Within the Walls of Sacred Heart Church 3900 Arthur Drive, Delta, British Columbia www.sacredheartparish.com Do you know the meaning of the Pelican carving behind the altar? An ancient legend tells that in time of famine, the mother pelican wounded herself, striking her breast with her beak to feed her young with her blood to prevent starvation. The pelican symbolizes Jesus our Redeemer who gave His life for our redemption and the atonement He made through His passion and death. Jesus continues to feed us with His body and blood in the holy Eucharist. Do you know the meaning of the baldacchino (structured canopy) over the altar? Canopies have been a symbol of honour for royalty throughout the centuries and are sometimes referred to as canopies of state. The baldaccino (canopy) in our church reminds us of the honour and authority of Jesus Christ, the true King. It is especially fitting that it is hung over the altar where Jesus becomes present in the Eucharist at every Mass. Sacramentals Signs and symbols that point us to Christ. Alpha and Omega A symbol taken from the first and last letters of the classical Greek alphabet witnessing to the divinity of Christ. Words spoken by Jesus of himself: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelations 1:8) IHS “Iesus (Jesus) Hominum Salvator” meaning (Jesus Saviour of Men). INRI an abbreviation for the Latin “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum” (Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews) posted on the cross by order of the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate. X-P The popular “chi-rho” symbol comes from the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, χριστος (Christos) – XPistos. INRI Holy Spirit Symbol Dove The dove is the most common symbol of the Holy Spirit. Many of these can be found in our church. In the Old Testament, it was a dove that signaled the end of the flood. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove. The head of the dove is often a round halo-like sphere, which represents holiness, or inlaid with three rays which indicates that the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, Seven rays or flames symbolize the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Narthex ceiling Beneath Tabernacle Behind Tabernacle Grapes, Wine and Wheat Wine was used by Jesus at the Last Supper to represent his Blood, the blood of the covenant, shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. Grains of wheat are ground into flour and made into bread; a perfect symbol for Jesus, the Bread of Life. Fish and Loaves were both part of Jesus’ Eucharistic miracles, and of Jesus’ Eucharistic meal with his disciples after the Resurrection. Green expresses hope and trust. It is used during Ordinary Time of the Church year to show that we are a people of faith and hope. White expresses purity, joy, and glory. It is used for celebrations of the joyful and glorious mysteries of the life of Jesus, feasts of Mary, and the saints who are not martyrs. It is also used during the Mass of the Resurrection (Easter). Gold expresses honour and praise. It is sometimes used in place of white. Violet expresses penance, sorrow, and/or waiting. Violet (or purple) is used during the seasons of Advent to remind us about the hope-filled wait for the coming of Jesus, and it is used during Lent as a sign of penance. Red expresses love. It is used on all feasts of the Lord’s passion (Holy Week) and of the Holy Cross. It is used for the feasts of the apostles and martyrs. It is also used for the feast of Pentecost and the feasts of the Holy Spirit. Rose expresses joy. It is used in place of purple/violet on the Third Sunday of Advent known as Gaudate Sunday and the Fourth Sunday of Lent known as Laetare Sunday. Both Gaudate and Laetare mean “Rejoice” in Latin. The rose colour is an encouraging reminder that Christmas and Easter are close at hand. The seasons of the liturgical year include Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter- each having a special theme and marked by distinct colours seen in the church and the vestments worn by the priest. This is to help “awaken us to the sense of sacred time… another visible way to make present the sacred mysteries we celebrate.” Liturgical Colours Eucharistic Symbols Christograms