May-June 2013
The Yes that Changed the World
It always amazes me that the Holy Spirit seeks to “renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:30) by coming to the simple and lowly, to the little, to the frightened, to the least. After these encounters their lives begin to flower, with nothing more than the power of Christ, between the Spirit of Light and the bride of the Spirit.
The Incarnate and the Crucified Word
The icon of the Child Logos within the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is filled with the messages of the incarnate Word of God and redemption, offering important insight into the mystery of Christ (logos is Greek, traditionally meaning "word, thought, principle, or speech").
Look at the Child’s form. His legs are crossed. One foot is extended over the other, as they would be later when attached to the cross. The iconographer is saying that this Child is the incarnate, crucified Word of redemption.
The Child’s tunic is green, a symbol of human nature. The red cincture that binds his waist symbolizes the blood Jesus shed for our redemption. The bronze color of the cloak the Child wears over his tunic represents the resurrection.
One gold sandal falls gently off his foot, illustrating his divinity falling into our humanity. We celebrate this mystery during the Preparation of the Gifts at each Mass when we pray, “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” —Br. Dan Korn, CSsR
From the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.