Our Lady of Mariapocs, part 7

The icon of Our Lady is finished.  While not completely accurate, she nevertheless shows her majestic beauty to the world. 

I enjoy all the fleur-de-lis in this icon.  These are the red flowers which Christ holds in His hands, and which also decorate the border, both in red and white.  Although  history has had many uses for the lily (in France it was used as a symbol for royalty, but also as a brand for prostitution, such as in the writings of Alexander Dumas; on the island of Mauritius it was a brand for slaves), the religious symbolism of the white lily, in particular, is that of Our Lady: purity, chastity and simplicity. 

Why is the lily a symbol of Our Lady?  If you stand the lily upright, it forms the shape of a chalice.  Our Lady’s womb was the most precious chalice the world has known.  But at the same time, then, the lily speaks of Christ’s death and resurrection for the salvation of mankind.  I believe this is why the lilies Christ holds are red, so as to indicate His bloody suffering, the same Blood of which is given to us in Eucharist.

This icon of our Lady weeps because a sword is piercing her heart.  She weeps not only for her Divine Son in His great suffering, but also for her other children, who suffer, and join their sufferings to Christ.  How blessed are the tears of our Mother.  Our Lady of Mariapocs, pray for us.

Red and white Fleur-de-lis decorating the border

Christ holding Fleur-de-lis