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    Symbols of The Holy Spirit

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    Ayrah
    The document discusses common symbols used to represent the Holy Spirit in churches and religious art. The main symbols mentioned are a dove, fire, wind, water, and clouds. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus during his baptism. Fire represents the Holy Spirit's strength during Pentecost and the burning bush. Wind calls to the Holy Spirit breathing life into the Church at Pentecost and during Creation. Water signifies the Holy Spirit cleansing and giving life at Baptism. Clouds provide life-giving water and God often appeared as a cloud to lead his people.

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    Symbols of The Holy Spirit

    Uploaded by

    Ayrah
    45 views1 page
    The document discusses common symbols used to represent the Holy Spirit in churches and religious art. The main symbols mentioned are a dove, fire, wind, water, and clouds. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus during his baptism. Fire represents the Holy Spirit's strength during Pentecost and the burning bush. Wind calls to the Holy Spirit breathing life into the Church at Pentecost and during Creation. Water signifies the Holy Spirit cleansing and giving life at Baptism. Clouds provide life-giving water and God often appeared as a cloud to lead his people.

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    The document discusses common symbols used to represent the Holy Spirit in churches and religious art. The main symbols mentioned are a dove, fire, wind, water, and clouds. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus during his baptism. Fire represents the Holy Spirit's strength during Pentecost and the burning bush. Wind calls to the Holy Spirit breathing life into the Church at Pentecost and during Creation. Water signifies the Holy Spirit cleansing and giving life at Baptism. Clouds provide life-giving water and God often appeared as a cloud to lead his people.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    45 views1 page

    Symbols of The Holy Spirit

    Uploaded by

    Ayrah
    The document discusses common symbols used to represent the Holy Spirit in churches and religious art. The main symbols mentioned are a dove, fire, wind, water, and clouds. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus during his baptism. Fire represents the Holy Spirit's strength during Pentecost and the burning bush. Wind calls to the Holy Spirit breathing life into the Church at Pentecost and during Creation. Water signifies the Holy Spirit cleansing and giving life at Baptism. Clouds provide life-giving water and God often appeared as a cloud to lead his people.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 1

    SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

    In our churches, religious art, and liturgical prayers, we use a variety of symbols to represent the
    Holy Spirit, all of which come from the Bible. Here are some of those symbols.
    One of the most common symbols of the Holy Spirit is a dove. It comes from the story of Jesus’
    baptism, when Jesus saw “the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.” (Mark 1:10) The other
    three Gospel writers use similar wording to describe the event (see Matthew 3:16, Luke 3:22,
    and John 1:32).
    Fire is another popular representation of the Holy Spirit. The fire that appeared on Pentecost
    (Acts of the Apostles 2:3) was reminiscent of the burning bush on Mount Sinai from which God
    spoke to Moses. (Exodus 3:2) During the Exodus, the people of God were led by a pillar of fire
    at night. (Exodus 13:21) Fire calls attention to the strength and force of the Holy Spirit.
    The Holy Spirit is also represented by wind. In fact, the original Hebrew and Greek words for
    “Spirit” can be translated as “wind.” The wind that appeared on Pentecost (Acts of the Apostles
    2:2) was reminiscent of the wind that blew over the waters at the beginning of Creation. (Genesis
    1:2) The wind calls attention to the Holy Spirit breathing life into the Church.
    Water signifies birth and life. From a faith perspective, it represents the cleansing and life-
    giving action of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. (Matthew 3:11; John 3:5) The symbolism of water is
    addressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#694):
    As “by one Spirit we were all baptized,” so we are also “made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Cor
    12:13) Thus the Spirit is also personally the living water welling up from Christ crucified (Jn
    19:34; 1 Jn 5:8) as its source and welling up in us to eternal life. (Cf. Jn 4:10-14; 7:38; Ex 17:1-
    6; Isa 55:1; Zech 14:8; 1 Cor 10:4; Rev 21:6; 22:17)
    The cloud is used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit because clouds provide life-giving water. In the
    Old Testament, God often leads his people with a cloud or appears to them in a cloud. (Exodus
    16:10) The image of a cloud is often combined with the image of light to symbolize the God
    who is hidden and mysterious but also revealing and luminous.

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