Customer Reviews

The Symbols of the Church

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I have always been too embarrassed to ask why some holy cards show a skull at the base of the Cross,or what a bleeding stag represents in iconography. Not only does Symbols of the Church answer these perplexing questions, it explains what a "thurifer" is, traces the history of liturgical vestments, and explains the significance of church architecture.

Though it demonstrates some questionable theology, Symbols of the Church is not a theology book. It's a dictionary, an encyclopedia of the symbols of the Christian world, a glossary of architectural terms and a guide book to sacred vestments and vessels. It answers virtually any question about churches, Christian symbols and ritual. Each entry is brief, giving just enough information to satisfy curiosity, yet hinting at extensive research and reams of knowledge omitted for space considerations. Generous and lush illustrations demonstrate how symbols have been used in the past and are used in the same ways today.

As a resource or reference book for school projects and family discussions, it would be a valuable addition to any Catholic home library. Children between the ages of four and ten will be entranced and fascinated by the beautiful pictures, between the ages of ten and sixteen should be encouraged to question anything they read, and older will enjoy browsing through the reams of information in the book.