The Woodlands Academy community was joined by parents and other guests – remotely for the most part this year due to COVID-19 protocols – on Oct. 20 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, Lucy Saucedo ‘23 described the ceremony this way: “It marks a transition from 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 we will receive at this liturgy symbolize our transformation and call us to be resilient, innovative young women who base our lives on the values of the Sacred Heart.”

The next speaker, Maddie Nekvinda ‘23, began relating the story 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.”

Delia Hernandez ‘23 continued, “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. They debated on how to proceed and it was decided that a tapestry should be hung in front of the picture of Mary.”

Maddie then returned to the podium to conclude the story, “Two years later, on    Oct. 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. A statue of Mater graces the vestibule of Woodlands Academy’s 400 wing. Its history in this country can be traced to Society of the Sacred Heart founder St. Madeline Sophie Barat.

“The statue was sent to the United States from France in 1853 [as a gift from Barat] to our school in St. Joseph, Missouri. When that Sacred Heart School closed, the statue was sent here to Woodlands Academy in 1960 for the opening of this building in 1961,” Head of School Meg Steele said. “Mater is special to Woodlands also, in that Mater is the patroness of Woodlands and in the Sacred Heart tradition, all schools are dedicated to a holy person. Because Mater is so special to Woodlands we chose the Feast of Mater Admirabilis to bestow special recognition on our sophomores.”

The ceremony also featured some musical reflections from members of the sophomore class. Caroline Elliott performed a cello solo, “The Queen Stands at Your Right Hand;” Zoe Fortin sang “Ave Maria;” Sophia Gamel performed a bass clarinet solo, “Hail! Holy Queen;” and Clara Bartusiak sang “Salve Regina Chant.”