The Hearts of the Holy Family
The Hearts of the Holy Family:
A traditional yet efficient depiction of the physical + spiritual hearts of Mother Mary, our Lord Jesus Christ, and Saint Joseph.
On the left, the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As prophesied by Simeon, [ Lk 2:35 ], Mary’s heart would be pierced by a sword. Not only would the pain of the heresy and falsehood spoken against her Son overtake her, but also the sorrowful pain of losing the gift of her only Son. The roses around her heart represent the purity and holiness that Mary was conceived & brought up with.
May we all be like Mary in our obedience to God, despite the pain we might have to endure. Let it only bring us closer to the heart of her Son.
In the middle, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. One that burns and bleeds for the love of His people. A pierced side, to assure that death had the last word. Little did they know.
Shown with the pressing crown of thorns, a symbolic mockery that is now used to display glory. That is the irony of the crucifixion. A brutal torture method, meant to demean and kill, now redemptive. The cross. The symbol that identifies His people. Sets them apart. Whether tattooed or around the neck, this once death sentence now proven to bring life.
Like our Lord, may our heart burn with passion for making known the accessibility to eternal life.
Lastly, Saint Joseph’s Most Chaste Heart. Depicted with lilies in front, these flowers symbolize the integrity he possessed. In addition to his strong nature as a man of virtue and work ethic, these flowers show the gentle side of Joseph. His openness to the Lord and the extent of his obedience. The lilies also represent the purity of Mary, his betrothed, and the way he cared for her. Due to his human nature, he was tempted to walk away. (Who wouldn’t be.)
However, God had ordained his path & made it clear that he was meant to be the earthly father of the Messiah, providing protection for the Son of God and the Mother of God’s people [ Jn 19:26 ].
Like St. Joseph, let us be open to the ways the Father’s plans might look different than our own.
O blood and water, which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You.
