Biblical art in Catholic churches
Towards the end of the book of Daniel is a dramatic tale about how the prophet saved an innocent woman named Susanna from the death penalty. It’s a story about attempted rape, the abuse of power and the right to a fair trial. It’s set in Babylon, where the Jews where living in exile. It … Continue reading The Trial of Susanna (Daniel 13:1-64)
After the Fall of Adam and Eve, Genesis says that God spoke to each of those involved (the snake, the woman and the man) about the consequences of their sin. While explaining the punishment they would each receive, he also provided reassurance to Adam and Eve that all was not lost. God said to the … Continue reading The First Gospel (Genesis 3:14-19)
The gospels say that after his baptism, the Holy Spirit led Christ into the desert for a spiritual retreat (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). Although there were wild animals in the desert, the angels looked after him. After he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, the Devil arrived to tempt him. Pope … Continue reading The Temptation of Christ (Luke 4:1-13)
Right after the Last Supper, after Judas Iscariot had left the room, Christ gave a farewell speech to his disciples. He promised them that he would prepare a place for them all in heaven, the place where he was about to go. He also spoke about the way to get there. However, they struggled to … Continue reading I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:1-7)
The Benedictus is the name of a poetic speech given by St Zechariah, the father of St John the Baptist. It’s named after the first word of the poem – ‘Benedictus’ - which is the Latin word for ‘Blessed’. He uttered these words after regaining his faith and the power of speech. Pope St John … Continue reading The Benedictus (Luke 1:67-80)
While he was in his forties, Jacob had a dream about God that changed his life forever. The dream took place while he was on the run from his brother, Esau, who he had cheated out of his birthright. To escape his angry twin, Jacob was sent by his parents to stay with his uncle … Continue reading Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:10-22)
The story of Christ’s very first miracle is found only in St John’s gospel. It took place during a wedding at Cana in Galilee, near where Christ grew up. His mother was there as a guest of the couple. Both Christ and his disciples had also been invited. During the wedding banquet, there was a … Continue reading Christ turns water into wine (John 2:1-11)
In the Church’s early days, in the city of Antioch, there was a disagreement over the subject of circumcision. Some Jewish Christians insisted that new converts to the faith should be circumcised, in keeping with the Law of Moses. However, St Paul and St Barnabas, who were visiting the city, argued for the opposite view. … Continue reading The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-29)
The famous story of the Temptation of Adam and Eve touches on several themes. This includes the nature of temptation, the power of free will and what later became known as the teaching of ‘Original Sin’. While describing a real event, the story contains a number of symbols. While living in the Garden of Eden, … Continue reading The Temptation & Fall (Genesis 3:1-24)
Micah was one of the Twelve Prophets and possibly also a judge. He was active during the reign of three kings of Judah - Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (roughly 757-698 BC). He also lived at the same time as the prophet Isaiah - and even quoted a passage from his book (Isaiah 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3; … Continue reading The Birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1-5)
