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| The
butterfly
is sometimes seen in paintings of the Virgin
and Child. It is a symbol of the
Resurrection of Christ. In a more
general sense, the butterfly may symbolize
the resurrection of all men. This
meaning is derived from the stages in its
life as represented by the caterpillar, the
chrysalis, and the butterfly, which are
clearly symbols of life, death, and
resurrection. |
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| The
dogwood,
as with many other plants, is the subject of
legend. As a symbol, it reminds us,
through its four petals, of the cross.
Each petal bears the nail print at its tip
while the center of the blossom is yellow
and represents the crown. Combined
with its spring blossoming, it is a common
symbol of the sacrifice of Christ on the
cross. |
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| The
rose
was a symbol of victory, pride, and
triumphant love among the ancient Romans. It
was the flower of Venus, goddess of love. In
Christian symbolism, the red rose represents
martyrdom while the white rose is a symbol
of purity. Only after the fall of man
did the rose take on its thorns to remind
man of his fall from grace, whereas its
fragrance and beauty continued to
remind him of the splendor of Paradise. |
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| The
shell,
notably the scallop shell, is generally used
in Christian art to signify pilgrimage
specifically as an attribute of St. James
the Great. It is generally supposed to
allude to the countless pilgrimages made to
his celebrated shrine at Compostella in
Spain. |
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The
Gates of Heaven
Making the Gates
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