“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”– John 15:13
From the 2nd century through the Middle Ages a popular legend surrounded a simple bird – the pelican. It was said that, during times of famine, a mother pelican would wound herself with her own beak, so as to feed her starving offspring with her own blood.
Early Christians saw a parallel between this legend and the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, and with the Holy Eucharist as well. Thus, they began to include pelicans as symbols for Christ within their art and architecture. Countless cathedrals and churches, from medieval to contemporary, have stained glass windows, mosaics, or paintings that depict a mother pelican shedding her blood for her young.
We also find this scene referenced by Saint Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) in his Eucharistic hymn entitled Adoro te devote. In it he refers to Jesus as the Pie Pelicane, or the “Good Pelican”. Here is one verse translated from Latin into English:
Pelican of mercy, Jesus, Lord and God,
Cleanse me, wretched sinner, in Thy Precious Blood:
Blood where one drop for human-kind outpoured
Might from all transgression have the world restored.
Indeed, the image of the pelican captures the essence of charity. To give one’s very life for the sake of another is the epitome of love. And when it comes to being selfless, few people compare to moms. That is why it is very fitting to reflect upon the image of the pelican as we celebrate Mother’s Day.
I thank God for my mom and grandmothers. They have shown me Christ-like love over and over again throughout my life by the way they have cared for my family and me. Yet, I realize that I have been blessed, because not everyone receives the love of a good mother figure.
Many of the children in the CARITAS child sponsorship programs fall into this category. Not only do they lack proper resources or education, they are also starved for love. In many cases one or both of their parents are deceased. In this season of Easter, could God be calling you to be like the Pie Pelicane and become an instrument of His love?
Lord Jesus, Sweet Pelican and High Priest, sustain us with the life-giving sacrifice of your Precious Blood. Increase our love for our brothers and sisters in need. Amen. Alleluia!
