Strange Holy Card

[medievalman86]

The major problem is that triangle (with a female's eyes, so it appears to me). Very masonic for my taste. Could it be a masonic prayer card inculcating its symbolism on innocent bystanders?

every time i see that triangle with an eye, that is the instant, and only assumption i make- masonic.  Reason- well its on the back of a dollar and every masonic book or document ive seen future that prominently.

[Whitey]

I'm not sure what it is, but I see nothing to make me think it's masonic in any way.

[Renatus Frater]

Renatus et al....the triangle symbolizes the Trinity... very old symbol.

Nope. You don't ever see it in ancient icons. Also, check the reference above.

[Qoheleth]

Renatus et al....the triangle symbolizes the Trinity... very old symbol.

Nope. You don't ever see it in ancient icons. Also, check the reference above.

Well Renatus  the church i have attended for quite some time that was built at the turn of the century has a triangle in every one of the stained glass windows with a cross above it.    Must be a Masonic Church :grin:

[aquinas138]

The Triangle-as-Trinity is quite late iconographically; the earliest use would be the "Shield of the Trinity," which is first attested in the early 13th century.

The bird in the middle of the Sacred Heart is probably a pelican; I can't tell at that resolution for sure. The pelican was a medieval symbol of Christ, since it was believed to feed its young with its own blood - that's why Christ is addressed as Pie Pelicane in the hymn Adoro te devote.

I just can't make out what's at the end of the ray or cord coming from the Heart to the Chalice.

[Dominicus]

That makes sense Aquinas, I love Adoro Te Devote. As I mentioned earlier, I think that's just a ring to secure the heart to the stump or something, like a divine balloon. To me this represents Jesus willfully binding Himself to the Earth for us in the form of the Eucharist while still remaining in Heaven in the Holy Trinity.

[Roger Buck]

Renatus et al....the triangle symbolizes the Trinity... very old symbol.

Yes I recall seeing this a lot in old French churches. In America, it reminds you inevitably of the seal on the dollar. But in 19th century France it meant something very different.

[VoxClamantis]

I'm not sure what it is, but I see nothing to make me think it's masonic in any way.

I wasn't thinking it was Masonic in any way, even though the eye in the triangle has been coopted by Masons (it is an old Christian symbol, however). I am puzzled by what's in the Sacred Heart, but like the pelican idea put forth in this thread, and can't figure out the long "rope" with the ring. It's such a bizarre card!

[CaptCrunch73]

I'm not sure what it is, but I see nothing to make me think it's masonic in any way.

I wasn't thinking it was Masonic in any way, even though the eye in the triangle has been coopted by Masons (it is an old Christian symbol, however). I am puzzled by what's in the Sacred Heart, but like the pelican idea put forth in this thread, and can't figure out the long "rope" with the ring. It's such a bizarre card!

Been trying to make reference to this card using this site for symbolism but can't put all the pieces together, ugh.

http://buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/icon/icon.html

[Renatus Frater]

Are you guys really using 18, 19th century as your reference for old ???
Also, France in the 19th century: there was that thing, the French revolution. That's one of the reasons I thought Masons were behind this—and btw, it wouldn't be the first time hidden cultic symbolism passed as pious devotion after the Dante affair. But even so, I don't recall seeing this stuff a lot in French churches (though, to be fair, I didn't visit that many churches).

Qoheleth, I don't know what to tell you, man. That's not traditional symbolism. Someone was either Masonic or didn't know what they were doing and invented their own symbols.