Mater Castissima
Mother Most Chaste

To highlight Mary's chastity, her effigy is surrounded by two of the classical symbols of Our Lady's virginity, namely: 

• Hortus conclusus
  (enclosed garden)
• Fons signatus
  (sealed fountain)

Both symbols appear in the Song of Songs, "You are. . .my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed." (Canticle 4, 12).

The typical half-image of Mother and child form the crown of a tree which bears simultaneously, flowers and fruit.  They are symbols of Mary's role as simultaneously virgin (flower) and mother (fruit).

"What a beautiful and chaste creature (generation)" (Wisdom 4).

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