For centuries, he has been a symbol of grandeur and courage.
He represents the sacred. In Hellenic thought he was associated with Zeus, Apollo, Leto, and Artemis; he was understood to have harnessed the energy of the sun. In Christian tradition, he is a symbol of Christ, announcing the light that follows even the blackest night. He was present at one of the darkest moments in all of human history, when Christ was abandoned by his best friend; yet he sang out not to condemn, but rather to announce the redemptive grace offered by every new day.
In the late 14th century, he was made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer, who described him in the most regal of terms:
For crowing there was not his equal in all the land. His voice was merrier than the merry organ that plays in church, and his crowing from his resting place was more trustworthy than a clock. His comb was redder than fine coral and turreted like a castle wall, his bill was black and shone like a jet, and his legs and toes were like azure. His nails were whiter than the lily and his feathers were like burnished gold.
Since the medieval period he has stood atop churches and cathedrals, unfailingly heralding the dawn of a new day and all its promises. His unwavering devotion to his calling has earned him recognition as the symbol of entire nations, including Portugal, Japan, and France. For his bravery he became the mascot of New Jersey’s very own Rutgers University from 1925 until 1955, and he remains the beloved mascot of Coastal Carolina University even today. Because of his tenacity, he is the emblem of French sports teams in international competitions, as their national soccer jerseys attest.
Most recently, he made news as the miraculous survivor of the fire that ravaged the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Once sitting high atop the Cathedral’s spire in fitting tribute to both France and God, he and the sacred treasures he carried were presumed destroyed as the fire raged, until a day later when he was discovered in the rubble - bruised but intact, having survived, as it were, on a wing and a prayer. He was called the “‘spiritual lightning rod’ protecting all those who work for the praise of God, inside the Cathedral, icon of the heavenly Jerusalem.”
We have chosen him as the mascot for Our Lady of Mount Carmel School because he represents what all of us are called to be. As he is brave, so must we demonstrate the courage of our convictions, no matter the cost. As he is steady and reliable in his duties, so must we prove ourselves trustworthy to God and one another. As he is vigilant, patient, and hopeful as he awaits the rising sun, so must we be vigilant, patient, and hopeful as we await the rising Son. As he respects and conforms to the rhythms of Nature and Nature’s God, so must we be obedient to God’s ways. And as he awakens the dawn of each new day, so must we be a light to the nations.
He is fun, he is colorful, he is unique, and our students will find joy rallying to the sound of his name. He is the best of us, and it is an honor to aspire to all that he represents.
