Catholic View of the Zodiac

FishEaters ^ | FishEaters

[WillOTerry]

A new sub-section on the FishEaters website deals with the Zodiac, a Christian way of seeing it. This sub-section consists of a number of pages, including one for each Zodiac sign, so you'll have to visit to read it. But the introduction brings up something really fascinating that St. Paul, the Apostle brings up when referencing a Psalm! Very, VERY interesting!

[WillOTerry]

Excerpt:

From Scripture, it is clear that God not only created and has complete control over the stars, but named them and gave them not only for seasons, days and years, but, as said, "for signs."

Job 38:31-33 Shalt thou be able to join together the shining stars the Pleiades, or canst thou stop the turning about of Arcturus? 1 Canst thou bring forth the day star in its time, and make the evening star to rise upon the children of the earth? Dost thou know the order of heaven, and canst thou set down the reason thereof on the earth?

King David, in his 18th Psalm (or the 19th in Bibles with Masoretic numbering), asserts that the Heavens "shew forth," "declare," and "uttereth" -- that their "voices" go unto the ends of the earth and can be "heard" by all men:

Psalm 18:2-5 The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.

And here is the most fascinating thing: according to St. Paul, it seems that King David wasn't merely being poetic; when speaking about the potential for salvation of those who have never heard the Gospel from the Church, he says, in Romans 10:11-18:

For the Scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in Him shall not be confounded. For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek: for the same is Lord over all, rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things? But all do not obey the gospel. For Isaias saith: Lord, who hath believed our report? Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ.

But I say: Have they not heard? Yes, verily: Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the whole world.

Who is the "they" whose sound has gone forth into all the earth, and words unto the ends of the whole world, said words being the same as having heard word of Christ? It seems to be the "they" of the Psalm which St. Paul was quoting very precisely: "they" are the stars of Psalm 18:2-5, which I urge you to read again since St. Paul uses those exact words:

The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world.

Could St. Paul possibly have meant to say that all one has to do is look to the stars to see not just the glory of God's creation, but the Gospel message itself? Could the original names of these stars, given by God to Adam in Eden, have been designed to tell a story?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Bump for later

[Daffy]

Thanks for the alert of the new section. Wonderful stuff, enjoyable reading.

[Daffy]

If you haven’t been there (fisheaters.com), go and poke around a bit. The entire Fish Eaters web site is a monumental work, and a resource for traditional Catholic practice and belief.

Today on their forum, this question was posted:

“There’s a heretic that I work with who keeps sending me different links which argue that the catholic church intentionally changed the 2nd commandment so that we can have statues and “graven images” as this guy Is saying. I am trying to do some apologetics for this, but need help. I don’t deny my knowledge of scripture and the faith is a work in progress.”

The inquirer was directed to the section on the enumeration of the Ten Words, found here, which is a tiny part of the compilation:
http://www.fisheaters.com/10commandments.html
This is the best outline and examination I’ve found (as such are not specifically addressed in the New Testament) from the Old Testament origins.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thanks for the fisheaters link. Very good!