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All-Seeing Eye: The All-Seeing Eye
of God looks out from the triangle, which represents the Trinity. This reminds
us that God always watches over us in love (Ps. 33:18).
Ark: This is a common symbol of the Church, since, like the Ark of
Noah, all can find life in the safety of the Church.
Candle: Candles are used in the
Church as symbols of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is “the Light of the World”
(John 8:12; 9:5).
Censer: This is a symbol of prayer,
for as the smoke of incense soars upward, so too prayer ascends to God (Rev.
8:4 and Ps. 141:2).
Chalice and Cross: This represents
the cup used at the Last Supper, the Cross standing for the suffering of Christ
(Luke 22:42). Sometimes, instead of a Cross, there is placed a square loaf,
Christ the Bread of Life. Thus, this symbol can also be seen as symbolizing the
Holy Eucharist.
Dove Descending: This symbol, white,
with a three-rayed nimbus descending, is the most common representation of the
Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22).
Fish: This is one of the most
ancient symbols for Christ. The letters of the Greek word for fish, also
signify the first letters of each word of the phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Savior.”
Grapes: A bunch of grapes signifies
the Sacrament of the Holy Communion. It also is a symbol of Christ the Fruit of
Life.
Lamb of God: This symbol emphasizes
the sacrificial role of Christ (John 1:29). The lamb carries the
banner of victory over sin and death (1 Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5:13).
Lily: This is a symbol of Easter and
immortality. The bulb decays in the ground, yet from it new life is released.
Olive Branch: The olive branch is
the symbol for peace, harmony and healing.
Peacock: This is an ancient symbol
of the Resurrection. When the peacock sheds his feathers, he grows more
brilliant ones than those he lost.
Phoenix: This is a mythical bird which at death bursts into flames and
rises from its own ashes. Thus it is a symbol of the Resurrection and life
immortal.
Seven-Fold Flame: This is a symbol
of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
Seven Lamps: This represents the
seven lamps burning before the Throne of God (also a seven-branched candlestick)
and symbolizes the gift of the Holy Spirit (Is. 11:2-3; Rev. 5:12).
Shamrock: This was supposedly used
by St. Patrick of Ireland to teach the Trinity. The leaf is one, yet distinct, equal, and of
the same substance.
Ship: The Church has been likened to
a great ship bearing men through a violent storm to the safety of the Kingdom of Heaven. The
main part of the church building is called the Nave, which comes from the Latin
word for ship, navis.
Ten Commandments: These are pictured
as tablets of stone, with numbers on each, symbolizing the Ten Commandments.
Sometimes there are three commandments on the first and seven on the second;
sometimes there are four and six; and sometimes there are five on each tablet.
Triquetra: This is an early symbol
of the Trinity in which the three equal arcs express eternity in their
continuous form, indivisible in their weaving.
Triquetra and Circle: The Triquetra,
denoting the Trinity, is combined with the circle of eternity, producing a
figure recalling several spiritual truths.
Wheat: Wheat is the symbol of the
Bread of Life, based on the Gospel of Mark
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