193 NOTE ON SACRED SYMBOLS OCCURRING IN IRELAND. Page 81, ante. We are indebted to Mr. Daniel Parsons for the following note on the ex- planation given in the Gentleman's Magazine in 1831, cited in this Journal (see p. 81, ante) in reference to the emblems of a heart pierced with seven swords, and a ruse, occurring on an ancient grave-slab in Ireland. Mr. Parsons remarks that the former is incorrectly described, as " signifying the seven wounds of Christ," and that the emblem is the heart of the Blessed Virgin. The sorrows or dolours of the Virgin, as venerated by the Roman Catholic Church, are seven : — 1. At the Presentation of Our Lord, when Simeon said, "Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul," Luke ii., 35. 2. At the Slaughter of the Innocents. 3. At losing Our Lord for three days. Luke ii., 46. 4. At seeing him condemned, bound, scourged, and sinking under the cross. 5. At seeing him crucified. 6. At seeing his side pierced by the spear. 7. At receiving his body in her arms after the descent from the cross. At each of these times in the history of the life on earth of the Son of God, the Church recognises the fulfilment of Simeon's prophecy. Accordingly, on Friday next before Good Friday, is appointed the " Missa Septem dolorum B. M. V.," the sequence in which, the hynm commencdng " Stabat Mater dolorosa," contains, it will be remembered, an allusion to the words of Simeon. On the third Sunday of September is appointed the " Festnm Septem dolorum B. M. V,," and at this period may be seen in Roman Catholic churches an image of the Virgin pierced with seven swords. The rose, among the emblems on the L-ish memorial before mentioned, is also allusive to the Virgin ; it may suffice to mention, that one of the titles applied to her in the Litany of Loretto, is " Rosa mystica." It was obviously an error in the description communicated to Mr. Urban, as we believe, by an able antiquary still resident at Cork, to make mention of the seven wounds of our Lord, amongst the curious symbols, in some instances so singularly introduced in heraldic fashion on an escutcheon, and described as " the arms that longcth to the Passion." The wounds of Our Lord, it is well known, are five, those inflicted by the crown of thorns or by the scourges being never symbolised as one separate wound. In reference to the symbol of the heart, it may deserve mention, that upon the ancient clog-almanacs, the Feasts of the Virgin are designated by that emblem. It is found, probably in allusion to the Virgin, on decoi*ative tiles at Worcester, Malvern, and other places, and in one instance, the heart is charged also with a flower, possibly intended as a rose. At Mal- vern the heart pierced by nails may be seen amongst the sculptured orna- ments of the groined porch. A more close attention to these details would doubtless often give a clue to the import of certain architectural and other decorations. Mr. Parsons may, we hope, aid us in the explanation of the heart pierced with six wounds, occurring on a Sepulchral Brass at tSt. Albans.
