THE PALM 145 



leaves spread wide and it shines as if it were of 

 gold. 



In the ' Immaculate Conception ' of the 

 Spanish school one of the attendant futti usually 

 carries a palm. This may be the palm of vic- 

 tory over sin and death, or, following another 

 authority, it may be a symbol of the Immaculate 

 Conception, since it bears fruit at the same 

 moment at which it flowers.' 



According to Dr Anselm Salzer, O.S.B., 

 ' The palm, when referring to Mary, is a figure 

 of her victory over the world and its temptations, 

 of her everlasting virtue, of her sovereignty 

 in heaven, of the protection that she offers to 

 mankind, of her triumphant motherhood and 

 of the beauty of her soul.' ^ 



' W. Menzel, Christliche Syfnbolik. 



* Die Sinnbilder und Beiivorte Martens in der deutschen 

 Literatur und lateinischen Hytnnenpoesie des Mittelalters. 



