Nativity scene

[KathleenGee]

Well I had to check the Nativity scene one more time…all the personages were at the manger scene under this covering in the dark. Across the courtyard, the ornamental trees were decorated with lights. And then inside the nuns brought in a box full of spring bouquets of fresh flowers…they are going to use them for something…so it looks like we are already changing the scenery around here.
The chapel is still with its midnight blue creche and very nice to look at and reflect and meditate.

 

[LilyM]

Well actually, aside from the wrists, the fleshier part of the palm closer to the wrist CAN support a human’s weight. Aside from that, the Romans were concerned to keep the victims up on the cross, and so they devised ways such as enlarging the heads of the nails with say, wooden plaques which would make it difficult to break free of the nails (we know this due to the heel bone of a man crucified near the time of Jesus!) or making the victim lean or sit on a sort of ‘seat’ - more likely a peg or block of wood - attached halfway the vertical post which helped the victim be more comfortable - in effect prolonging his life and his suffering. Actually, without this seat or sedile, a person nailed to the front of a cross would lurch forward because of gravity’s pull (those images of Jesus you see where He is able to keep an upright position while crucified to the front of a cross without any footrest or sedile is actually also physically impossible! )

Most often the Crucifixion is depicted with Our Lord’s feet on some sort of rest.

As for the palm v wrist - some victims of crucifixion actually didn’t have their hands nailed at all - they merely tied the arms to the cross. If someone had their arms tied to a cross, then it wouldn’t matter in the slightest whether nails were placed in the palm or wrist, the ropes holding the arms to the cross would be able to take enough of the weight that the nails didn’t break loose.

 

[rinnie]

Were there only 3 wise men. The Bible says some wise men. We assume there were only 3 wise men because of the 3 gifts. The wise men did not visit Jesus right after he was born. The Bible says “They (the wise men) entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they (the wise men) fell down before him and worshiped him.”
See not accurate according to Scripture.
We portray it like this. Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are in a wooden structure and 3 wise men are there.

Actually Rev Kev we assume nothing. We study scripture in union with Sacred Tradition with the context of the RCC.

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition make up a single depost of the word of God.

Now to answer your question if you study S.T. you will find that the WISE MEN OF MAGI (latin for Magus) are know as the THREE (3) Holy Kings!!

 

[patrick457]

Most often the Crucifixion is depicted with Our Lord’s feet on some sort of rest.

Correct, though whether footrests were actually used is unclear since there are actually no mention of them in ancient sources, compared to the number of times a ledge, known as a ‘horn’ (cornu) or ‘seat’ (sedile) for the victim is mentioned. The oldest depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus (the Alexamenos Graffito) shows what looks like to be a beam placed on the donkey-headed victim’s feet (note that his feet are separate; the iconographic depiction of three nails was actually just a medieval, Western convention), so that his legs are drawn spread apart and seem to be straddling the vertical beam. Note also that the line depicted just above the buttocks of the crucified figure: it has been interpreted variously as a representation of a short tunic, a loincloth, or (more likely IMHO) the sedile.

Still, other early depictions of the event have more diversity: this 2nd-3rd gem amulet from the Eastern Mediterranean shows the victim’s legs are spread wide, as if on horseback, with his feet clearly not attached to the cross. A graffiti found in Puzzuoli - probably a caricature of a victim who was executed at the ampitheater nearby - shows no footrest as well, but has the victim with his feet on the sides of the vertical post. Note also what seems to be a sedile slanting downwards just below the man’s left leg (our right). These 4th century gems meanwhile, show the legs being straight, with the feet side-by-side; the earliest ‘orthodox’ depictions that I know of, both made at the early 5th century, also show Jesus in this position, without footrests.

As for the palm v wrist - some victims of crucifixion actually didn’t have their hands nailed at all - they merely tied the arms to the cross. If someone had their arms tied to a cross, then it wouldn’t matter in the slightest whether nails were placed in the palm or wrist, the ropes holding the arms to the cross would be able to take enough of the weight that the nails didn’t break loose.

Yes. In fact, the 1st-century man whose heel bone still had a nail still stuck into it (Jehohanan) seems to have been merely tied to his cross as well, contradicting an earlier proposal that he was nailed on his wrists, because the scratches in the wrist area which was earlier taken to be evidence of trauma due to nails were found to be non-traumatic and, therefore, not evidence of crucifixion.

 

[telmab7]

On the foot rests & nails answer

Revelation 2:13-16
I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit fornication: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites. In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Daniel 7 :19-23
After this I would diligently learn concerning the fourth beast. which was very different from all, and exceeding terrible: his teeth and claws were of iron: he devoured and broke in pieces, and the rest he stamped upon with his feet: And concerning the ten horns that he had on his head: and concerning the other that came up, before which three horns fell: and of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and was greater than the rest. I beheld, and lo, that horn made war against the saints, and prevailed over them, Till the Ancient of days came and gave judgment to the saints of the most High, and the time came, and the saints obtained the kingdom. And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

 

[patrick457]

On the foot rests & nails answer

Revelation 2:13-16
I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit fornication: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaites. In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Daniel 7 :19-23
After this I would diligently learn concerning the fourth beast. which was very different from all, and exceeding terrible: his teeth and claws were of iron: he devoured and broke in pieces, and the rest he stamped upon with his feet: And concerning the ten horns that he had on his head: and concerning the other that came up, before which three horns fell: and of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and was greater than the rest. I beheld, and lo, that horn made war against the saints, and prevailed over them, Till the Ancient of days came and gave judgment to the saints of the most High, and the time came, and the saints obtained the kingdom. And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

I’m afraid I don’t see a connection. Can you please elaborate?