Catholic Symbols

1. Catholic Symbols By Derek and Leah Hachey

2. Going fishing...

3. Going Fishing... • The introduction of the fish (Greek word “Ichthys”) as a Christian symbol has polluted Christianity by bringing in paganism into Christianity. Consider how the fish has been used in various pagan religions: • “Ichthys was the offspring son of the ancient Sea goddess Atargatis, and was known in various mythic systems as Tirgata, Aphrodite, Pelagia or Delphine." • "The fish also a central element in other stories, including the Goddess of Ephesus (who has a fish amulet covering her genital region), as well as the tale of the fish that swallowed the penis of Osiris, and was also considered a symbol of the vulva of Isis." • "...the fish also has been identified in certain cultures with reincarnation and the life force." • "...before Christianity, the fish symbol was known as 'the Great Mother'...link[ed] to fertility, birth, feminine sexuality and the natural force of women..."

4. Going Fishing... • The Fish is a common animal found near every culture • Pagan religions tend to be based on important aspects of the natural world (Sun, moon, water, snakes, plants); just because pagan religions uses one of these common things does not preclude these things to be used in authentic Christian religion. • Christians used the symbol of the fish based on Biblical principles: • Jesus multiplied the fish to feed the 5000: (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15) • Jesus calls his first apostles (Peter, Andrew, John & James) to be “fishers of men” (Luke 5:10, Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17) • The Greek word for fish is ICHTHUS. This is an acronym for Jesus. Iesous CHristos THeou Uios Soter - this translates as "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.“ • Since the Fish was an inconspicuous symbol, Christians could use it to identify themselves to other Christians

5. IHS

6. IHS... • The IHS monogram was introduced by Constantine who deliberately injected paganism into Christianity like the doctrine of the Trinity in order to overtly direct the Christian’s worship to the gods of the pagan Egyptian triad of Isis, Horus and Seb.

7. IHS... • The doctrine of the Trinity whereby God is defined as Three Divine Persons in One Being did not exist in Babylon or in Egypt. • Ancient Egyptian religions are a classic example of Do-It-Yourself Polytheism; every town and generation had a different take on the 9-14 pagan deities. Some areas believed that 3 gods ruled over the others and of others believed there were 2, 4 or more that ruled over the others • The concept of the Trinity can be found in both the New and Old Testaments • The early Church Fathers used the term Trinity and expressed its concept in their writings in the 2nd Century (i.e. The 100s) over 100 years before Constantine was born • The IHS monogram is an abbreviation of Jesus’ name in Latinized Greek: Ihsoun • It was adopted by Ignatius of Loyola to be the symbol of the “Society of Jesus” (AKA The Jesuits) in the 16th century

8. The Crucifix

9. Crucifix... • Christ is risen!!! Yet Catholics hold him crucified at their altars and in their homes with the Crucifix. • Influenced by Satan, most Christians revere the cross, which is an instrument of extreme torture. • If a loved one is killed, should we revere their instrument of death (e.g. gun, knife, noose, etc.)?

10. Crucifix... • Why portray him as such on the crucifix? Here’s what the Bible Says: • “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:22-23). • “For I (Paul) decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). • “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” (Gal 3:1). The Galatians (located in central Turkey) did not witness the crucifixion first hand, but a reproduction of it. • What is the INRI inscription found on many crucifixes? • INRI in Latin stands for “IesusNazarenus Rex Iudaeorum” (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews), which is what Pilate instructed to be written on Jesus’ Cross in John 19:19 • To the world, the Crucifix & Cross are symbols of torture and horror. To Christians, the Crucifix is a symbol of Love. Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross paid the eternal price for the forgiveness of all our sins. When we look at a crucifix, we look at the greatest Act of Love ever committed!

11. The Dove and the Lamb

12. Dove & Lamb... • The Lamb and Dove are symbols of Jesus and the Holy Spirit

13. Dove & Lamb... • Yes these are Scriptural symbolic references. • The Holy Spirit is described as a Dove descending upon Jesus at His Baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32) • The scriptures also describe Jesus as the Lamb of God especially in the book of Revelation, but also in other books of the Bible (John 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7, Rev 5:6, 5:8, 5:12-13, 6:1, 6:16, 7:9-10, 7:17, 8:1, 12:11, 13:8, 14:1, 14:4, 14:10, 15:3, 17:14, 19:7, 19:9, 21:9, 21:14, 21:22-23, 21:27, 22:1, 22:3)

14. Alpha and Omega

15. Alpha & Omega... • A movie where two young wolves at opposite ends of their pack's social order are thrown together into a foreign land and need each other to return home, but love complicates everything.

16. Alpha & Omega... • These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. • In the book of Revelation which is the last book of the New Testament, Christ is referred to as the 'Alpha and Omega' (Rev 21:6, 22:13). This means that He is both the origin and end of all creation. We only exist because we are created by God, and the final purpose of our lives is to spend eternity with God in heaven. • The Alpha and Omega symbols are placed on the paschal candle at Easter. • Pope John Paul II often reminds us that Jesus Christ is the 'center and purpose of human history'. All time, and all creation is under His command.

17. Papal Insignia - The Crossed Keys

18. Chi Rho

19. Chi Rho… • In 312 CE Constantine was about to lead his army in a battle that would change the world. The soldiers of his enemy Maxentius faced him at the Milvian Bridge outside Rome. The winner would become the Roman Emperor. • Constantine was a pagan who worshipped the sun, and he was worried about the coming battle. He says he started to pray to the "Supreme God" for help. • There was a sign in the sky "above the sun" and with it the words "conquer by this". That night in a dream he said he saw Jesus telling him to use the chi-rho sign "as a safeguard in all battles". Constantine ordered it to be put on his soldier's shields - and won the battle. • The symbol is made of the first two letters of 'Christ' in Greek (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ)- chi (X) and rho (P).

20. Chi Rho… • Although the Chi Rho was made popular by Constantine, evidence shows that Christians were using it well before 312AD • Like the Fish it was very popular in use and was an inconspicuous symbol of Christ • Some times the Chi Rho would also include the Alpha and Omega symbol

21. Papal Insignia... • The Papal Insignia features keys because it is written in Scripture that the Pope is the chief locksmith who can open any door on Earth • The keys of the Papal Insignia refer to the Keys that have been passed down from one Pope to the next that open the Vatican Secret Archives, which only a Pope can enter

22. Papal Insignia... • The Keys are a symbol of Authority given by Jesus to Peter • “And I (Jesus) tell you (Simon), you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” (Mat 16:18-19) • Jesus evokes the language in Isaiah 22 where God was promoting Eliakim as Prime Minister among the Jewish Ministers • “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none will shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isaiah 22:22) • The “Keys” was a symbol of authority, and the Jewish Leaders wore robes with Keys embroiled on their shoulder blades • Jesus is the King of the Kingdom, and Peter is made Prime Minister among the Christian Ministers (aka the Apostles) • Jesus is the invisible head of the Church in Heaven • Peter and his successors (the Bishop of Rome) are the visible head of the Church on Earth

23. Colors of Priest’s Robes

24. Colors of Priest’s Robes... • The 2nd Vatican Council introduced these coloured vestments in an attempt to take over the fashion industry!

25. Colors of Priest’s Robes... • The most visible part of a Priest’s Robe is called the Chasuble, which will be either Green, Violet, Red, Gold or White • Green, a sign of Life and Growth, is used during “Ordinary Time” • Violet, which represents expectation, purification or penance, is worn during Advent and Lent • White & Gold, which represent celebration and majesty are worn during the Paschal Triduum, Easter, Christmas and other Holy Days) • Red, which represents blood of martyrs or the fire of the Holy Spirit, is worn on Pentecost Sunday or on the feast days of Martyrs