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
SUNBURST WITH JEWISH LETTERING	A symbol of the first Person of the Blessed Trinity, the translation of the Hebrew lettering is - “THE ALMIGHTY”
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
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
ST. MATTHEW	Shown as the Winged Man (not an angel) because in his gospels he lays stress upon the Incarnation of the Son of God
THE HOLY SHROUD	The 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
THE TIARA AND KEYS	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
THE DOVE	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
THE CLUSTER OF GRAPES	A symbol of the Blessed Eucharist, from which wine is produced and changed into the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ
THE CROSS AND WINDING ROBE	This has been a symbol for many centuries, identifying the descent of Christ from the Cross
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
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
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
THE COINS AND BAG	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
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
THE BLESSED TRINITY	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
I H S	The symbol of the word “Jesus” in abbreviation, taken from the Greek word - IHCOYC. The first three letters IHC were later changed to IHS
THE PELICAN PIERCING HER BREAST	As she feeds her young with her own blood and dies so that they may live, the pelican signifies Christ’s death upon the Cross so that we may live free of sin
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”
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
THE BLESSED EUCHARIST	The Jar of Wine and Loaves of Bread and the Stone Altar represents The Last Supper, where Christ instituted the Blessed Sacrament
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
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
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
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
THE PIERCED HEART	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”
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
THE MADONNA LILY	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