Biblical art in Catholic churches
Tag: Painting
8th December “A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch will grow from his roots. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him.” (Isaiah 11:1) Jesse was the father of King David and another direct ancestor of Christ. In the First Book of Samuel, he is referred to as … Continue reading Jesse, the root of the family tree
6th December “The scepter shall not depart from Judah nor the mace from between his feet, until it comes to whom it belongs, and the obedience of the peoples is his.” (Genesis 49:10) Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and we find his story in the book of Genesis. He was the … Continue reading Judah, the lion and leader
5th December “God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and become numerous. People and assemblies of people shall come from you. Kings shall come forth from your loins.” (Genesis 35:11) Jacob was the second son of Isaac and his beloved wife, Rebekah, who lived in the land of Canaan. He had an … Continue reading Jacob, the ancestor of kings
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)
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)
Samuel was a prophet and the last judge to rule over Israel. His story is told in the first book of Samuel. From there we learn that he appointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel also successfully prayed for victory over Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, and led a spiritual renewal of … Continue reading Samuel judges Israel (1 Samuel 7:3-17)
In his gospel, St Matthew says that the Holy Family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod’s plan to murder the infant Jesus. He wrote that they “remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my … Continue reading The Stay in Egypt (Hosea 11:1-4)
The Prayer of Habakkuk is a song that describes a grand vision of God, shining forth in glory upon a mountain. It refers back to the events of the Exodus – and points forward to the coming of the Messiah. The prayer, also known as the ‘Canticle of Habakkuk’, is now used as part of … Continue reading The Prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:1-15)
The story of the Transfiguration of Christ is described in three of the gospels, as well as in the Second Letter of St Peter. (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36; 2 Peter 1:16-18). It describes how those closest to Christ got a glimpse of him in heavenly glory. Pope Francis picks up the story: “Taking … Continue reading The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8)
The escape of the Holy Family from Israel into Egypt has long been a favourite subject in Christian art. The event was traditionally understood as one of the “seven sorrows” of the Virgin Mary, which explains why it became such a popular scene. Pope Benedict XVI explained the story this way: “The evangelist Matthew narrates … Continue reading The Flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
Lo & Behold 