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THE ICON OF SAINT JOSEPH
A general introduction about Icons
Our Icon of Saint Joseph
Prayer before the Icon
In 2010 Saint Joseph’s Parish welcomed the icon of Saint Joseph into the
parish. Thanks to a bequest from a generous benefactor, the Studio of John
the Baptist in Auckland (www.sacredart.co.nz)
was commissioned by the Parish Council to write the icon.
The word icon is from the Greek word ikon, which means image. Icons
are a method of prayer. They are a guide and instructor in the spiritual
life. When we speak of icons we do not say an icon was ‘painted’ but
‘written’. The writing of an icon is itself a prayer because the writer,
who is called the iconographer, prays, fasts and meditates in preparation
to do this work. It is an intensive spiritual labour and the fruit of this
labour is the icon.
A general introduction about Icons
Some icons are unique and yet the style and composition is based upon
an ancient tradition.
Icons have no single light source instead they suggest a light that comes
from within. The light we see is meant to illumine whoever stands in
prayer before it. Icons can bring a calming influence drawing the person
into a blessed silence. Icons themselves are silent. There are no mouths
open and there are no physical images that imply sound.
The large eyes, small mouths and thin noses are a common feature and
represent the refining of the senses away from the materialistic vision of
the world to the spiritual world. We see no emotion in their faces but
rather the faces in icons suggest virtues such as purity, patience in
suffering, encouragement, forgiveness, compassion and love.
Consequently, the figures in icons tend to stare. In some icons the
characters stare at us or they stare at Christ (if Christ’s image is
present). Whoever is staring at Christ, or even pointing to Christ, is
saying something about the significance of Christ to us all. The icon
reveals a world of persons rather than things. Icons are relational, just
like the spiritual world.
There is a significance in the faces; for the faces are always front on or
in three-quarter views. (The only exception to this rule is Judas, whose
face it never easily seen.) Their eyes are the window of the soul and they
communicate something – a relationship of communion with us.
Icons subtly depict the communion of God, the Trinity. The triangular
shapes and symmetry of the characters suggest the Trinity. The thick necks
of the characters are a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit – the
breath of God, ruah (Heb.) Christ is present in the image of
the child Jesus and in his halo. Often the halo of Christ suggests three
parts – the Trinity.
Through the medium of the icon, heaven meets earth. This is evident in the
earthly materials that are used to depict a heavenly subject. The
animal world is represented in the brushes, which is sable and hog’s
hair, and in the egg which is used to bind the pigments. The vegetable
world provides the wood for the panel. The material world is
included in the remainder – the gold leaf, the powdered gesso (white
plaster) and the earth colours.
The symbolic radiance that is seen in the halos and gold leaf represents
God’s grace. Unfortunately, some of the knowledge around the symbolism of
colour is lost because there was a break in the early tradition of icon
writing. Even though one should not attach meaning to every shade, we know
that a red robe signifies humanity and a blue robe signifies divinity,
hinting at the spiritual state of the body beneath.
Our Icon of Saint Joseph
The icon of Saint Joseph highlights the coming together of heaven and
earth, the divine and the human.
The gold, which is gold leaf, is symbolic of the divine light. It is a
metallic surface which reflects and enriches any light that strikes it,
leaving the impression that the light comes from within the icon.
The Greek letters on the right hand side, “IC XC” are the Greek
monogram for Christ, Iesous Christos. You will find these Greek
letters on many icons where the image of Jesus Christ is present.
The name “Saint Joseph” is written in English for our benefit, but
traditionally it is written in Greek. The name of the icon is the very
last thing to be written (painted) on the icon.
The Christ-child’s halo includes the cross with the Greek letters meaning
“Who Am”. This is the name used for God in Exodus 3:14 “I am who I am”. We
see that Joseph has a halo to remind us that his life has been illumined
by Christ. The halos and the words are written in red, traditionally this
signifies the blood of humanity and of Christ.
Joseph does not embrace the child (like we often see in icons of Mary and
the Christ-child) but Joseph cradles the child in his arms, enfolding and
protecting him – as he can do for us. This was Joseph’s role as the foster
father of Jesus. Jesus sits in Joseph’s arms as if on a throne. He appears
to weigh no more than a feather. He sits on Joseph’s left side, the side
where the heart is. This indicates to us who the heart of the matter is –
Jesus Christ.
Like most images in icons both Saint Joseph and the child Jesus have thick
necks, which is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit – the breath of
God.
As he looks at us Jesus stretches out his hand in the ancient symbol of a
blessing. He is holding a white scroll, reminding us that we meet him in
his word, the Sacred Scriptures.
Both Christ and Saint Joseph are dressed in the tunics and robes of the
ancient Greek and Roman eras. Jesus’ tunic is white, symbolic of purity
and membership in the Christian Church. His outer robe is crimson and
gold. These are traditional colours to symbolise royalty. Joseph’s tunic
is red, signifying his humanity. The blue highlights his participation in
the divinity of God.
Joseph is holding a lily. There is an ancient legend about Joseph, Mary
and the lily. This legend is not recorded in the bible but there is a link
to our Sacred Scriptures. The legend states that Joseph was miraculously
singled out for Mary from a group of potential suitors because the staff
he was holding flowered into a lily. The scripture behind this is Isaiah
11:1: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall
grow out of his roots”. This scripture alludes to the House of David
because Jesse was the father of King David (Matthew 1:6). Jesus was
born into the House of David through Joseph - and not through Mary. (Matthew
1:16, 20. Luke 1:27)
Prayer before the Icon
It is not the viewer who judges the icon. Instead, the icon judges the
viewer. The internal transformation of the person who is praying before
the icon is the aim. Icons bring a calming peace to the one who prays.
The icon is an aid to prayer. Let it draw you into its silence – and let
Saint Joseph draw you to Christ. It is appropriate to reverence the
icon,
like we do the cross in the Good Friday Liturgy. As Catholics we adore God
and we reverence holy objects. We stand or kneel before the icon. We light
candles which are signs of our prayer and the light of Christ. In that
reverencing we allow our experience of life to come before God.
Let the icon’s deeper meaning for your life come to you. Let Christ and
Saint Joseph teach your heart at this moment.
What do the faces and the body language say to you today?
Christ is reaching out in blessing. What are you asking Christ to bless in
your life right now?
Where do you need the radiant love of God in your life at this time?
Pray these desires before the icon.
Sister Raylene Dwyer rsm
December 2010
Sources:
Jim Forest. Praying with Icons. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis
Books, 2008.
Linda Proud. Icons - A Sacred Art. Norwich: Jarrold Publishing,
2004.
www.sacredart.co.nz
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