Biblical art in Catholic churches
Tag: Stained glass
The weird and wonderful story of Moses raising the Bronze Serpent in the wilderness includes a number of hidden messages about salvation. Pope John Paul II explained: “During Israel’s march from Egypt to the Promised Land, God permitted - because of the murmuring of the people - a plague of poisonous snakes, as a result … Continue reading Moses raises the Bronze Serpent (Numbers 21:4-9)
After his resurrection, Christ continued to appear to his disciples for forty days, at various times and in various ways. His third appearance was on the shores of Lake Galilee (known in St John’s gospel as the ‘Sea of Tiberias’). This was where Christ had previously called several of the apostles, as well as fed … Continue reading The Breakfast at Lake Galilee (John 21:1-17)
The story of Christ calming the storm on Lake Galilee is found in three of the gospels (Matthew 8:18-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). St Mark’s account is the most graphic. Its attention to detail (such as Christ asleep on a ‘cushion’) suggests that it originally came from someone who was there - probably St Peter. … Continue reading Christ stills the Tempest (Mark 4:35-41)
Forty days after the birth of Christ, his parents took him to the Temple of Jerusalem, to present him to God. This was in keeping with the Law of Moses, which required firstborn sons to be offered to God and also for the mother to be ritually purified by a sacrifice (Exodus 13:1-16; Leviticus 12:1-8). … Continue reading The Presentation at the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)
The Song of Moses, also called ‘the Song of the Sea’, is a thanksgiving hymn that celebrates the miracle of the Red Sea and the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. It also looks forward to the founding of the Temple of Jerusalem. Pope Francis explains: “The book of Exodus tells us about Moses and … Continue reading The Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-22)
According to the gospels, Christ was well-known for his ability to heal. Crowds of afflicted people flocked to him, and “he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons” (Mark 1:32-34). He is also described as having raised three people from the dead. These miraculous accounts are presented as proof … Continue reading The Healing Ministry of Christ (Mark 1:32-34)
The story of Rizpah’s faithful vigil for her dead sons is a disturbing yet touching episode recorded in the Second Book of Samuel. Rizpah had been a concubine, or ‘official mistress’ of King Saul, before he killed himself after losing the battle of Mount Gilboa. She had two sons by him, Armoni and Meshibosheph. After … Continue reading Rizpah mourns her crucified sons (2 Samuel 21:1-14)
