In sacred art Mary is also depicted as part of Christ's family tree named after Jesse. The Jesse Tree refers to the lineage of David to Jesus, and with Mary (virga ex radice = branch or offshoot of the root of Jesse).

† The tree which is patterned after the tree of life in paradise and the cross as the definitive tree of life habitually shows a series of kings of the Solomonic line, or prophets and evangelists. The top of the tree is composed of Mary, Jesus and angels, sometimes with reference to the gifts of the Spirit. But variations are frequent. The artistic motif of the Jesse tree is known beginning in the 11th century and seems to have disappeared in the 16th century. During the time of bloom it found many and diversified ways of realization from illuminations to bronze doors (for example, St. Zeno, Verona). The example here presented is taken from a psalter of the 13th century, the so-called Ingeborg Psalter (1210) conserved today in Chantilly, Paris.

Families often participate in the Advent season in making a Jesse Tree. Keeping in mind that this tree is a visualization of a line of people's heritage, symbols can and were used to refer to various generations. But we can also use symbols to depict important events or references to the advent season or indeed, to the Bible stories and writings that lead up to the day Jesus came among us on earth

1. First, there is the Sun. Just as the natural sun gives light and life to all upon whom its rays fall so Christ, the Rising Dawn, dispels darkness and brings eternal life and light.
2. The Tablets of the Law: The Law of Moses as symbolized in the tablets which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai was fulfilled in Christ Who brings a law of love.
3. The Key of David: The key is the emblem of authority and power. Christ is the Key of the House of David Who opens to us the full meaning of the scriptural prophecies, and reopens for all mankind the gate of Heaven.
4. Bethlehem: Seven hundred years before Christ's birth, Micheal prophesied that the Savior would be born in the town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread," was appropriately designated as the birthplace of Christ, the Bread from Heaven.
5. The Root of Jesse: The flower which springs up from the root of Jesse is another figure of Christ. Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would be born from the root of Jesse, that He would sit upon the throne of David, and in Christ this prophecy is fulfilled.
6. The Star of David: The six-pointed star is the emblem of the Royal House of David even to this day. Christ Who is born of the House of David, can truly claim this emblem as His own. Jacob's Ladder: In a vision, Jacob saw a ladder reaching from heaven to earth, with angels descending and ascending. Christ, the Incarnate God, is the Ladder reuniting earth to heaven, mankind to God.
7. Jonas in the Whale. As Jonas remained in the whale three days, so Christ remained three days in the earth after His death.
8. The Temple: The Temple was God's dwelling place among the Jews of the Old Testament. His new Presence is within us.
9. The Crown and Scepter: The crown and scepter signify Christ's universal kingship. As we sing in the fifth O Antiphon, Christ is not only the King of the Jewish nation, but the "Desired One of all," the cornerstone which unites both Jew and Gentile.
10. The Sword of Judith: Judith of the Old Testament, who killed with a sword the leader of the Assyrian army, saved the Israelite nation. She prefigured Mary whose "Fiat" brought salvation to all mankind.
11. The Burning Bush: God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush, which burned but was not consumed, a symbol of the Virgin Birth of Christ.
12. Noah's Ark: A savior, Noah preserved the natural life of all within the Ark; Christ brings supernatural life to mankind and preserves that life within His Mystical Body the Church.
13. The Ark of the Covenant: We address Mary as the Ark of the Covenant because she, like the Ark of the Old Testament, contained the most precious Gift of the New Law.
14. The Altar of Holocaust: Sacrifice was offered daily on the Jewish altar of holocaust--a type of the Christian altar and the daily sacrifice of the Mass.
15. The Apple: "O Happy Fault, whereby we have merited so great a Redeemer."
16. The Paschal Lamb: At the yearly Pasch, the Jews sacrificed a new, unblemished lamb in thanksgiving for all that God had done for them and as an atonement offering for all their sins. This sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb was fulfilled in Christ, the "Lamb who takes away the sins of the world."
17. The Pillar of Fire: In the Old Testament, God appeared in a pillar of fire to lead His people through the desert, as Christ leads us through the desert of life.
18. Manna: The manna which the Jews ate in the desert for forty years was a symbol of Christ, the true Bread which descended from heaven.
     

Then, each week in Advent we can light another candle in our Advent Wreath.

For suggestions on how to use these symbols, consult the following books under Jesse and "O" Antiphons (or O Antiphons), available on Catholicism Online:

    "Family Advent Customs," Helen McLoughlin
    "Christmas to Candlemas in a Catholic Home," Helen McLoughlin
    "Cooking for Christ," Florence Berger
    "Homemade Christians," Mary Reed Newland
    "The Year and Our Children," Mary Reed Newland
    "Year of Our Lord in the Christian Home," Francis X. Weiser, S.J.
    "Around the Year with the Trapp Family," Maria Augusta Trapp.
       
   (†) Text from this point forward quoted from ETWN Family Document Section.

Also...

A list of some of the symbols you may use are:

1. Adam and Eve -- The Apple
2. Abraham -- Scroll, Image of the Covenant
3. Noah -- The Arc
4. Moses -- The Commandments
5. Isaac -- The Lamb
6. Jacob -- Stone
7. Judah -- Crown
8. Boaz -- Wedding Ring
9. Ruth -- Grains of Wheat or Sheaves of Wheat
10. Obed -- Root of Jesse
11. Jesse -- Shepherd's Crook
12. David -- Harp
13. Solomon -- Gold Pieces
14. Rehoboam -- Tablet Inscribed: "O Lord, I Am Not Worthy."
15. Jehoshaphat -- Tablet of Laws
16. Jehoram (Joram) -- Oil Lamp
17. Uzziah -- Tower
18. Jotham -- Gate
19. Hezekiah -- Candle
20. Manasseh -- Incense Urn
21. Amon -- Black sheep
22. Josiah -- Second Covenant, Scroll
23. Day 3. Matthan -- Divided Heart
24. Jacob -- Small piece of Wood
25. Joseph -- Miniature Walking Stick
26. Blessed Virgin Mary -- Tiny Statue or Picture of Mary
27. Christmas Day. Jesus -- Statue of Baby Jesus or a Chi Rho Symbol

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I apologize for not having made available "The Jesse Tree Story," earlier in the Advent season, but I forgot the file was already saved to this website, just not

linked to the Home page. /FSS - Dec19, 2022