WOW… This Mascot topic has so many rabbit holes. This development is far to serious to let pass. Since this has turned into such a long post, I am going to be brief here and let the evidence speak for itself.
IF you are looking for FAITH, Look No Farther than the Word of GOD. JESUS is the WORD and HE is the author and finisher of our faith.
IF you are looking for HOPE, Look no farther than JESUS, who is THE HOPE/HATIKVA!
IF you are looking for LOVE, Look no farther than JESUS who is LOVE. He loves you more than you could ever know. He knows you better than anyone can. HE gives us the DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS. Twofold… he puts the right desires in you, and he fulfills them.
DON’T MISS THIS POST!!
Meet ‘Luce’: The Vatican’s cartoon mascot for Jubilee 2025
Vatican City, Oct 28, 2024 / 12:55 pm
Ahead of the 2025 Jubilee, the Vatican has launched a cartoon mascot unveiled Monday as the cheerful face of the Catholic Church’s upcoming holy year.
The mascot, named Luce — which means “light” in Italian — is intended to engage a younger audience and guide visitors through the holy year.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Vatican’s chief organizer for the jubilee, described the mascot as part of the Vatican’s goal to engage with “the pop culture so beloved by our young people.”
Rino
The name Rino has an interesting origin story. It is derived from the Italian name “Rino,” a short form of names like Marino or Severino. In Italian, “Rino” can mean “little king” or “ruler,” |
Fisichella is an occupational surname, derived from Medieval Latin: physicus, lit. ‘physician’. It is also the surname of an Italian Noble family. |
The mascot will debut this week at the Lucca Comics and Games, Italy’s celebrated convention for all things comics, video games, and fantasy, where the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization will host a space dedicated to “Luce and Friends.”
It will be the first time that a Vatican dicastery participates in a comics convention. Fisichella, who serves as the the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s section for the new evangelization, said he hopes taking part in the convention “will allow us to speak to younger generations about the theme of hope, which is more central than ever in the evangelical message.”
dicastery AI Overview / Learn more…Opens in new tab
Dycastery
The Roman Catholic Church officially switched from using the term “Congregation” to “Dicastery” for its various departments within the Vatican Curia in 2022, with the publication of Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution “Praedicate Evangelium” which restructured the Roman Curia and standardized all departments as “dicasteries” instead of different titles like “congregation” or “pontifical council”
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: the court (of law)composed of the dicasts
also : the place where the court sat
Etymology: Greek dikastērion court of law, from dikastēs |
So, they are positioning themselves to rule wi.th an iron hand once again. Making the entire Church a court of law and giving themselves the ultimate power over everyone |
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Clad in a yellow raincoat, mud-stained boots, and a pilgrim’s cross, Luce’s mission is to guide young pilgrims toward hope and faith with her trusty dog Santino at her side. Shells glimmer in her eyes, recalling the scallop shell of the Camino de Santiago, an emblem of the pilgrimage journey.
LUCE AI Overview / Learn more…Opens in new tab The word luce has multiple origins and meanings, including:
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*leuk-
radiant energy;” lightning; limn; link (n.2) “torch of pitch, tow, etc.;” lucent; lucid; Lucifer; luciferase; luciferous; lucifugous; lucubrate; lucubration; luculent; lumen; Luminal; luminary; luminate; luminescence; luminous; luna; lunacy; lunar; Lunarian; lunate; lunation; lunatic; l une; lunette; luni-; luster; l ustrum; lux; pellucid; sublunary; translucent. |
Santino
Santino is derived from the Latin word “sanctus,” meaning “holy” or “devout,” Source |
Santino name meaning Little Saint
The name Santino traces its origins to the Italian language and holds the symbolic meaning of Little Saint. Derived from the Italian word santo, meaning a saint or holy person, and the diminutive suffix -ino, which signifies smallness or endearment, Santino encapsulates a sense of purity and virtue within its etymology. This name carries a rich historical significance, with its roots deeply embedded in the religious and cultural fabric of Italy. Through its continued usage, the name Santino keeps alive the legacy of saints and maintains a link to Italian culture and spirituality. |
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A pilgrim’s cross
Many pilgrims would carry a cross as a reminder and symbol of their faith – ranging from a simple wood to precious stones. The cross might be worn around the pilgrim’s neck, others may be hidden away in the pilgrim’s scrip or bag, away from prying eyes. |
One of the reasons given for the Scallop shell being associated with the Pilgrim is it’s association with Venus, the goddess of love. As Venus’s symbol signifies people’s rebirth, the resurrection. This means overcoming the ego to move forward to a true self, more humble and simple. It also means the beginnings and endings, transition and transformation. All ideas shared by pilgrims and discovered on the Camino today, a constant source of renewal and rediscovery. Did you know? Venus rose from the sea on a scallop shell. Botticelli’s painting “The Birth of Venus”, depicts this scene. In addition, the scallop shell is associated with fertility rituals practised along the route. SOURCE: The Scallop Shell And Other Symbols of The Camino |
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Speaking at a Vatican press conference on Oct. 28 next to a plastic figurine of Luce, Fisichella described Luce’s shining eyes as “a symbol of the hope of the heart.”
Luce, he said, will also be the face of the Holy See’s pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where she will represent the Vatican’s pavilion theme, “Beauty Brings Hope,” alongside Caravaggio’s “The Entombment of Christ,” a painting that will be temporarily on loan from the Vatican Museums for the expo.
Simone Legno, the Italian co-founder of the pop culture brand tokidoki, designed Luce and her “pilgrim friends” — Fe, Xin, and Sky, each outfitted in brightly colored jackets.
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The name Fe has multiple origins and meanings, including:
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The Chinese character xin is rendered as shin in Japanese. Xin has a dual meaning, carrying both the physical and spatial meaning of heart, center, or essence, and the psychological meaning of mind. In Chinese culture, xin is a frequently used word that is central to the culture. The meaning of xin can contain both “good and bad things” toward others.
In China, the word, xin 心心心心 (often translated as ‘heart’) is frequently used and its concept is central |
sky (n.)
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Luce’s yellow sailor’s raincoat is a nod to both the Vatican flag and to journeying through life’s storms. The mascot’s muddy boots represent a long and difficult journey, while her staff symbolizes the pilgrimage toward eternity.
Legno, who admitted a lifelong love for Japanese pop culture, said he hopes that “Luce can represent the sentiments that resonate in the hearts of the younger generations.”
“I am extremely grateful to the Dicastery for Evangelization for opening its doors to pop culture as well,” he said.
A jubilee is a special holy year of grace and pilgrimage in the Catholic Church. It typically takes place once every 25 years, though the pope can call for extraordinary jubilee years more often, such as in the case of the 2016 Year of Mercy or the 2013 Year of Faith.
The Vatican has planned a range of cultural events to accompany the lead-up to the jubilee year, including a concert on Nov. 3 of Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” and an art exhibit of Marc Chagall’s “White Crucifixion” painting, which will be on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago to be displayed in Rome’s Museo del Corso from Nov. 27 to Jan. 27.
The jubilee year itself will begin with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 2024, welcoming an anticipated 30 million pilgrims into Rome by the time the Holy Year ends on Jan. 6, 2026.
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pilgrim (n.)
Entries linking to pilgrim
late 13c., pelrimage, “act of journeying through a strange country to a holy place, long journey undertaken by a pilgrim;” from pilgrim + -age and also from Anglo-French pilrymage, Old French pelrimage, pelerinage “pilgrimage, distant journey, crusade,” from peleriner “to go on a pilgrimage.” Modern spelling is from early 14c. Figurative sense of “the journey of life” is by mid-14c.
Scallop shellA centuries-old symbol of pilgrimage, the scallop shell represents the physical and spiritual journey of a pilgrim. The grooves on the shell represent the many paths that lead to the same destination. The scallop shell is also a symbol of renewal of faith, as it provided nourishment for pilgrims traveling long distances. On the Camino de Santiago, the scallop shell is used to guide pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela.
GourdA gourd is a fruit that was used by pilgrims to carry water, wine, or other drinks along the Camino de Santiago. It was often hung on the pilgrim’s walking stick or waist. Today, the gourd is used symbolically to remember the history of the trail.
CrossIn Christian pilgrimage, the cross represents Jerusalem as the center of the world, and four corner crosses represent Christianity spreading to the four corners of the world.
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Feminine principleIn ancient times, scallops and other hinged shells symbolized the feminine principle. The shell could represent the protective and nurturing principle, or the “life-force slumbering within the Earth”.
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AphroditeIn Greek and Roman times, the scallop shell was a symbol of the goddess Aphrodite, who represented love, beauty, and goodness.
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PilgrimageThe scallop shell is a significant symbol of pilgrimage, representing the idea that the journey is more important than the destination. It can also symbolize spiritual rebirth and self-discovery. The ridges on the shell are said to represent the channels of water used in baptism.
The pilgrim’s habit, which has remained the same for many centuries, consists of symbolic elements such as:
– “The ” alforja ” (backpack) is always open, both to give and to receive. It is used to carry food, some clothing and essential material.
– the staff ( cane ) A stick or staff that is carried in the hand to support those who are weak. It was also used for defense.
– the scallop sewn onto the dress… For centuries the scallop, typically found on the coast of Galicia, has been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago and its pilgrims. In ancient times, pilgrims used it to drink water along the way; on their return to their countries of origin, they wore it over their habit or in their hat, to show that they had reached Santiago, the goal of their journey.
– The Yellow Arrow. Which guides us to Santiago. We can find them in different varieties and in surprising places. We have to be careful.
These symbols are the testimony that the pilgrimage is being fulfilled.
Although the etymological origin of the word staff is unclear, most sources find it in the French term bourdon , a kind of long lance.
This term was transferred to the Camino de Santiago to give name to the long, wooden staff used by French pilgrims to help them on the difficult journey to Compostela.
In the Codex Calixtinus itself (text from the 12th century) the staff appears described, an element that, as detailed, was blessed in churches in a ceremony of departure to Santiago.
Pilgrim’s staff. This is the wooden staff that we all have in mind when we think of the Camino de Santiago.
This is not a conventional wooden walking stick, but one specially prepared for the Camino. It is a long, straight, sturdy wooden stick, at least higher than the pilgrim’s shoulder.
The staff is usually finished at the top with a knob or a thick circular moulding towards the centre. The lower edge may include a pointed metal ferrule. Source: Staff: the pilgrim’s walking stick
Shepherd’s Staff: A Work Tool and Tradition
- Shepherd’s staffs, also known as cudgels, shepherd’s clubs, shepherd’s crooks or shepherd’s crooks, have historically been an essential tool for those dedicated to the care of livestock.
- Shepherd’s sticks or cudgels provide support and balance when walking through rough terrain and help guide the flock.
- The shepherd’s staff represents the connection with rural life and the roots of the land, and are symbols of pastoral life.
- Its use has been passed down from generation to generation, preserving ancestral traditions and skills. Crook
- The staff is a wooden walking stick with an elegant curve at the handle, which fits comfortably in the hand.
- It is ideal for walking on softer and more relaxed terrain, providing extra support and balance. A shepherd’s crook is a very important tool for this task.
- Its classic and stylish design makes it a popular choice among lovers of tradition and elegance
- SOURCE: Staff, club, gayato, rod, cachaba, makila…. Types of wooden canes
For centuries, the staff was an indispensable element for pilgrims on the Camino. The traditional one is made of hazelnut or chestnut wood, and pilgrims used it as a support for walking and to protect themselves from the dangers they could encounter along the Camino. Both the walking stick and the staff can be really useful on the Camino.The cane should be light, the less it weighs the more comfortable it will be to walk. In addition, it should be wide (your fingers should not reach the palm of your hand) and a certain height (measuring a couple of palms more than the person carrying it) and ending in a point so that it adheres perfectly to the paths of the Camino.
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I searched all over the internet and could find no place where the forked staff/stang was used by pilgrims. The Forked Staff/STANG is used by WITCHES.
Stang: Staff – Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
The POPE IS A WITCH
by Cynthia
WOW, the things that come out of the mouth of Francis are so bizarre and appalling I cannot believe that people have not demanded he be removed. These globalist maniacs are so brazen. They reveal their true nature and their designs on your life with every word that comes out of their mouths. They come … Click Here to Read More
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The Scallop Shell And Other Symbols of The Camino
What comes to mind when you think about Camino de Santiago symbols? Do you think of the scallop shell? The yellow arrow? And what about the other symbols of the Camino de Santiago? From pilgrim hats to walking sticks, these symbols help to understand the history, culture, and traditions of this ancient pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Let us explore some of the best-known items.
Some Camino de Santiago symbols have a true historical origin, while others are just metaphorical. After reading this post, you will have a few interesting facts to share with your fellow pilgrims on your way.
Please note: We do not provide scallop shells in our holiday pack in support of our sustainability initiatives.
The scallop shell, one of the main symbols of the Camino de Santiago
Above all other El Camino de Santiago symbols, the scallop shell (or “Viera”) is the most well-known and iconic. It is closely related to the history of the Jacobean route. Most importantly, it appears reflected on the Codex Calixtinus. Clergymen would give it to pilgrims on their arrival at Santiago de Compostela city as accreditation for completing their pilgrimage.
camino (n.)
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JACOBEAN HISTORY AND ROUTESHistory of the Way of Saint JamesTradition has it that Saint James the Great was one of Christ’s twelve apostles and that he preached the teachings of his master throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The discovery of his tomb caused the onset of the Jacobean pilgrimage, which had its highlights during the Middle Ages. Monarchs from different kingdoms of the north of the peninsula promoted the Camino, proposed new routes and improved the safety of the paths. |
This statement is accurate; Jacobeans held the belief known as the “Divine Right of Kings,” which stated that God directly chose the monarch, granting them absolute power on Earth and making them accountable only to God himself.
Key points about the Divine Right of Kings:
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From ancient times to today, the scallop shell has accompanied pilgrims on their way to Santiago. On the other hand, now that people can buy scallop shells online, they are no longer proof of walking the Camino. However, the significance and tradition of carrying the shell with you on the Camino are still alive.
Did you know? The scallop shell’s scientific name is Pecten Jacobaeus, further proof of the significance of this as one of the main symbols of the Camino de Santiago.
Origin of the scallop shell as a symbol
#1 The association of the scallop shell with pilgrimage is related to its use by pilgrims to drink water from springs and streams.
#2 Its popularisation as one of the Camino de Santiago symbols came after the settlement of some merchants around the cathedral of Santiago in the Middle Ages. They sold the Vieiras that they took from the Galician sea as a souvenir to the pilgrims.
#3 The Concha of Santiago can be traced back to when the disciple visited the Spanish peninsula by boat. This was in order to bury the remains of St James. Unfortunately, a storm destroyed the ship After some time, St James’s body was found undamaged and covered in scallop shells along the seashore.
#4 On their arrival at the Galician coast, the disciples saw a wedding that was taking place on the shore. The bride was on horseback, suddenly the frightened horse dove into the ocean with the bride still on the saddle. Thankfully, both the bride and the horse emerged from the water safe and sound covered in scallop shells.
#5 There is another version that associates the scallop shell with Venus, the goddess of love. As Venus’s symbol signifies people’s rebirth, the resurrection. This means overcoming the ego to move forward to a true self, more humble and simple. It also means the beginnings and endings, transition and transformation. All ideas shared by pilgrims and discovered on the Camino today, a constant source of renewal and rediscovery.
Did you know? Venus rose from the sea on a scallop shell. Botticelli’s painting “The Birth of Venus”, depicts this scene. In addition, the scallop shell is associated with fertility rituals practised along the route.
The scallop shell as a healing tool
Some medieval texts give the shell the virtue of chasing rodents from fields or purifying water and wine.
Did you know? The scallop shell is not only associated with the St James Way. In the 12th century, they were reportedly sold in Mont St Michel in France. Emperor Charles IV received scallops as a present from the French king when he was passing by Paris on his pilgrimage.
What is the significance of the scallop shell on the Camino?
Nowadays, the scallop shell sign is printed on hundreds of milestones in yellow colour on a blue background along the different Camino routes. It indicates the path to pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
You can pick up countless souvenirs and mementoes emblazoned with the shell. Which make a great talking point to those who’ve been or want to go. You’ll also notice that churches along the Camino and churches named St James around the world will proudly display this ancient icon as a testament to their connection with the saint.
Did you know? In French, the scallop is called Coquille Saint Jacques and in German Jakobsmuscheln (James mussels).
Other symbols of the Camino
It is true that the scallop shell is one of the most representative symbols of the Camino de Santiago. However, it is not the only one. There are other objects, signs, or places strongly related to the Camino:
The Cross of St James
This particular Latin cross simulates a sword and its arms take the shape of a Fleur-De-Lys. Its red colour represents Jesus’s blood and the white background is a sign of purity.
Its origin is related to the times of the Crusades, the Crusaders carried small sharp-edge crosses with them to be able to push them into the ground and pray in the presence of the Cross.
It is common to see pilgrims today carrying St James cross as a pin on their backpack or hat, and some scallop shells will have the symbol painted onto them.
Did you know? St James was beheaded with a sword so the cross of St James is also a symbol of his suffering.
The Pilgrim’s Passport
The credential or Pilgrim’s Passport is the way that pilgrims prove that they have accomplished their pilgrimage.
It’s like a passport in which pilgrims have to collect stamps on the different stages of their journey.
If you would like to receive your Compostela then you will need to show the stamps that you have received along the journey, covering at least 100km if you have walked, or 200km if you have cycled.
We will send you your own credential with your Holiday Pack when you book with Follow the Camino.
The Compostela
It is the certificate that pilgrims can get at the end of their Camino to Santiago de Compostela. They receive the Compostela by walking 100km on foot. Additionally, people cycling the Camino need to accomplish a minimum of 200 km to request it.
The Pilgrim’s Office is the organization in charge of issuing this certificate and where people can request their Compostela certificate.
Gourd – “Calabaza”
In the past, pilgrims used a gourd (similar to a butternut pumpkin) as a tool to carry water. It was often carried by attaching it to their wooden walking stick.
It was a light, practical and cheap way to keep you hydrated along the way. Its use today is less practical, people just use it in a symbolic way to remember the history of the trail and the people who walked before them.
The Camino Hat
The typical Camino hat is a wide-brimmed hat that can be folded as a half-moon. As you can imagine, pilgrims walking for long hours under the Spanish sun can get easily sunburned if not using proper protection. The wide brim kept the sun off, so this is the main reason why it became a tradition for pilgrims to wear it.
Nowadays, you will see a much wider variety of hats along the way. You can read more about what to pack for the Camino here.
The Milestone
Milestones are blocks of concrete or stone that indicate the way to follow and the remaining distance to reach Santiago de Compostela.
They have the characteristic yellow scallop shell, usually on a blue background, printed on them and they are usually separated by 1 kilometre.
The main exception to this is in Galicia where they are separated by only 500 meters. On some of the less walked Caminos, you won’t find as many stones along the way.
A Wooden Stick or “Bordón”
For generations, pilgrims have walked with a wooden stick that helped to relieve the impact on their knees when walking. Nowadays, the traditional wooden stick (“bordón” or “cayado”) has been replaced by all types of advanced lightweight metal walking poles. If you are walking with weaker ankles or knees, a good pair of walking poles can make a massive difference.
Yellow Arrow
Apart from the Scallop Shell, there is no other symbol that better symbolizes the Way of St James than the yellow arrow. The arrow guides pilgrims in the right direction. Furthermore, it is printed on milestones, wooden sticks, walls, rocks, paths, and more along the Camino.
Its origin is very curious, it dates back to the 70s when Elias Valiña, a priest from the O Cebreiro church, started to mark with a yellow arrow the route from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. He’s also the author of the first Camino guide published in the 80s.
Still more curious is the significance of the yellow colour which was used for no other reason than it was free. It was the colour of paint used by the workers to paint the roads around the area.
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The color yellow has many meanings, including:
The word yellow comes from a Proto-Indo-European root word that means “to shine”
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If you’re walking along the Portuguese Coastal Way you’ll also find green arrows to guide you to Santiago.
Important! If you see blue arrows on the Portuguese Way, do not follow them, unless you want to reach Fatima in Portugal (the opposite direction to Santiago).
The Codex Calixtinus
The Botafumeiro
Weighing more than 60 kg and 1.60 m in height, the Santiago de Compostela Botafumeiro is one of the largest incense burners in the world.
This is one of the most significant symbols of the Santiago cathedral; it’s made of silver-plated brass and is filled with incense and charcoal that is made to “fly”, swinging from one side to another tied to a large rope to perfume the temple.
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GOD NEVER TOLD US TO BURN INSENCE IN OUR WORSHIP OF HIM, that is a pagan practice. This statement is generally considered accurate within the context of most Christian interpretations of the Bible; while the practice of burning incense is mentioned in the Old Testament, it is specifically tied to the temple worship in Jerusalem and is strongly cautioned against when used as part of pagan worship, which is seen as an act of idolatry and forbidden by God.
Key points to consider:
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The story of the “strange fire” is in the Bible, in Leviticus 10:1-7:
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Isaiah 65:3–53 a people who continually provoke me to my very face, offering sacrifices in gardens (worshiping forest spirits and nature spirits) and burning incense on altars of brick; 4 who sit among the graves (worshiping relics) and spend their nights keeping secret vigil (worshiping the dead, or preparing for a festival or praying to ancestral spirits, or communicating with demons); who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat; 5 who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are a stench in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day. |
Pilgrims who finish their pilgrimage on special dates like St James, Assumption, Easter Sunday, etc., can see the Botafumeiro censer in action as a part of the mass. Apart from these special occasions, the flying of the Botafumeiro is done on random days or at the request (and expense!) of guests.
The Jacobean Year, Holy Year
A far-reaching time of the year for Christians and Camino enthusiasts is St James Day (25th July). When July 25th occurs on a Sunday, it is referred to as a Holy Year or Jacobean Year.
Believers who visit the tomb of St James in Santiago will be granted the plenary indulgence, the absolution of all their sins.
To obtain forgiveness of their sins, devotees have to go to confession within 15 days before visiting the St James Cathedral. After they pass through the Holy Door (Porta Sancta), which is only open to the public in Holy years, they have to pray in the cathedral and attend Mass.
Did you know? There is a Jacobean year every 6, 5, 6, and 11 years. The next Xacobeo years will be in 2021, 2022, 2027, and 2032.
Tomb of St James
At the end of your walk to Santiago de Compostela, you’ll see the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. It is a tradition to visit the tomb of St James which is located inside the cathedral in an underground crypt.
There, worshippers kneel to pray in front of the cedar box, a beautiful example of 19th-century silverwork, where the remains of the apostle and his two disciples are.
The Holy Door (Porta Santa), St James Cathedral
The tradition is the believers, pilgrims and curious enter who enter through this door may piously gain the plenary indulgences attached with the Jubilee year celebrations.
Cruceiros
One of the Camino de Santiago symbols that you’ll see the most along The Way is the Cruceiros. This stone cross or crucifix was said to forgive some sins. And they were said to protect travellers on their journeys.
On the front side, you’ll see the crucified Christ and on the opposite side, you’ll mainly see an image of the Virgin Mary.
They are religious artefacts integrated into the landscape. They are embedded in the local culture of the region that crosses the Camino de Santiago.
Have you seen any other symbols of the Camino de Santiago? Let us know!
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pilgrimage
Written by Simon Michael Coleman
The origins of pilgrimages are difficult to pinpoint, but the practice of visiting sacred sites dates back to ancient times. The word “pilgrimage” itself comes from Christianity, where it refers to journeys to places associated with significant figures, events, and stories.
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Abraham
The Bible tells the story of Abraham, who was called by God to leave his homeland and travel to a sacred place. Abraham’s descendants continued this tradition, traveling to sites of sacred encounters. Abraham was not called by the god of his nation to visit a “sacred site” He was called out by God Almighty to leave the land of his birth and go to where GOD had a plan for him. IT WAS NOT A PILGRIMAGE!
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The Israelites
The Israelites traveled to places that were significant in their relationship with Yahweh. The Israelite’s fell just like everyone else. They began to practice things that GOD found to be an abomination. They went after other god’s and they built altars and “sacred” sites that GOD did not tell them to build. Their pilgrimages were an abomination to GOD.
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The idea of sacred objects
The Old Testament suggests that sacred objects can communicate God’s power. For example, Moses took the bones of Joseph with him when he led the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses took the bones of Moses to the place where GOD told him to take them. God had a purpose in that. Moses did not set up an altar there and worship the bones of Moses. GOD does not allow us to venerate relics! We do not worship at “sacred places” we worship GOD in spirit, in our hearts and minds. Anywhere there are two or more who gather together in HIS NAME… there He is in the midst of us.
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The idea of penance
In the 6th century, Christian courts began sentencing wrongdoers to perform penitential pilgrimages to atone for their sins. That was not GOD, that was the ROMAN Catholic Church. GOD never told anyone that they have the right to demand penance for sins. GOD said if we confess our sins to HIM he is faithful and just to forgive them. His blood and His grace is sufficient for anyone who belongs to HIM. There is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness and there is nothing we can give to GOD but our love, honor, respect, and gratitude. God is not impressed with the antics of the Roman Catholic doctrines and dogmas.
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Origins
The origins of pilgrimage are difficult to determine, but deliberately visiting powerful sites is a practice that predates antiquity. Pilgrimages have long been a common feature of many world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Shinto.
Pilgrimages are NOT a practice of BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS. This is practiced ONLY IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. They even state that they do not know the origin and that this is an ancient (pagan) practice. If you do not know the root/source/origin of ANYTHING…you should leave it alone. The root is the ONLY thing that matters. That is what GOD told me. Everything else is a lie/cover up/deception!!
Motivation
A believer might undertake a pilgrimage in fulfilment of a vow, as atonement for sins, as a gesture of thanks for positive events, or as a means of intercession, among other reasons. Prior to the age of exploration in Europe, pilgrimage was a primary impetus for travel, especially among non-elites, and played a significant role in local economies and the transmission of culture. Bible believing Christians know that they are not to make vows or take oaths, that they cannot in any way atone for sins, nor do we need pilgrimages to give thanks to our GOD or to intercede for others. Pilgrimages were used as penance or punishment by the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Pilgrimages were the origin of the TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
Christian pilgrims
In the (ROMAN CATHOLIC) Christian pilgrimage tradition, the practice revolves around visiting either sites significant in the Bible – particularly those concerning the life of Christ – or in the lives of saints, or paying reverence to holy relics. Though it can be a meaningful experience to walk where Jesus walked, we do not as Christians NEED to go anywhere to serve our GOD, or to get to know HIM. We do not venerate or worship any person, place or thing but GOD! The practice of self-abasement is pagan. We do not bring any honor to GOD or the work of His son by humiliating, mutilating, or punishing our flesh.
The three main destinations of Christian pilgrimage are Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela, and for most pilgrims throughout history reaching these sites was a prolonged and possibly dangerous endeavour. However, smaller and more local pilgrimage sites – such as Canterbury Cathedral in England or the Holy House of Loreto in Italy – also enjoyed great popularity.
Although the 12th century is largely considered to have been the golden age of Christian pilgrimage, it remained a devotional practice throughout the following centuries.
YA, The time of the INQUISITION, when the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH was most powerful and terrorized and tortured the masses.
Beginning in the 12th century and continuing for hundreds of years, the Inquisition is infamous for the severity of its tortures and its persecution of Jews and Muslims. (and true Bible Believers) Its worst manifestation was in Spain, where the Spanish Inquisition was a dominant force for more than 200 years, resulting in some 32,000 executions.
National Trust places of pilgrimage
Lindisfarne Castle
In the 7th century St Aidan established a monastery on the Holy Island (?) of Lindisfarne in Northumberland, over which Lindisfarne Castle presides. The site has a long history as a pilgrimage destination, accessible to pilgrims via a causeway that can only be traversed when the tide is low.
The White Cliffs of Dover
The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic coastal landmark overlooking the narrowest part of the English Channel. They have historically been a point of embarkation for the European continent, including for English pilgrims bound for Rome. European pilgrims would likewise have landed on the shores of Dover and made their way inland to Canterbury.
Ysbyty Ifan
Until 1190, Ysbyty Ifan was known as Dôl Gynwal (Welsh for Gynwal’s Meadow). It was renamed Ysbyty Ifan (meaning hospital of St John) after it came to the attention of the Knights of St John, an order of Hospitallers, who were bound to protect pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land and on religious journeys.
“Saint John” is very important to the Elite/Illuminate/Knights Templar.
Gifts from the Fallen – Part 5 – Hospitallers
They chose to set up a hospital and hostel to care for pilgrims in Ysbyty Ifan as it was located on several ancient pilgrimage routes, including Bangor-on-Dee and Holywell in the north-east, and to Ynys Enlli/Bardsey Island off the tip of the Llŷn peninsula. Ysbyty Ifan is now the largest agricultural estate in our care.
Llŷn
The Llŷn Peninsula extends 30 miles into the Irish Sea from North West Wales, and was the last stopping point for pilgrims before crossing to Bardsey Island. The tiny St Beuno’s Church in the village of Pistyll was founded in the 6th century, and was later a hospice for pilgrims travelling to Bardsey.
Red House
Red House is the iconic home commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, the artist and writer who was a key figure in the British Arts and Crafts movement.
Gifts from the Fallen – Part 2 – Sacred Arts, Sciences and Crafts
Morris embraced the idea of a house that was ‘medieval in spirit’ and the building is decorated with the artist’s interpretations of various facets of medieval life, including pilgrimage. The house itself is deliberately situated near Watling Way, an ancient pilgrimage route to Canterbury.
Pilgrimages in the National Trust’s collection
The Oxburgh Retable, 1520–30
This detail of the Oxburgh Retable includes a scene of pilgrims begging for the intercession of St James, whose shrine in Santiago de Compostela was a major pilgrimage destination. The painted pilgrims, kneeling in front of an altar to the saint, mirror the posture of any devotees who would have prayed in front of this altarpiece. OK, TRUE BIBLE BELIEVERS do not venerate or pray to ANY “SAINTS”. JESUS CHRIST is our INTERCESSOR and the ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER
Romans 8:3434 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
spacerHebrews 714 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
spacerRomans 824 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he (Christ) maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
The Pilgrim by Joseph Barney the Elder
This 18th-century print by Joseph Barney the Elder shows a female pilgrim at rest in a landscape. She holds a staff and wears a flask affixed to a sash, but the scallop shells affixed to her hat and shirt are what clearly identify her as a pilgrim to Santiago de Compostela.
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Pilgrimage was a motif that featured not only in art but in literature as well. John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, widely regarded as one of the most influential works of religious English literature, is a 17th-century allegory of Christian life that follows the main character’s dream pilgrimage from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.
Trusted Source
This is a Trusted Source article, created in partnership with the University of Oxford. This article contains contributions from Helena Guzik, who works on the material culture of pilgrimage in fifteenth and sixteenth-century Italy at the University of Oxford.
If you noted all the places of pilgrimage above you found that NONE OF THEM had anything to do with the FAITH of God or His Word.
We do not venerate any relics, any religious structures, anything or place or person. We put our trust and Faith in God alone and in the atoning blood of the Lamb. To say that we need any such trappings or anything other than GOD is a Blasphemy. It says that HE and the Work of His Son is not enough! It is an insult to GOD.
“The Protestant Reformers by and large disapproved of pilgrimage and disapproved violently. They frowned at the cult of relics; they raged against indulgences (see below) often associated with visits to pilgrimage sites; they thought the whole business was paralyzingly superstitious and fed the heresy that you could work out your own salvation. And so, as far as they could, they shut it down.”
And thus, the practice of pilgrimage was essentially closed off to Protestants and consequently to the impending evangelical tradition. While Catholic pilgrimage continued to flourish, pilgrimage in the Protestant faith became tragically forgotten. Despite this, the imprint of pilgrimage on our souls remained. SOURCE
The soul that is not truly saved is tied to ancient spirits and slave to sin and death. If you are yearning for the ancient ways/practices/rituals…you are not under the Blood of Jesus Christ/NOT a Child of GOD/NOT SAVED!!
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Written by Lawrence G. Duggan
indulgence, a distinctive feature of the penitential system of both the Western medieval and the Roman Catholic Church that granted full or partial remission of the punishment of sin.
From the early church onward, bishops could reduce or dispense with the rigours of penances, but indulgences emerged in only the 11th and 12th centuries when the idea of purgatory took widespread hold and when the popes became the activist leaders of the reforming church. In their zeal, they promoted the militant reclamation of once-Christian lands—first of Iberia in the Reconquista, then of the Holy Land in the Crusades—offering “full remission of sins,” the first indulgences, as inducements to participation.
Papal pronouncements, oral and written, were often vague, however, and raised many questions among the pious. To clarify all these issues, the Scholastic theologians of the 12th and 13th centuries worked out a fully articulated theory of penance. It consisted of three parts: contrition, confession, and satisfaction. The debt of forgiven sin could be reduced through the performance of good works in this life (pilgrimages, charitable acts, and the like) or through suffering in purgatory. Indulgences could be granted only by popes or, to a lesser extent, archbishops and bishops as ways of helping ordinary people measure and amortize their remaining debt. “Plenary,” or full, indulgences cancelled all the existing obligation, while “partial” indulgences remitted only a portion of it. People naturally wanted to know how much debt was forgiven (just as modern students want to know exactly what they need to study for examinations), so set periods of days, months, and years came gradually to be attached to different kinds of partial indulgences.
One did not, however, have to do it all by oneself. Medieval Christianity was a vast community of mutual help through prayer and good works, uniting the living and the dead in the Church Militant on earth, the Church Suffering in purgatory, and the Church Triumphant in heaven. The good works of Jesus Christ, the saints, and others could be drawn upon to liberate souls from purgatory. In 1343 Pope Clement VI decreed that all these good works were in the Treasury of Merit, over which the pope had control.
This highly complicated theological system, which was framed as a means to help people achieve their eternal salvation, easily lent itself to misunderstanding and abuse as early as the 13th century, much sooner than is usually thought. A principal contributing factor was money. Paralleling the rise of indulgences, the Crusades, and the reforming papacy was the economic resurgence of Europe that began in the 11th century. Part of this tremendous upsurge was the phenomenon of commutation, through which any services, obligations, or goods could be converted into a corresponding monetary payment. Those eager to gain plenary indulgences, but unable to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, wondered whether they might perform an alternative good work or make an equivalent offering to a charitable enterprise—for example, the building of a leprosarium or a cathedral. Churchmen allowed such commutation, and the popes even encouraged it, especially Innocent III (reigned 1198–1216) in his various Crusading projects. From the 12th century onward the process of salvation was therefore increasingly bound up with money. Reformers of the 14th and 15th centuries frequently complained about the “sale” of indulgences by pardoners. And as the papacy weakened in this period, secular governments increasingly allowed the granting of indulgences only in return for a substantial share of the yield, often as much as two-thirds. The princes got most of the money, and the popes got most of the blame.
People also wondered whether they could gain an indulgence for someone who had died and was presumed to be in purgatory. If so, in acting out of charity for someone else, were they then obliged to confess their own sins, as they would if they sought to obtain an indulgence for themselves? Although these concerns were surfacing as early as the 13th century, it was only in 1476 that Pope Sixtus IV declared that one could indeed gain an indulgence for someone in purgatory. Sixtus, however, left unanswered the problem of the necessity of personal confession. This profound uncertainty surrounding penance threatened to sever completely the nexus between the confession of sin and the achievement of salvation.
That is precisely what happened in the early 16th century. In northern Germany a Dominican friar, Johann Tetzel, was credited with hawking indulgences for the dead by saying, “When a penny in the coffer rings, / A soul from Purgatory springs.” The system was finally killed by a young Augustinian friar in a neighbouring territory, Martin Luther. He was not (as is widely thought) moved originally to a critique of the system by these abuses but rather by his own terrible spiritual suffering. In any case, he drew up a devastating document, the Ninety-five Theses of October 1517. In number 82 he blew the lid off the system. Cleverly reporting the “keen criticisms of the laity,” he vitiated papal control of the Treasury of Merit by writing that the laity
ask, for example: Why does not the pope liberate everyone from Purgatory for the sake of love (a most holy thing) and because of the supreme necessity of their souls? This would be morally the best of reasons. Meanwhile he redeems innumerable souls for money, a most perishable thing, with which to build St. Peter’s church, a very minor purpose.
With this blast, Luther began to knock down the house of cards, and by 1520 he came to the full realization of his immensely liberating theological message: salvation is free, and one does not have to do anything, much less pay anything, to obtain it. Virtually all forms of Protestantism would reject all or most of the penitential system, including indulgences.
The Roman Catholic Church conceded very few points to Luther or the other reformers. One of the points was justification by faith (but not by faith “alone,” as Luther insisted in his rendering of Paul), and another was the fateful connection between money and indulgences. While reasserting the place of indulgences in the salvific process, the Council of Trent condemned “all base gain for securing indulgences” in 1563, and Pope Pius V abolished the sale of indulgences in 1567. The system and its underlying theology otherwise remained intact. Exactly 400 years later, in 1967, Pope Paul VI modified it by shifting the stress away from the satisfaction of punishment to the inducement of good works, greatly reducing the number of plenary indulgences and eliminating the numerical system associated for so long with partial indulgences.
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You have seen the logo for the 2025 Jubilee? – UPDATED
What meaning did you want to give to hope?
Hope is not for men, young, old, big and small, but corresponds to the past and the future, taking up the first two jubilees (faith and charity), in the hope identified with the cross there is an embrace, I personally imagined Pope Francis, then us close and following this line of hope. Many details were also captured by others, this curved cross that almost seems to go against the wind, the cross that becomes an anchor that sinks into the sea. The words of appreciation received from Monsignor Fisichella were beautiful: “it is not the anchor in the common idea that we have, it is the anchor of hope, it is the name that is given to the second anchor when the first fails to take root in the seabed”. SOURCE
This is the fellow who designed it. His name is Giacomo Travisani.
AI Overview / Learn more…Opens in new tab
The name Giacomo is an Italian name that means “supplanter” and has its origins in the Hebrew name Yaaqov or Jacob:
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Trevisani, Latin, No Honor, Untrustworthy. |
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LOGO FOR THE JUBILEE YEAR 2025 | OIKOUMENE |
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In Eastern Orthodoxy: Relations between church and state
Relations between church and state
The ideology that had prevailed since Constantine (4th century) and Justinian I (6th century)—according to which there was to be only one universal Christian society, the oikoumenē, led jointly by the empire and the church—was still the ideology of the Byzantine emperors. The authority of the patriarch of Constantinople was motivated in a formal fashion by the fact that he was the bishop of the “New Rome,” where the emperor and the senate also resided (canon 28 of the Council of Chalcedon, 451). He held the title of “ecumenical patriarch,” which pointed to his political role in the empire. Technically, he occupied the second rank—after the bishop of Rome—in a hierarchy of five major primates, which also included the patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. In practice, however, the latter three were deprived of all authority by the Arab conquest of the Middle East in the 7th century, and only the emerging Slavic churches attempted to challenge, at times, the position of Constantinople as the unique centre of Eastern Christendom.
- The relations between state and church in Byzantium are often described by the term caesaropapism, which implies that the emperor was acting as the head of the church. The official texts, however, describe the emperor and the patriarch as a dyarchy (government with dual authority) and compare their functions to that of the soul and the body in a single organism. In practice, the emperor had the upper hand over much of church administration, though strong patriarchs could occasionally play a decisive role in politics: Nicholas I (byname Nicholas Mystikos; patriarch 901–907, 912–925) and Polyeuctus (patriarch 956–970) excommunicated emperors for uncanonical acts. In the area of faith and doctrine, the emperors could never impose their will when it contradicted the conscience of the church: this fact, shown in particular during the struggle over iconoclasm in the 8th and 9th centuries and during the numerous attempts at union with Rome during the late medieval period, proves that the notion of caesaropapism is not unreservedly applicable to Byzantium.
ecumenism
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…“house,” “family,” “people,” or “nation”; oikoumenē, “the whole inhabited world”; and oikoumenikos, “open to or participating in the whole world.” Like many biblical words, these were invested with Christian meaning. The word oikoumenē describes the place of God’s reconciling mission (Matthew 24:14), the unity of the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1)…
The word ecumenism comes from a family of Classical Greek words: oikos, meaning a “house,” “family,” “people,” or “nation”; oikoumenē, “the whole inhabited world”; and oikoumenikos, “open to or participating in the whole world.” Like many biblical words, these were invested with Christian meaning. The word oikoumenē describes the place of God’s reconciling mission (Matthew 24:14), the unity of the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1) and of the kingdoms of the earth (Luke 4:5), and the world destined to be redeemed by Christ (Hebrews 2:5). The vision of one church serving God in the world came to reflect a central teaching …(100 of 123588 words)
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tokidoki means “sometimes” in Japanese. sometimes, occasionally, at times, from time to time, now and then |
Animé, Rome, and the Scandal of Plastic Junk
At a press conference on Monday, the Vatican unveiled a new cartoon “culture mascot” for the 2025 jubilee year. She’s designed in the pop anime style popularized in Japan—a little like Precious Moments meets manga. She’s dressed as a pilgrim, with rain slicker, mud on her boots, staff in hand, and seashells (a symbol of pilgrimage) in her eyes. Archbishop Fisichella said the Church desires “to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth.”
Many people thought it was a joke at first, or hoped it was. The contrast between the elderly cleric and the odd little doll struck a discordant note and had people wondering if it was some AI rendering of the Church’s internal strife. It’s not. It’s real.
Progressive Catholic, Mike Lewis, made a prediction on Twitter that “everyone with an ounce of decency and humanity will grow to love her.”
My initial response was far less romantic. You might say I was contrary about it…
Grow to love an anime figure? As if she’s real? Are we so empty that we must make up a virtual/plastic character to move us to love? Luce is not really for children—they need very little to know and love the Lord—but is for adults with lagging faith who find comfort in cultural attachment. We are the ones who perpetually seek placeholders to fill the void where Christ should be.
There is a way of looking at Luce where I can see a cute little figure of hope. I can certainly see a place for Catholic toys and childlike fun as a way to keep the faith present to young minds. Shining Light Dolls come to mind as a positive example. But as a “cultural mascot” for the universal Church? I just can’t get there.
So, I don’t like Luce.
She’s not a real girl and there’s no cause to get attached to her, but I sense that we are expected to form an emotional attachment simply because we are Catholic and should try to flow with the hype. The Church is our identity. We want to be unified. We want to like it here. But it’s important to understand that the art springs from the mind and heart of the artist and from the culture which produces that art. Is it Catholic? And does Rome understand that the evangelization of children doesn’t happen through corporate campaigns but primarily through the home?
I think they do understand, which is why Luce is not actually being marketed to kids but to their parents.
Adult Catholics have to decide whether Luce and Friends are going to be part of our parish and domestic churches. I don’t like Bluey or Blippi or Barney either so it’s no surprise that I am unmoved. I’m giving no shade to anyone who is into the cuteness, but…
They lost me at animé.
I don’t like animé and haven’t allowed it to come into my home, largely because the subculture is disordered and a short bridge to pornography for children. It was possible that Luce was the brainchild of a dynamically orthodox Catholic artist. It was also possible that she was a product of a compromised animé culture…
It took about 4 minutes to find out which it was.
Simone Legno, founder of the Tokidoki art brand, describes his work as a “global lifestyle brand” that “offers an extensive range of products which include apparel, handbags, cosmetics, accessories, toys and more.” He’s an Italian with a love of Japanese culture who has collaborated with many brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Guggenheim Museum, Sephora, LeSportsac, Onitsuka Tiger, Marvel, New Era, Hello Kitty, Fujitsu, Levi’s, Xbox, T-mobile, Medicom Toy, MLB, Barbie, Canon, and now… Rome.
I’ll get back to the artist in a minute, but let’s talk a little more about animé first. On Twitter/X, Baritus Catholic articulated a little of my own concerns about animé and confirmed the primary reason we don’t allow it. His experience living in the animé-saturated Japanese culture has informed his view.
He wrote: “Unlike many other sub-cultures, anime has a strange direct tie to pornographic content. I say this as someone who lived there and experienced it first hand as a youth. Say what you will about anime, this fact cannot be denied.”
Another commenter shared: “I can confirm. Anime porn right next to anime comic books in the convenience stores. Eye level to kids.”
Though not every person who enjoys anime falls into pornography, it is common and a very short trip into deviancy. This often happens through gaming and YouTube and social sites. Is the artist who created Luce a part of the darker side of that culture? A little due diligence is appropriate, and so I went looking.
The Mind Behind Luce
Simone Legno is not particularly unique among pop animé creators. A quick trip to his media pages reveals that has a significant overlap of sexualized content along with the absurdly childish. In the pedophilic art culture, it is common to see a combination of toys, hearts, and childish imagery presented alongside contrasting images of death, monsters, and sex.
I’m not accusing the artist of these things, just explaining that his body of work is consistent with the darker themes of animé subculture. In fact, it striking to me precisely for its total lack of originality.
If there is anything that distinguishes Legno’s art from others like him, it is primarily his “dragon girl” character. He pulls her image from his more sensual paintings into his commercial cartoonish drawings. The themes are separated stylistically… but essentially, not at all. The naked Japanese girl depicted in a sexual position with a dragon in his paintings and sculptures is the same girl he works into his cutesy pop art.
My suspicion is that most people who buy his kitschy unicorn have never seen his bare-bottomed Japanese girl. If the response of many Catholics to this information (disinterest) is any indication, we know no one else cares. We live in a porn-saturated world. What’s a bottom or two, eh? One young Catholic said she was fine with all of it as long as genitalia wasn’t shown in detail.
All things considered, it hardly seems appropriate that Legno should have any authority over a mascot of the universal Church since his creative process is so antithetical to the work of evangelization—to Christ.
People looking at Luce have noted that Legno gave her blue hair (a common symbol of sexual defiance) and what looks to be a stang. Her features are not distinctly female, even missing eyelashes which are given to one of her friends. It is possible that those are meaningless features of what is just a sweet little doll. We are asked to have a generous spirit toward the Church, toward the artist. But is it reasonable that we should disregard our own sensibilities and hand over discernment to a creative such as Legno? Did any cleric venture to say “Hey, maybe not blue hair since that has complicated associations in America right now” or “So a pilgrim staff is cool but can you make it look like a tree branch and not so dang much like a witch’s forked staff?” And maybe “Give her eyelashes. Her friend has eyelashes. She’s a girl. Just make it clear.”
Rome emphasized the symbolic nature of the simple little figure and Legno’s entire body of artistic work swims in symbolism. It is reasonable for the faithful to examine, inquire, and discuss before receiving this as a new element of Catholic culture and passing it on to children.
The Scandal of Plastic Junk
If Francis ever succeeds in eliminating air conditioning (he says it is an example of a harmful habit of consumption), I’ll have a word to say about the Luce figurine recently unveiled in Rome and whatever polyvinyl chloride/polyethylene/polypropylene it’s made of. Long after the flesh and bones of the clerics who commissioned her have decayed in the soil, that figurine will remain a testimony to all the excesses that they scold about. There is deep irony in that fact that this radically leftist environmentalist pontificate has just elevated a culture of purposeless plastic junk and digital immersion by way of an animé doll.
Don’t think on it too long. None of it makes sense. Like the rest of the culture, the human egos of the institutional Church collide in an attempt to stay relevant and effective. My first social media reaction was more than I’d typically respond to a non-essential action coming out of Rome. But some of you know how it is. Have keyboard — will prattle…
An androgynous anime baby is the new mascot for out-of-touch Vatican clericalists. Merch rumored to be coming soon. This might be worse than the Vatican-issued vaccine collector’s coin. But as someone probably said in a boardroom somewhere:
“The key to evangelizing the youth is to mirror the secular world, but do it with less skill and beauty.”
P.S. I love the Church. There is no obligation within that love to accept this or withhold criticism.
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The Gaming company that which will host the event where LUCE will appear is also named for LUCIFER. And that is some very creepy artwork on their site. The event is called “The Butterfly Effect”? And look at all the Butterflies!!!
FESTIVAL 30.10 – 03.11 | EXHIBITIONS 19.10 – 03.11 | CAMPFIRE 19.10 – 03.11 | AMANO CORPUS ANIMÆ 13.11 – 01.03.2025
THE COMMUNITY EVENT DEDICATED TO COMICS, GAMES, VIDEO GAMES, FANTASY BOOKS/FANTASY NOVELS, MANGA, ANIME, ANIMATED MOVIES, TV SERIES, COSPLAY
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The butterfly effect is the idea that small, seemingly trivial events may ultimately result in something with much larger consequences – in other words, they have non-linear impacts on very complex systems. For instance, when a butterfly flaps its wings in India, that tiny change in air pressure could eventually cause a tornado in Iowa.
The term “butterfly effect” was coined in the 1960s by Edward Lorenz, a meteorology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was studying weather patterns. He was running a computer program to test various weather simulations and he discovered that rounding off one variable from .506127 to .506 dramatically changed the two months of weather predictions in his simulation.
If there is any remote possibility that you have been a victim of ritual abuse… DO NOT PROCEED. There are TRIGGERS in the following article that could put you in danger or cause you trauma.
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MKULTRA AND YOU
by Cynthia
Innocuous Right? NOT under a TOTALITARIAN REGIME. THIS IS A MIND CONTROL PLOY TO TURN YOU AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBORS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THEY WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR GOOD INTENTIONS AND TURN YOU INTO A TOOL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF OTHERS. There is a method to their madness, a reason why they have turned … Click Here to Read More
MONKEY KING – OBAMA – MIND CONTROL
by CynthiaNo kidding folks, this is a long post, connecting many dots. Most people will be very shocked and disbelieve. But, it is all here in black and white. The evidence is real and you can hide from the truth, but it will not help you. In this battle for your mind, you cannot afford to … Click Here to Read More
CIA APPROVED, SCIENTIFICALLY EVIDENCED, POPULARLY SOUGHT – OBEs
by Cynthia
WOW, what time it is!! On the one hand, so much evil, so many dangers, so much violence and destruction. At the same time, so much TRUTH being revealed on a daily basis!! Deception being exposed. People waking up and standing up!! If you are paying attention at all, you have to recognize that all … Click Here to Read More
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