ST. MATTHEW
The winged
creature with a man’s face represents Matthew because his Gospel narrative
stresses the incarnation of the Son of God, and His
human descent by tracing Jesus’ human genealogy. According to Mark, Matthew
was the son of Alphaeus and was a tax collector for the Roman government
in Capernaum.
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ST. MARK
The winged creature with a lion’s face is the symbol
for Mark becau se his gospel narrative begins with “the voice of
one crying in the wilderness,”
and this suggests the roar of a lion. Tradition says he was martyred
at Alexandria. |
ST. LUKE
Luke is symbolized by the ox, the animal of sacrifice, since Luke stresses
the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Luke was a gentile physician, a follower
of Christ, and a companion of Paul. The two-volume work, the third gospel
and the book of Acts, is attributed to hi m. Tradition says that he was
one of the seventy disciples commissioned by Jesus, and that he was perhaps
the other disciple with Cleopas on the road to Emmaus, that he preached
in Bithynai, and that he died a the age of 84 in Boetia.
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ST. JOHN
The high-soaring eagle is the emblem of John because in his narrative
he rises to the loftiest heights in dealing with the mind of Christ.
He is believe d to be the “beloved disciple” of the fourth
Gospel to whose care Jesus at the crucifixion entrusted his mother. Tradition
says that John lived at Ephesus and their died a natural death, the only
Apostle who did not die a martyr’s death. |