star symbol

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Sherlock

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Hello all,

I’m not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but here goes: in one of the stained-glass windows in our adoration chapel, there is a small seven-pointed star. In the tips of the star points are various letters. At first I was thinking that the letters represented the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but the letters don’t correspond to the gifts. Do any of you know what the star symbolizes?

Thanks.
 
What are the letters? Maybe they stand for the Latin names of the spiritual gifts? How about the Seven Churches in Revelation?
 
Mercygate,

I’m afraid I haven’t written them down. I have adoration on Monday mornings, so I will write them down then. What would be the Latin words for the seven gifts?
 
Latin for the gifts of the Holy Spirit:

Donum (gift) sapientiae (wisdom)
Donum intellectus (understanding)
Donum consilii (counsel)
Donum fortitudinis (fortitude)
Donum scientiae (knowledge)
Donum pietatis (piety)
Donum timoris Domini (Fear of the Lord)
 
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Sherlock:
Mercygate,

I’m afraid I haven’t written them down. I have adoration on Monday mornings, so I will write them down then. What would be the Latin words for the seven gifts?
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Sapientia, Intellectus, Consilium, Fortitudo, Scientia, Pietas, Timor Domini
 
Thanks to both of you! But that’s not it, then, as I do remember a “G” as well as an “M” (or was it a “W”? Can’t recall). Well, I will definitely note the letters on Monday.
 
I wrote the letters down when I last visited the chapel. Here they are: S, F, M, G, B, V, D.

Any ideas?
 
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Sherlock:
I wrote the letters down when I last visited the chapel. Here they are: S, F, M, G, B, V, D.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Beats me. BVD? No. Can’t be that!
 
Well, G could stand for Gaspar, M for Melchior, B for Balthasar–there’s the three wise men; the star could be the six pointed star of David with a seventh point representing Christ as the Morning Star, the V for the Virgin, D for Deus (God) or David, F for Fides (Faith), S for Stella (star).

What a neat puzzle. . .hopefully you can find out the story from the priest there, and fill us in!
 
Is the star part of a bigger picture? Visitation of the Magi? A coat of arms?
 
Mercygate,

The windows feature a large central symbol: in one window, there is a crown with three crossed nails; another has a chalice with a vine-and-branches motif; and another with a dove and flames—those symbols are clear enough. Above these large motifs are smaller, separate symbols: one window has what looks like a wheelbarrow on fire, but is probably a symbol of Elijah’s fiery chariot (heh!) , another has the Alpha and Omega symols (also an "A with an “M” superimposed on it), and the other has the star. These symbols do not appear to be connected to the larger motif, but may simply be a way to fill that space.

Thanks for the suggestions, Tantum Ergo. I will let you know what my priest says, if no one here knows.
 
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