I have long been interested in the martyred saints even though I am not catholic. Pictured on the postcard below is Saint Jude, one of the 12 apostles of Christ. He was martyred along with Saint Simon for bringing the gospel to Persia.
Saint Jude’s attribute is a club. He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles. Another common attribute is Jude holding an image of Jesus Christ, in the image of Edessa. In some instances he may be shown with a scroll or a book (the Epistle of Jude) or holding a carpenter’s rule.
Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Therefore, he is the patron saint of desperate cases and his feast day is October 28.
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You ever seen a catholic calendar ? – filled with feast days. That’s a lot of martyred saints. eep. That’s kinda creepy.
I have a book of patron saints, This Saints for You, guaranteed to fascinate, promise! Saints can help you sell your house, have a successful garage sale, or if you work with explosives, call on Saint Barbara. No kidding.
You ever read messages of thanks to St. Jude in your local free reader or mixed in with the want ads ?
These people are giving thanks to St. Jude because their prayers have been answered.
I found the postcard above while perusing a second hand shop with my college roomie. I was sick at the time, had been for quite awhile, and being a Beatles fan, and a big Julian Lennon fan, (Paul wrote the song for him.) I popped a few bucks and took it home.
Hey, what can it hurt to have a little help from your friends, right ?
Well…I started carrying it around and I got better.
Thank you Saint Jude, my prayers were answered.
Martyrs are ruled by Saturn, and saints, Neptune. Neptune is my most highly aspected planet with squares straight to Leo (ruled by Sun, the solar life force) in the 8th. The 8th house is death, rebirth, the phoenix rising from the ashes stronger.
Makes sense with the saints, now doesn’t it. Rising from the ashes, even stronger after death. Millions pray to them to intercede on their behalf.
Saint Jude is Aquarian, or rather miracles are Uranian and Neptunian, and he fits the bill. My biggie Neptune is in Scorpio (the occult) on the 11th house (natural house of Aquarius), so a fascination with martyrs (my Neptune square the 8th and death), saints and miracles.
I am Saturn (martyrs) ruled, and have Venus (love, art) conjunct Jupiter (faith) in the 8th (death) square Neptune (miracles). I am also a big fan of incense, (Mars rules- which in my chart is on the healing 12th), and bells (Venus rules) to clear and bless the energy in the room.
I have Mars (desires, action) in Sagittarius (faith) which is on my 12th house of mysticism. So, very spiritual, but not conforming to any religious groups. (My Sun /spirit conjunct Uranus of the free and untamed in the 9th house of faith.)
This is what fascinates me about astrology, it explains soOo much when you learn it. My friend and client was amazed by her current transits info.
“You can see all that?” ~Yes. Cool, yeah ?!
Miraculous ~ the universe ~ macro to micro.
Divine. / Divination.
Neptune rules !
(I would be remiss if I did not add that I was bemoaning the very Neptunian chart I have been blessed/cursed with just yesterday (or the day before, I can’t remember !- ha ! Neptune rules fog; Mercury memory) but today I am looking at it differently, not suffering quite so much – feeling more inspired.)
Thanks to my new friend clareflourish who inspired this post by providing this incredible link to Medieval icons. <- sorry, broken link try this one.
I thank you !
Merry Meet & Blessed Be.
namaste~
gneissmoonastrology.net
You are welcome. I remain sceptical, but can at least say that it is good to recognise the Neptune in onesself.
Indeed it is.
Neptune rules liquor, and I finally climbed on the wagon years ago.
Life has improved, by the living of it with eyes open.
Thanks~
Fascinating …
(from the link above)
WHO MAY PAINT ICONS?
Iconography is a calling, not a chosen profession. It is a special office of the Church. Not everyone may paint icons. No more than just anyone may be a priest. God appoints the iconographer as he appoints his priests. It is a privilege, not a right. He has the Grace to do what God has called the iconographer to do.
In other words, what brings the icon to life is the Grace of God through the iconographer. Just as the icon is painted when the brush is used by the iconographer and can not become a reality without the iconographer which uses the paint and brush as his tool, the reality becomes a living thing through the iconographer [Gods tool] by Gods Grace.
The icon then need not be blessed by a priest, it is a blessing. itself. The hand of the iconographer is guided by the Holy Spirit just as the iconographer guides the brush.
What he produces is the Will of the Spirit.
Once the name of the Saint is written on the icon the spirit of the saint enters into it.
Therefore, an icon need not be blessed by a priest nor, as some do, place it on the altar for 40 days. The icon is sanctified by the very “writing” of an icon. Lastly, you must ask yourself, if the “icon” is not actually an icon, and does not possess the Grace given to it unless blessed by a priest, then what is it before a priest blesses it, and what is special, if anything, about the iconographer ?
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