In high school, symbolism was this thing that my teachers droned on about, a thing I was tired of hearing, and even more tired of writing about. But I get it now. Symbols are powerful.
When I was designing my logo with the wonderful Gina @somedaysaintsdesigns, I wanted it jam packed with symbols. In it you’ll find:
*AGAPE* Of course. It is in my name. The Greek word for unconditional love, I knew Agape needed a key place in the logo.
*CHI RHO* Also known as the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek, and you can see them in the middle A and the P in ‘agape’
*ROSES* These hold many meanings for me. They are a nod to all of the following: Saint Rose (my confirmation saint), Saint Therese (my heavenly bestie), Immaculate Heart of Mary (the name of my home parish and one of my favorite titles for Our Lady)
*FLAMES* Together with the heart and the roses, the flames are a visual reminder of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The flames also remind us of the Holy Spirit, setting our hearts on fire for the Lord. So much of what I strive for as a business is wrapped up in that logo: love for Jesus and Mary, and a perpetual reminder that we are all worthy of His unconditional love.
What does “Agape” mean anyway?
Agape is an unmerited, undeserved, freely given love that washes over all of us, whether we are are aware of it or not. Agape is one of the Greek words for defining love, the others being eros (erotic love) and philia (brotherly or familial love). Something certainly gets lost in translation with agape and I find that no English word or words will do to explain agape. Agape is unconditional, unending, all encompassing, beautiful, radiant, majestic love. I’ve always thought that a word meant more when it was capitalized and so it fits that the love God pours out on us should be capitalized, hence the name of the blog (and why all of the blog titles have the last word capitalized, to match the name of the blog). Agape is the love that we receive from God, whether we want it or not. If we accept it, it fills our hearts and changes our lives.
You are worthy of the love of God.
You are worthy of unconditional, never failing, self-sacrificing, active love.
You are worthy of intentional love.
You are worthy of the love of Jesus, poured out on the cross, in the sacrifice of the Mass.
You are worthy of selfless love.
You are worthy of a love feast – I love this definition of agape, it just makes me smile. I think of a huge banquet of the finest foods set out before me (and somehow in this scene I imagine, I’m also blessed with an infinitely large stomach, though I don’t ever get sick from over-eating, nor do I put on weight). You are worthy of a feast of love. What an awesome image.
You are worthy of Agape.
