THE WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIM ICON

On Palm Sunday in 2003, the Pope introduced a new element for WYD: from then on, the WYD Cross would be accompanied on its pilgrimage by the Icon of Our Lady , Salus Populi Romani.

“Today I also entrust to the delegation from Germany the Icon of Mary. From now on it will accompany the World Youth Days, together with the Cross. Behold, your Mother! It will be a sign of Mary’s motherly presence close to young people who are called, like the Apostle John, to welcome her into their lives.” (Angelus, 18th World Youth Day, 13 April 2003).

This icon , a copy of a venerated icon in Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, was present at the Vigil and Papal Mass of WYD 2000 in Tor Vergata in Rome.
Handover of the WYD Cross and Icon of Our Lady

Following the tradition established since the first international World Youth Day, the Handover of the Cross and Icon takes place on Palm Sunday in St Peter’s Square as part of the Palm Sunday Mass celebrated by His Holiness. The Cross is officially ‘handed over’ by youth of the last host city, to youth of the upcoming host city.

As for preceding WYDs, the Cross and Icon will undertake a pilgrimage throughout Oceania and Australia from early 2007 to July 2008, touching the lives of thousands of people as a sign of faith and hope.

You will be able to follow the progress of the WYD Cross and Icon on its journey after the Handover in Rome.

The Meaning of The WYD Icon

1. Mary’s Gaze: Mary’s gaze looks out to the people and invites them to centre their attention upon her divine son.

2. Calligraphic Text: the Latin calligraphy symbolically depicts the central figures of Mary and Jesus.

3. Symbolic Colours: the colours are used particularly to express different ideas. Gold represents the radiance of Heaven; red, the blood of martyrs (or humanity); blue is the colour of purity ( or, often, divinity), as is white.

4. Facial Features: The faces of saints have large, almond-shaped eyes, enlarged ears, long thin noses, and small mouths. Icon painters wanted to show that each of these human senses are not just biological, but instruments of holiness.

5. Jesus’ Gesture: Jesus’ right hand extends in a gesture of blessing.

6. Jesus’ Gaze: Jesus looks upwards, in Christ all things are elevated, and to his mother, protector and guide.

7. Luke-Images Legend: The original Salus Poluli Romani icon is, by legend, attributed to Saint Luke. The legend says that Saint Luke painted the image on the top of the table of the Holy Family, crafted by Jesus. Saint Luke listened to Mary tell of the life of her son as he painted, later recording the details in his Gospel.

8. Symbolic Items: The halos are symbols of holiness, the book the child Jesus holds in his left hand is the Book of the Gospels. Together Mary and the Child Jesus themselves make up a symbolic image of the Church. Mary’s hands and arms gently embrace Jesus with affection and as protector.

9. Composition: Icons are not intended to be like a photo. They use the simple idea that the most important figure should be the largest and most centrally placed. The figures tend to be flat and unnatural. The frontality of the figures gives fullest expression to their faces. The iconographer wants to show that beauty is not simply physical, but spiritual. True beauty, is captured in holiness.

10. The Icon’s Ancient History: This icon is a modern copy of an ancient Greek icon, allegedly brought to Rome in the 4th Century by St Helen. This type of Marian Icon is known as an ‘Hodegetria’ image, a word meaning, “Guide of the Way”.