Virtual Tour

St. Mary Delaware Virtual Tour : Jesus and the Saints

 

 

 

 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotion to the wounded and loving heart of Jesus. Jesus is depicted as revealing to us His heart. The heart of Jesus is pierced with a sword, wrapped in a crown of thorns, and ablaze with fire – all of which show his passionate suffering and powerful love. Such an image has aided many sinners throughout the centuries to contemplate a true desire for penance, confess their sins, and be grateful for the forgiveness and great love of the Lord.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua was a contemporary of St. Francis of Assisi, and eventually became a Franciscan friar. He holds the Christ Child in his arms, which reminds us of Anthony’s great love for the poor and vulnerable of the world. The thought of God becoming as defenseless and fragile as a tiny baby caused Anthony to want to serve the defenseless and needing of society. Anthony holds a white lily in his other hand – which shows him as a peace-maker and depicts his purity - connecting Christ as the one who brings true and lasting peace and sanctity. Anthony was a great teacher and excellent preacher. He was one of the Franciscan Order's first members to emphasize the importance of good education to teach orthodoxy and correct error.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist, a cousin of Jesus, is usually portrayed in Christian art with a walking stick, because he was a wandering preacher, who was preparing the way of the Lord. John has a lamb at his feet, which reminds us that John was the first to identify Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). John is also shown wearing a camel hair shirt, to signify his mission of preaching penance as a way to prepare to receive the Lord (Matthew 3:1-6).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick

St. Patrick wears the miter upon his head and holds a shepherd’s staff, which tell us that he was bishop (shepherd) of the Church. He holds a shamrock in his hands to remind us of his great love for the people of Ireland. Patrick was very instrumental in the conversion of Ireland in the 5th century. Patrick is stepping on a serpent. Legend has it that Patrick drove out all of the snakes in Ireland, which is another way of saying that he fought all his life against evil, and tried to make Ireland safe and secure for a young and blossoming Catholic faith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi, Italy, did much to bring reform to the Catholic faith in the 13th century. He founded the Franciscan Order. He holds a cross in his right hand – to show his love for the Cross of Christ as means to salvation. Notice his hands have the stigmata of Christ. Francis wanted to experience the suffering of Jesus, and so Christ gave him the gift of the stigmata. He holds a book in his left hand, it is the simple rules he left for his followers to help them on their road to Christ. A skull sits atop the bible. Francis, in his poem, “The Canticle of Brother Sun”, identifies “Sister Death” as a way to enter into eternal life, meaning we mustn’t be afraid of death. The three knots in his belt signify the three principal virtues and vows of the friar:  poverty, chastity and obedience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Anne - Mother of Mary

Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a human mother. The mother of Mary is Anne. Mary’s father is Joachim. Anne and Joachim were very holy parents. Even though Christ preserved his own mother, Mary, from the moment of her conception, Mary was still free to sin. We have always believed that part of Mary’s strength against temptation and sin rested in her upbringing by St. Anne and St. Joachim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Joseph - Husband of Mary

St. Joseph is the husband of Mary, and the adoptive father of Jesus Christ. He is often depicted as holding a lily, which is a symbol of Mary and her purity and identifies him as her husband. Joseph protected Mary and her purity, cared for her and loved her. Another symbol that often accompanies St. Joseph is a measure, which signifies that he was a carpenter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Peter the Apostle

St. Peter is always portrayed as carrying a key in one of his hands. The key reminds us that Peter was elected by Christ as the chief of the apostles and the foundation of God’s Church. Peter holds in his other hand the words of Christ, who gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary and Jesus

In Christian art, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is depicted holding Jesus in her arms. Mary forever points to her Son as our Lord and Savior. Through Mary, God took his flesh and entered into our humanity. Through Mary, we can draw closer to Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus - the Shepherd

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who lays His life down for His Sheep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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