The Curious Lore of Precious Stones: Being a description of their sentiments and folk lore, superstitions, symbolism, mysticism, use in medicine, protection, prevention, religion, and divination. Crystal gazing, birth-stones, lucky stones and talismans, astral, zodiacal, and planetaryKunz, George Frederick
Religion
The Curious Lore of Precious Stones: Being a description of their sentiments and folk lore, superstitions, symbolism, mysticism, use in medicine, protection, prevention, religion, and divination. Crystal gazing, birth-stones, lucky stones and talismans, astral, zodiacal, and planetary
Kunz, George Frederick
Gems; Gems -- Folklore
Under this stone two precious gems do ly
Equall in weight, worth, lustre, sanctity:
Yet perhaps one of them do excell;
Which was’t who knows? ask him y^t knew y^{em} well
By long enjoyment. If he thus be prest,
He’el pause, then answere: truly both were best:
Were’t in my choice that either of y^e twain
Might be returned to me to enjoy agayne,
Which should I chuse? Well, since I know not whether;
Ile mourne for the losse of both, but wish for neither,
Yet here’s my comfort, herein lyes my hope,
The tyme a comeinge cabinets shall ope
Which are lockt fast: then shall I see
My Jewells to my joy, my Jewells mee.
The Christian symbolism of colors has in many cases determined the
use of certain colored gems for religious ornaments, and therefore
the following summary of their principal significance is of interest
here:[408]
WHITE is regarded as the first of the canonical colors, and as
emblematic of purity, innocence, virginity, faith, life, and light.
For this reason it is used in the ceremonies of Easter and Christmas,
as in those of the Circumcision and Epiphany of Our Lord. As the
color of virginity it is especially appropriate for the festival of
the Virgin Mary, and as that of faith not sealed with blood, for the
festivals of the saints who were not martyred. The heavenly host of
angels and saints wear white robes, and in pictures of the Assumption
of the Virgin she is frequently clad in white.
RED is used at the feasts of the Exaltation and Invention of the
Cross, at Pentecost, and at the Feast of Martyrs. It suggests and
symbolizes suffering and martyrdom for the faith, and the supreme
sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross. Divine love and majesty are also
typified by this color.
BLUE is an emblem of the celestial regions and of the celestial
virtues. Nevertheless, as this is not one of the five canonical
colors, it is not employed for the decoration of churches or for
ecclesiastical vestments. In Christian art, however, the Virgin and
the saints and angels are often robed in blue.
YELLOW of a golden hue is emblematic of God’s goodness and of faith
and good works, but it is not a canonical color. A dull yellow,
however, has the opposite signification, and is a type of treachery
and envy. Hence Judas is garbed in yellow of a dull hue, and heretics
wore garments of this shade when they were condemned to the stake.
GREEN is the canonical color for use on Sundays, week-days, and
ordinary festivals. Hope and joy and the bright promises of youth are
signified by green.
VIOLET, another canonical color, is appropriate for use on
Septuagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays, during Lent, and on Advent
Sunday. The chastening and purifying effects of suffering find
expression in this color.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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