CATHOLIC SYMBOLS

I am going to copy from a book from 1937, entitled 'Could You Explain Catholic Practices?', by Rev. Charles J. Mullaly, S.J. He is explaining Catholicism in a very simple way; so simple that even a Protestant might be able to grasp. Anyway, I found this page which is explaining various Catholic symbols. Maybe we can answer questions if someone happens to ask. And, I thought it was interesting.


CATHOLIC SYMBOLS

'On all Sundays and holydays of obligation our Catholic churches are crowded. (Remember this is in 1937). We have often wondered how many of the large number of people entering and leaving the churches could explain the various symbols used in their decoration. In the design of a stained glass window one sees the head of a man, or a lion, an ox, or an eagle. On the altar there is the carved figure of a lamb or of a pelican, while on the vaulted ceiling or above the pulpit there may be the painted form of a dove. These and various other symbols catch the eye. Could you explain their meaning?

Symbols can be traced to the very earliest days of the Church. They were used either to foster devotion or to express some mystery of the Faith kept secret from the pagans. A much used emblem in the early Church was a fish.

It Greek letters, I-ch-th-u-s, are an abbreviation of the Greek words: "Iesous Christos, Theou Uios Soter", meaning "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour." The fish was thus a symbol of our Blessed Lord and, as it lives in water, it also typified the Sacrament of Baptism. The Church was variously represented by a ship, a town, or a veiled woman with arms lifted. Such familiar figures did not arouse the curiosity of the pagans or cause them to suspect that the symbols had a Christian meaning. Hence, it appeared natural to the Romans to find in a Christian funeral chamber a depicted banquet scene with fish and bread, for they themselves paid homage to their dead with banquets. They did not know that the fish and bread were to remind the Faithful of the spiritual repast of Holy Communion.

In Christian symbolism St. Matthew is represented by a human head, as his Gospel begins with the human ancestry of our Lord; St. Mark is indicated by the lion, or the dweller in the wilds of the desert where his Gospel starts with the story of St. John the Baptist. St. Luke is indicated by the ox, the symbol of sacrifice, because his Gospel opens with the account of the priest Zachary, in the temple. The eagle represents St. John, the Apostle, for his opening chapter carries us in a flight of Divine inspiration to Heaven itself.

In our Catholic churches the door of the tabernacle has it symbolism in the carved letters, "I.H.S.", an abbreviation of the Greek word 'Iesous', meaning Jesus; or in chalice with a host above it, entwined by a grapevine and wheat stalks, which remind the Faithful that in the Sacrifice of the Mass the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and that our Saviour dwells as a Prisoner of love behind the tabernacle door.

The figure of a pelican is sometimes used to represent Christ in the Eucharist, for legend says the pelican feeds its young with its own blood (when food is unavailable).

The dove is symbolical of the Holy Ghost, since at the baptism of Christ 'the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape as a dove upon Him.' The triangle, which is sometimes painted above the dove, represents the Three Divine Persons that are One and the same God.

The lamb typifies the 'Lamb of God', Christ our Saviour, Who was slain on Calvary to open for us the gates of Heaven.

There are other familiar symbols used in Catholic decorations;

the olive branch, representing peace among men and peace of conscience; the palm, martyrdom; the lily, purity of soul and perfect chastity; the rose, love and spiritual beauty. Faith is depicted by a cross, to remind us of our Faith in our crucified Redeemer;

Hope, by an anchor, upon which the mariner must depend to prevent his vessel from drifting with every current; and Charity, by a heart, to express our love for God and our neighbor.

The Greek letters, Alpha and Omega, which begin and end the Greek alphabet, denote that God is the beginning and the end of all things.

Saints are crowned with a halo to denote sanctity. Many of them may be identified by some special emblem.'


I hope you enjoy this posting, since it clears up some things, maybe things you hadn't even thought of. Until now, that is. Pay attention of your surroundings when in Church; you might learn something, and be able to explain it to others.