BREASTPLATES
OF THE
24 ELDERS
"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats;
and upon the seats I saw four and twenty Elders sitting,
clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power,
for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."
Book of Revelation, Chapter 4, v.4 and 11
OLD TESTAMENT TRIBE: ASHER
Asher was the eighth son of Jacob and the second son of Zilpah.
The name Asher means "prosperous" or "happy."
Of all the tribes, Asher's was the most blessed with male children
and beautiful women. This tribe possessed the quality of wisdom.
The land possessed by the Tribe of Asher was fertile and rich in olive oil.
Asher had five sons, Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and one daughter Serah
who is sometimes referred to as the oldest woman in the Torah.
Among the ancient legends about Serah was the belief that she
entered Heaven without dying.
HIGH PRIEST'S BREASTPLATE STONE: GREEN JADE
The term Jade refers to two separate stones: Jadeite and Nephrite.
These words are derived from 'piedra de ijada' and 'lapis nephriticus'
which come from the belief that jade is a remedy for kidney ailments.
Although green is the most popular color of Jade, it is also found in
a variety of colors, including yellow, pink, purple, and black.
As early as 850 BC, jade was used in Korea in burial practices. The Aztecs buried their dead with jade beads, and esteemed jade more highly than gold.
Jade is believed to guard against misfortune and to attract love.
NEW TESTAMENT APOSTLE: ST. MATTHIAS
The name Matthias means "Gift of Yahweh."
St. Matthias was the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after
Jesus ascended into Heaven. Under the direction of St. Peter, two
disciples were selected: Joseph (called Barsabas) and Matthias.
The 11 apostles drew lots, and Matthias was the one chosen.
He is sometimes referred to as the 13th Apostle.
In the 11th Century, the Feast of St. Matthias was placed on the Church
calendar, to be celebrated on the "sixth day to the Calends of March."
This would be February 24 in common years, and February 25
in leap years.
His remains lie at the Abbey of St. Matthias in Trier, in Germany.
St. Matthias is a patron of carpenters and tailors.
NEW JERUSALEM STONE: AMETHYST
Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz.
Since 3000 B.C. amethyst has been considered a stone of royalty.
Amethyst is the stone traditionally used in the episcopal rings of bishops.
The violet color denotes both power and compassion.
Amethyst is believed to have a quieting effect, to subdue passions
and curb addictions, and to guard against intoxication.
Brothers and Sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the
household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him
the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple
sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a
dwelling place of God in the Spirit. --from the Letter of St. Paul to
the Ephesians
GIFT OF GOD
Wrapped was the world in slumber deep,
By seaward valley and cedarn steep,
And bright and blest were the dreams of its sleep;
All the hours of that wonderful night-tide through
The stars outblossomed in fields of blue,
A heavenly chaplet, to diadem
The King in the manger of Bethlehem.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
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The artist of "Gift of God" is Mother Margaret Mary Nealis who was a member
of the congregation of Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, based in Halifax. She was born on December 9, 1876. Mother Nealis entered the noviceship in Montreal in 1895. After professing her religious vows in 1903, she spent most of her life in Sault-au-Recollet. As a teacher and accomplished artist, she produced a variety of works on religious subjects. Mother Nealis died in Montreal on December 17, 1957. Reproductions of her paintings are popular worldwide and can be found in picture books, framed lithographs, and on vintage holy cards.
The 12 Tribes of Israel
God said to him: "You whose name is Jacob shall no longer be called
Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." Thus he was named Israel.
God also said to him: "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply.
A nation, indeed an assembly of nations, shall stem from you, and
kings shall issue from your loins. The land I once gave to Abraham
and Isaac I now give to you; And to your descendants after you
will I give this land."
The sons of Jacob were now twelve.
The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's first-born,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;
the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin;
the sons of Rachel's maid Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali;
the sons of Leah's maid Zilpah: Gad and Asher.
Book of Genesis, Chapter 35
The 12 Stones of the
High Priests’ Breastplates
Four rows of precious stones were mounted on it:
In the first row a carnelian, a topaz and an emerald;
in the second row, a garnet, a sapphire and a beryl;
in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst;
in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper.
These stones were twelve, to match the names of the sons of
Israel, and each stone was engraved like a seal with the name of
one of the twelve tribes.
Whenever Aaron enters the sanctuary, he will thus bear the names
of the sons of Israel on the breastpiece of decision over his heart as
a constant reminder before the Lord.
Book of Exodus, Chapter 28.
The 12 Apostles
The names of the twelve apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Book of Matthew, Chapter 10
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias,
and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 1
The 12 Foundation Stones
of the New Jerusalem
The wall was constructed of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass.
The foundations of the city wall were decorated with every precious stone;
the first course of stones was jasper, the second sapphire, the third
chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian,
the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase,
the eleventh hyacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made from a single pearl;
and the street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass.
Book of Revelation, Chapter 21
Stained glass designs are original works of Leo Del Pasqua and subject to applicable copyright laws.
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