The mosaic, designed by Francisca Claro, took two years to complete.
Vatican City (June 26, 2021 10:26 AM, Gaudium Press) On Thursday afternoon, June 24, a mosaic of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, consisting of more than 15,000 pieces collected from all over Chile, was inaugurated and blessed in the Vatican Gardens.
Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, presided over the ceremony. In attendance, there were also the Capuchin Cardinal Celestino Aós Braco, Archbishop of Santiago de Chile, who blessed the sacred image, and the Salesian Bishop Alberto Ricardo Lorenzelli Rossi, his auxiliary.
Details of the mosaic
Obsidian Stones from Easter Island made the eyes of Our Lady; the sky has subtle traces of lapis lazuli. The right side of Mary’s mantle features a map of Chile depicting all regions of the national territory, including Antarctica.
With 1.40 meters long and 1.10 meters wide, the work by Francisca Claro, took two years to complete. The cement used was mixed with ashes from hundreds of messages written by the faithful with prayer intentions.
Symbology
There is a rich symbology present in the mosaic: signs of the country’s indigenous peoples, local flora and fauna images, and traditional objects of popular religiosity and Chilean folklore stand out.
Our Lady is portrayed with the Baby Jesus on her lap, both holding the Carmelite scapular and wearing a gold crown. The artist emphasizes that “Our Lady covers us and welcomes us with her mantle from which flows a river of grace. She is our Mother who unites us”. (EPC)
