Biblical art in Catholic churches
Tag: Modern Art
Shortly before Christ began teaching in public, St John received God’s call while living in the desert. After this, he began to preach in the country near the River Jordan. St John told the people to repent of their sins, to be charitable, and to prepare for the coming of Christ. His mission is described … Continue reading The Preaching of St John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12)
The Second Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary is the Scourging at Pillar. It's a meditation on the scourging of Christ on the orders of Pontius Pilate, before he was taken away to die.
17th December “My servant David will be their king, and they all will have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be scrupulous in obeying my statutes.” (Ezekiel 37:24) Ezekiel was the third of the Four Major Prophets. He was forcibly exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, after the siege of Jerusalem in 597 … Continue reading The Prophet Ezekiel speaks of a royal shepherd
16th December “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous branch from the line of David. He will reign as king and rule wisely and ensure justice and righteousness in the land.” (Jeremiah 23:5) Jeremiah was the second of the Four Major Prophets and he was born in … Continue reading The Prophet Jeremiah speaks of a royal branch
As Christ was dying on the cross, he was guarded by a group of Roman soldiers led by a centurion. The gospels tell us that when the centurion witnessed the circumstances of Christ’s death, he praised God and came to faith. (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47) As Pope Benedict XVI explained: “At the end … Continue reading The Centurion’s faith in Christ (Mark 15:39)
The book of Isaiah is often known as the ‘Fifth Gospel’ for its detailed references to the future birth, life and death of the Messiah. Particularly at Christmastime, several passages from the prophet are read during Mass that are understood as references to the birth of Christ. As Pope John Paul II explained: “One of … Continue reading The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:1-17)
St Joseph is probably best-known for his key role in the Nativity, travelling with his pregnant wife to Bethlehem and caring for the Christ child in the manger. However, there are several other episodes recorded in the gospels that tell us more about him and of his important role in the life of Christ. As … Continue reading The Life of St Joseph (Matthew 1:18-2:23)
Christ once told a story about how God is always ready to forgive our sins. It’s commonly known as ‘the parable of the prodigal son’, because the younger son in the story was ‘prodigal’, or reckless with money. The famous parable, from St Luke’s gospel, sits alongside two others on the subject of God’s mercy … Continue reading The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
Towards the beginning of his reign, the previously prayerful King David dramatically fell from grace. He had an affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who was one of his most loyal soldiers. To cover up the scandal, he then had Uriah killed. It all began when King David was walking on his … Continue reading King David’s affair with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:15)
The prophet Elisha was the pupil of the famous prophet, Elijah. He went on to become Elijah’s successor and performed many miracles. His life was one of sacrifice and service. Although he mixed with powerful politicians, he never forgot those on the margins. The story begins when God spoke to Elijah while he was hiding … Continue reading The Call of Elisha (1 Kings 19:9-21)
Lo & Behold 