“She’s here!”—Much-Anticipated Icon of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, a Gift from the Class of 2023, Has Arrived

When the Class of 2023 departed from Lander after their four years at Wyoming Catholic College, they left behind countless memories for the community to remember them by. But they also left behind the promise of a more concrete keepsake for their class gift: an icon of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, commissioned from British iconographer Martin Earle, a Catholic artist specializing in works for churches and the liturgy.

At the end of February, the icon made its much-anticipated arrival in town. President Kyle Washut and several representatives from the Class of 2023 helped unbox the carefully-packed image, before a number of students, faculty, and staff who had gathered in the upstairs of the Baldwin Building for the occasion. President Washut explained the image’s symbolism to the assembled crowd, noting that Earle had incorporated some distinctively Wyoming imagery into the painting, such as the Indian Paintbrush flowers at Our Lady’s feet and several local mountain silhouettes in the background. (Also worthy of particular mention, the incredible, hand-carved frame upon which the icon is written.)

“We’re very grateful to the Class of 2023 for this gift,” said President Washut. “There are surprisingly few sacred images of Our Lady under her title, Seat of Wisdom. Now that we have our own, our daily devotions and regular celebrations will be greatly enriched by this icon’s presence.”

This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Lent, known in the Byzantine tradition as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. As the juniors just studied in their theology class, it is a feast that commemorates the restoration of icons to public worship (after the iconoclast persecutions), recognizing in the icon the embodiment of the Church’s orthodoxy, its right teaching, and its call to worship. It was an especially fitting day to hold the formal blessing of the College’s patronal icon, overseen by our Byzantine chaplain, Father David Anderson.

“In Junior Theology class,” President Washut reflected, “I was just discussing with my students the salvific importance of icons in the theology of the Greek Fathers. For them, the icon is a sign of the radiating effects of the Incarnation continuing to effect the material world we live in here and now. By placing Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, in the context of the Wyoming wilderness, the icon is a visible expression of our motto: ‘Wisdom in God’s Country.’ It is a sign of our work at the College: gathering in the wilderness, apprenticing ourselves spiritually and studiously to Wisdom Incarnate, so that we, like Mary, can carry that wisdom to those we meet.”

In 2005, Bishop David Ricken consecrated the not-yet-realized Wyoming Catholic College to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, a title associated with the Feast of the Presentation (February 2nd). Since 2007, the College has observed her feast on the first available day after February 2nd. This year, that celebration included Father David Anderson leading the annual singing of the Akathist to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, followed by a banquet in her honor at the Lander Community Center. The next morning, Tuesday, the All-College Mass at Holy Rosary was celebrated in her honor, and the rest of the week was taken up with Senior Orations, all under her gentle patronage.

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, Pray for us!