This parable teaches the importance of readiness for the arrival of Jesus, who is symbolised by a bridegroom. The wise bridesmaids, who were prepared for his coming, are contrasted with the foolish ones, who were not.
Tag: Gothic Revival
Elijah prophesies to Israel (1 Kings 17:1-24)
Elijah was a prophet in the Old Testament who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel in the ninth century BC. Elijah came from Tishbe near the River Jordan. Like St John the Baptist, he was known for wearing a distinctive shaggy cloak and a leather belt.
4. The Feast of the Holy Innocents
“When Herod realized that the wise men had deceived him, he flew into a rage and issued an order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding area who were two years old or less, in accordance with the information that he had obtained from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16)
St Timothy, the student of St Paul (Acts 16:1-4)
St Timothy was a younger co-worker and friend of St Paul. Two of the ‘Pastoral Epistles’ included in the New Testament, First and Second Timothy, are named after him. They contain personal advice from St Paul to the man he came to regard as his beloved and faithful son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2; … Continue reading St Timothy, the student of St Paul (Acts 16:1-4)
The Martyrdom of St Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:3)
The story of St Stephen’s martyrdom is found with the Acts of the Apostles. St Stephen was one of the Church’s first deacons and also, the first Christian to die for the faith. He helped to convert many new disciples, but his death also led to a great persecution of the Church. The Book of … Continue reading The Martyrdom of St Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:3)
Malachi foretells the Mass (Malachi 1:10-11)
Malachi, the last of the Twelve Minor Prophets, spoke of a pure sacrifice that would be offered across the world. This was later understood to refer to the Sacrifice of the Mass.
King Solomon asks for wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-15)
When Solomon became king of Israel, he asked God for wisdom and guidance. Later, he built the Temple and recorded his great wisdom in the Book of Proverbs.
✙ 3rd Station of the Cross: Christ falls for the first time
The third station pictures Christ losing his strength and falling to the ground under the heavy weight of the cross. This was due to his earlier ordeals, which had left him wounded, weak and covered in blood.
✙ 5th Station of the Cross: Simon of Cyrene helps Christ
This station tells the story of Simon of Cyrene, who was plucked from the crowd to help Christ to carry the cross, who was clearly struggling with its weight.
✙ 10th Station of the Cross: Christ is stripped of his clothes
Christ went out through the city gate to the hill of Golgotha, which we know in English as ‘Calvary’. When he reached the summit, the soldiers stripped him of his clothes, leaving him naked and defenceless.