The painting of Mater Admirabilis symbolizes our philosophy.
The original fresco of Mary, known as Mater Admirabilis, or Mother Most Admirable, was painted in Trinitá dei Monti (then Sacred Heart school), at the top of Rome's famous Spanish steps. It was painted in the middle of the 19th Century by a young French artist, Sister Pauline Perdreau. Mater was much-loved for its beautiful color, but especially because this image of Mary as a young woman symbolized the qualities St. Madeleine Sophie wanted Sacred Heart students to acquire.
From the first school started in Amiens, France, in 1801, Sacred Heart schools have spread all over the world. And wherever in the world you enter a Sacred Heart school, you will find a reproduction of this artwork illustrating the foundress's idea of education.
　The background shows early morning, symbolizing hope for the future. A young Mary is resting from her work, perhaps praying. In the basket at her side is an open book, representing her interest in her studies. The spindle illustrates the importance of serious work that would bring happiness to the loved ones.. In other words, a basic attitude toward life must include prayer, thought, labor and action.
The lily beside her expresses the virtue of purity and also adoptability. Just like Mary, who, trusting in God, nurtured life and treasured it, the picture known as Mater is a symbol of the dignity and mission of all who strive to respond to the love of God and of others.