Key to reading the Holy Fiat + Family Icon Written by the Holy Spirit with the hand of Fr. JAmes M. Perkl, D. Min.
The Hand of our Heavenly Father, represented in the upper right hand corner of the icon, calls to mind the image of The Creation of Adam found in the Sistine Chapel.
The Holy Dove represents The Holy Spirit.
St. Joseph Head of the Holy Family and Protector of Christ.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church: in celebration of her feast, the day following Pentecost.
Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, Son of Mary.
The Sacred Chalice containing the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
Jesus' wounded Hand is raised in blessing, holding the Host over His Sacred Heart. The drop of blood falling into the Sacred Chalice may be seen as the Viaticum Saint John Paul I l received on the Eve of Divine Mercy, a Feast and Devotion he established for the benefit of all.
The hint of the Star of David may be found in the fold of St. Joseph's garment draped over his shoulder next to Jesus' halo.
The flowering staff of Sta. Joseph represents his being chosen by God to serve as the foster father of Jesus. The two leaves also represent the Old and New Testaments.
The Glorified Cross, with 7 Jewels, represent the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the 7 Sacraments of our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The lines in St. Joseph's halo represent the 12 Apostles.
Mary's halo represents her being the Mother of God and the Vine within represents Jesus who is the True Living Vine.
The 8 Shells in Jesus' halo represent the 7 days of the week and the 8th Day that is our Eternal Life with God. The Sacrament of Baptism, also represented by the Shell, marks the beginning of our lifelong pilgrimage to Heaven. The symbol of the Shell is also associated with the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Each Shell has 12 lines, representing the 12 Apostles. The Apostles fulfill their mission by leading all to Jesus who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. From Baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we are sent by Jesus to evangelize all peoples to the North, South, East and West. This is also indicated by the cross in Jesus' halo.
Jesus' halo rests over the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The four Mysteries of the Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous) may be seen represented in the 4 quadrants of Jesus' halo. Praying the Rosary with St. Teresa of Calcutta, we may remember her prayer,
"Mary, give me your Heart so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."
The blue of Mary's garment may be seen as both the sky and the sea.
The brown of Joseph's garment may be seen as the earth or the
entirety of the material creation. Jesus is represented at the Heart of
God's Creation, the Redeemer of all, who with the Father, desires to Sanctify all.
The Icon as a whole seeks to give all glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. The unity of the Holy Family is seen in their loving embrace of God's Will, represented in t.he Chalice.
In the bowed heads of our Mother Mary and St. Joseph, we see their humble "Yes" to God and their willing participation in seeing that God's Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
The Chalice that is being offered in the Icon and at Mass, is our invitation to join the Holy Family in saying "Yes" to God's Will. With our "Yes," (Fiat) we move from being children of Adam and Eve, to being living members of Jesus' Holy Family. Through God's amazing grace we are made free in faith, hope and love to live our New Sacramental Way of Life in the Spirit.
The Holy Dove represents The Holy Spirit.
St. Joseph Head of the Holy Family and Protector of Christ.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church: in celebration of her feast, the day following Pentecost.
Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, Son of Mary.
The Sacred Chalice containing the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
Jesus' wounded Hand is raised in blessing, holding the Host over His Sacred Heart. The drop of blood falling into the Sacred Chalice may be seen as the Viaticum Saint John Paul I l received on the Eve of Divine Mercy, a Feast and Devotion he established for the benefit of all.
The hint of the Star of David may be found in the fold of St. Joseph's garment draped over his shoulder next to Jesus' halo.
The flowering staff of Sta. Joseph represents his being chosen by God to serve as the foster father of Jesus. The two leaves also represent the Old and New Testaments.
The Glorified Cross, with 7 Jewels, represent the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the 7 Sacraments of our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The lines in St. Joseph's halo represent the 12 Apostles.
Mary's halo represents her being the Mother of God and the Vine within represents Jesus who is the True Living Vine.
The 8 Shells in Jesus' halo represent the 7 days of the week and the 8th Day that is our Eternal Life with God. The Sacrament of Baptism, also represented by the Shell, marks the beginning of our lifelong pilgrimage to Heaven. The symbol of the Shell is also associated with the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Each Shell has 12 lines, representing the 12 Apostles. The Apostles fulfill their mission by leading all to Jesus who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. From Baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we are sent by Jesus to evangelize all peoples to the North, South, East and West. This is also indicated by the cross in Jesus' halo.
Jesus' halo rests over the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The four Mysteries of the Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous) may be seen represented in the 4 quadrants of Jesus' halo. Praying the Rosary with St. Teresa of Calcutta, we may remember her prayer,
"Mary, give me your Heart so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."
The blue of Mary's garment may be seen as both the sky and the sea.
The brown of Joseph's garment may be seen as the earth or the
entirety of the material creation. Jesus is represented at the Heart of
God's Creation, the Redeemer of all, who with the Father, desires to Sanctify all.
The Icon as a whole seeks to give all glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. The unity of the Holy Family is seen in their loving embrace of God's Will, represented in t.he Chalice.
In the bowed heads of our Mother Mary and St. Joseph, we see their humble "Yes" to God and their willing participation in seeing that God's Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
The Chalice that is being offered in the Icon and at Mass, is our invitation to join the Holy Family in saying "Yes" to God's Will. With our "Yes," (Fiat) we move from being children of Adam and Eve, to being living members of Jesus' Holy Family. Through God's amazing grace we are made free in faith, hope and love to live our New Sacramental Way of Life in the Spirit.