Morning Star - Lucifer or Stella Splendida et Matutina?

[kainosktisis]

At times the subject of Satan vs Jesus as the morning star arises in religious discussions, usually with the accusation that the Church is worshipping Satan as Lucifer as in the Exsultet. The discussion then turns to Rev 22:16, where Christ is called the bright & morning star in Latin in the Vulgate, however, in this case, Jesus is not referred to as Lucifer, but rather as Stella Splendida et Matituta (Bright & Morning Star).

In researching the matter, I came upon this online article:

Who (or What) Was Lucifer? by Jimmy Akin (Catholic Answers):

Who (or What) Was Lucifer?

Recently I got a query from someone wondering about an anti-Catholic video that claimed “the pope’s deacon” invoked Lucifer during the Easter Vigil liturgy and...

www.catholic.com

This, however, still doesn’t resolve the matter, but rather brings up another question. If the terms for Morning Star /Light bearer also refer to Christ, what accounts for the distinct terms in the Latin in the Vulgate & the Exsultet?

How also to answer those who express concerns over the inverted cross of St. Peter’s chair?

Thank you for your answers.

 

[Fauken]

How also to answer those who express concerns over the inverted cross of St. Peter’s chair?

That’s St. Peter’s cross. He was crucified upside down because he viewed himself too unworthy to be crucified upright like Christ was. It’s a Catholic symbol of the Papacy that Satanists have tried to pervert. It’s not the first time they’ve tried to pervert a Christian symbol.

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[kainosktisis]

I understand that, but non-Catholics associate that with Sstanic worship.

 

[Fauken]

I understand that, but non-Catholics associate with Sstanic worship.

Why do we have to answer for what Satanists do?

 

[kainosktisis]

We’re not answering for what they do. We are assuring them that that is not us. There is a difference, & it’s a valid one.

My questions above still stand.

I have 2 questions, but my first remains unanswered, & people keep focusing in the 2nd one.

 

[Mintaka]

It is pretty standard to show that Satan is a bad copy or wannabe of Christ. Jesus is the Lion of Judah, but Satan is the Lion prowling, seeing what he can devour. The old bestiaries had chapters of opposing symbolism like this.

So yes, Jesus is called Morning Star because he is bright beyond all others, and a reliable guide to the New Day that is coming. Mary is the morning star pointing to her Son. The good angels are the morning stars singing for joy.

But OTOH, Satan and the king of Tyre are called Morning Star because they are also bright and impressive, but their brightness will disappear in God’s day. They are not the Sun. The morning star in this bad sense is also associated with Ishtar and other pagan goddesses and gods, particularly those known to be dangerous, pretty, petty, and fickle.

 

[kainosktisis]

(1) I thought the association was between Satan & Nebuchadnezzar.

(2) It still doesn’t answer why Lucifer is used as Morning Star for Christ in Exsultet & Stella Splendida et Matituta in the Vulgate.

 

[Fauken]

We’re not answering for what they do. We are assuring them that that is not us. There is a difference, & it’s a valid one.

My questions above still stand.

I already said it’s the cross of St. Peter. That it’s a traditional symbol of Catholicism that Satanists have tried to pervert. I don’t understand how that isn’t an answer.

 

[kainosktisis]

It’s a Catholic symbol of the Papacy that Satanists have tried to pervert. It’s not the first time they’ve tried to pervert a Christian symbol.

I think that many non-Catholics would be put off by this as most associate it with Satanism. Admittedly although a convert, my first time seeing this, I thought initially that someone had photoshopped a pic to make it look like someone was intentionally trying to make the Pope look like he’s a Satanic high priest with the inverted cross on his chair. When I learned that that’s how it really looked, it was very offputting, & I thought, yes, historically that’s how he was martyred, & while I accept it in that way, it’s still hard at times not to think otherwise. But non-Catholics also have similar thoughts, & for some perhaps history is not enough. They think something diabolical is afoot with the choice for that symbol.

 

[Fauken]

But non-Catholics also have similar thoughts, & for some perhaps history is not enough. They think something diabolical is afoot with the choice for that symbol.

To be blunt to those people, tough cookies. If history isn’t enough, then nothing will be. Why should we abandon centuries old symbols because people try to pervert their message? Is it surprising they’re trying to do so? And these non-Catholics want us to concede to that based on people abusing it over a blip of time? Somehow the corruption of Satan is stronger than the symbol’s original holy meaning. That is ridiculous.

 

[kainosktisis]

Perhaps, but they weren’t raised with that understanding so I can see how it would be difficult - even repugnant - to religious sensibilities.

But…getting back to the first question…

I’d assumed looking up the Vulgate that since lucifer was used in the OT for morning star that the same would be used in Revelation for morning star , but stella splendida et matituta was used instead. Why the difference in the Vulgate, but in the Exsultet, lucifer is used?

 

[Todd_Easton]

At times the subject of Satan vs Jesus as the morning star arises in religious discussions, usually with the accusation that the Church is worshipping Satan as Lucifer as in the Exsultet. The discussion then turns to Rev 22:16, where Christ is called the bright & morning star in Latin in the Vulgate, however, in this case, Jesus is not referred to as Lucifer, but rather as Stella Splendida et Matituta (Bright & Morning Star).

Referring to Jesus as “lucifer” in Latin, as in the Exultet, seems to come from 2 Peter 1:19:

And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star (Greek: phosphoros; Latin: lucifer) rises in your hearts.

 

[Dovekin]

The Syriac version and the version of Aquila derive the Hebrew noun helel from the verb yalal , “to lament”; St. Jerome agrees with them ( In Isaiah 1.14), and makes Lucifer the name of the principal fallen angel who must lament the loss of his original glory bright as the morning star. In Christian tradition this meaning of Lucifer has prevailed; the Fathers maintain that Lucifer is not the proper name of the devil, but denotes only the state from which he has fallen (Petavius, De Angelis , III, iii, 4).
Catholic Encyclopedia

There is another paragraph that addresses positive use of Lucifer for Christ or Mary.

 

[kainosktisis]

I understand this, but in my experience, there are some Protestants who reject the claim that St. Peter was ever even in Rome - let alone being crucified upside down. And those who do see an inverted cross instantly take it for Satanic & assume that in using it, are likewise associated.

 

[Fauken]

I understand this, but in my experience, there are some Protestants who reject the claim that St. Peter was ever even in Rome - let alone being crucified upside down. And those who do see an inverted cross instantly take it for Satanic & assume that in using it, are likewise associated.

For those Protestants, no reason is sufficient. Their minds are already made up.