Holy card art Numbers as Symbols in Religious Art Victoria Ryan, January 21, 2021January 17, 2021 Back in Jesus’ time, and long before Him, numbers were not always used as precisely as we use them today. The most common example is found in Matthew’s gospel when Jesus says we must forgive each other not just seven times, but seventy times seven. (Matt 18:22) Jesus did not…
Holy card art Objects as Symbols in Religious Art Victoria Ryan, January 19, 2021January 23, 2021 An apple in a woman’s hand, for example, will easily identify the woman as Eve. Without writing a word, the symbol reminds us of the Genesis story that explains how humans lived in paradise, sinned and lost paradise, and needed Jesus to bring them salvation so they might enter paradise…
Holy card art Animals and Other Creatures as Symbolism in Religious Art Victoria Ryan, January 14, 2021January 18, 2021 One downside of modern holy cards, for me, is that symbolism is rarely used. Most people can read now, so faith lessons can be explained in words and acted out in movies and videos. It’s likely that people today would either overlook symbols in modern holy cards or would misinterpret…
Holy card art Shapes and Halos as Symbols Victoria Ryan, January 12, 2021January 18, 2021 Thanks for coming back, or visiting for the first time, if that’s the case. Last week, we talked about the use colors, shapes and other objects as symbols in holy cards and works of religious art. We said symbols were used to express ideas (theology, specifically) that are difficult to…
Holy card art What do the Colors in Holy Cards Mean? Victoria Ryan, January 7, 2021February 10, 2021 The symbolism of color in early religious art was significant. As with other symbols, nothing was included by accident; everything had a purpose, a message to convey. You already experience color symbols if you attend Mass regularly. The color of the priest’s vestments, of candles and cloths on the altar,…
Holy card art Why Holy Cards? Why Symbols? Victoria Ryan, January 5, 2021January 18, 2021 I’m relaunching my blog with a thematic approach. Since my next book involves the symbolism in old Catholic holy cards I’ll begin with that theme. I have been enamored with holy cards since I was a student at Saint Peter in Chains Grade School and Sister Perpetua gave me Jesus…