Within the Walls ofSacred 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.

SacramentalsSigns 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 SymbolDove 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

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1. Holy WaterIn the Catechism it describes water as “so humble and wonderful a creature... the source of life and fruitfulness... ’overshadowed’ by the Spirit of God”. In our church we first encounter it as we walk through the doors in the Holy Water Font, where we dip our fingers and make the sign of the cross; both a simple profession of faith in the Holy Trinity and a reminder that we have been reborn and washed clean of sin in Baptism.

2. AmboIn our church, the Word of God in the scriptures is spoken from the ambo. It is not considered a pulpit or lectern. Ambo comes from a Greek word (ambon) meaning ‘elevation’ and symbolizes Jesus speaking from a mountain proclaiming the Good News, as he did in the sermon on the mount. The ambo helps us remember the significance of the message of the gospel and the importance of it being heard and received. Our ambo is made of beautifully carved wood.

3. Tabernacle and Sanctuary LampA repository (resting place) for the Blessed Sacrament (consecrated eucharistic hosts). The word itself comes from the Latin for tent, or dwelling place. In John 1:14 we read “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” The Greek text of the Gospel tells us that the Divine Word “tabernacled” among us. Literally, He pitched his tent here.

4. ConfessionalA sacred space where Jesus lovingly forgives each repentant person through the ministry of the priest. This confessional is to the right of the tabernacle. Other confessionals used in our parish are located in the monastery chapel. There are two options for the penitent (person seeking forgiveness). There is a kneeler with a covered screen for those who would like to remain anonymous and there is a chair across from the priest for those who prefer face to face Confession.

5. Paschal CandleThis large candle is symbolic of Christ the Risen Saviour, Light of the World. Blessed on Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil it is traditionally made of beeswax which represents “the sinless Christ formed in the womb of His Mother. The wick signifies his humanity, the flame his Divine Nature, both soul and body.” Five grains of incense are pressed into the candle in the form of a cross as a symbol of his five wounds, as well as the aromatic spices used to prepare his Sacred Body for burial.

6. AltarThe altar is the physical and spiritual centre of the church. As one writer comments, “all other elements (including the ambo, baptismal font, and tabernacle) derive their meaning and significance from the altar.” Traditionally made of stone such as marble, or of wood as in our church, the Catechism describes it as both “altar of the sacrifice and table of the Lord...symbol of Christ himself, present in the midst of the assembly of the faithful.”

7. Sacred SpacesWe enter our church into a space called the Narthex (vestibule or lobby). The central part or main body of the church is called the Nave where the congregation sits. The Chancel or Sanctuary is the sacred space, elevated from the nave, where the Word of God is proclaimed at the ambo and the Body of Christ is consecrated at the altar. The Sacristy is the room off the back of the nave where the priests and attendants vest and prepare before the Mass.