Symbols

Medal

The medal represents - on the front -- Mary standing at the foot of the cross, with the inscription "He died for us" to remind the Sisters to offer themselves with Mary to Jesus.

On the reverse side the seven swords represent the seven sorrows of Mary which she endured during her lifetime. They have been taken from the Gospels, and form a chaplet of prayers which may be recited like the rosary at any time.

A booklet is available on request, setting out the incidents and reflecting on them while reciting seven Hail Marys. The feast in honour of the seven sorrows of Mary is held on the 15th September, and is observed by the Sisters as their special day.

Bone Carving

The Logo was designed as a symbol for the centenary of the founding of the congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion in Hiruharama/Jerusalem, 1892.

A logo must be simple, instantly recognisable, and easily reproduced in any medium. This logo was derived from the Sisters crest. To simplify the design, the passion flowers and fern fronds were replaced with unfolded fern fronds.

Crest

Two designs of the Crest and Motto were submitted to Mother Aubert in 1920, but she thought the M was too small. She wanted the cross to rise out of it and reach to the star or much closer to it. She also wanted more ferns than just two!

Nothing further was done until the 1940's when, as a novice, Therese Caldwell was asked to submit several ideas or sketches of a Crest, following the instructions given by Mother. She made nine small sketches, but nothing was done until 1955, when the translation of the Motto of the Congregation was studied. Father Maurice Mulcahy, SM translated Caritas et Sacrificio [Love in Sacrifice], as meaning "the love of God in Himself, and in others, exercised in the sacrifice of self, to the disregard of self".