Mater Ceremony Celebrates Woodlands’ Sophomores

Faculty, staff, parents, grandparents, classmates and friends joined together in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart Oct. 18 for the Mater Liturgy, which celebrates the drawing of the sophomore class more deeply into the family of the Sacred Heart.

In her opening presentation, sophomore Marisa Perino of Lake Forest described the ceremony this way, “It marks a transition from a time as children to our emergence as young women who recognize that receiving a Sacred Heart education is a blessing in our lives that we treasure. The medals of Mater Admirabilis we receive at this liturgy symbolize our transformation and call us to be resilient young women who base our lives on the values of the Sacred Heart.”

Sophomore Alyssa Silge of Lake Forest began relating the history behind the ceremony, “According to a Sacred Heart legend, a young nun, Pauline Perdrau, of the Trinita convent in Rome asked her Reverend Mother for permission to paint a portrait of Our Lady on the convent's corridor wall. She created a picture of Mary seated with a bible, a distaff, and a lily, with an open cloister in the background. However, when the fresco was finished, it was hideous and not fit to look at. The colors seemed harsh and jarring. All agreed that the painting should be hidden behind a tapestry.”

Classmate Molly Zisook of Lake Forest continued, “Two years later, on October 20, 1846, the Pope visited the convent. He noticed the tapestry, and asked to see the fresco. When the tapestry was removed, the pope exclaimed, "Mater Admirabilis!” which means "Mother Most Admirable". The harsh colors had mellowed, transforming the fresco into a magnificent portrait of Our Lady.” Mary is portrayed wearing a pink gown rather than the traditional blue associated with her. On this day, in Sacred Heart schools around the world, students, faculty and staff exchange greetings, “Happy Feast,” and are reminded of the importance of taking risks in creating beauty in the world.

All were then encouraged to view the statue of Mater that graces the vestibule of Woodlands Academy’s 400 wing. It came from the Sacred Heart School in St. Joseph, Mo., 52 years ago this fall. The Missouri school had received the Mater statue at the time of its opening, undoubtedly in the middle 1800s as a gift from St. Madeline Sophie Barat.

This year’s theme at Woodlands Academy, The Resilient Sacred Heart Woman, was woven into the fabric of the Mater Ceremony by the sophomore students who helped plan it. For example, the girls chose Gospel readings showing Mary to be a resilient woman. Each Gospel reading was followed by a student’s personal reflection on resilience in her own life’s experience.

In closing the program, Sophomore Class President Jocelyn Gonzalez of Zion, Ill., said, “Over the next three years, I look forward to witnessing our continuing transformation into strong, resilient Sacred Heart women.”

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Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women, and part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans 19 cities in the United States and 44 countries around the world.  A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy’s identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat’s desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve.  For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org