St. Joseph's Parish, Glasthule.

The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life.

The Tree of Life is encircled by the rainbow, the sign of the covenant that God made with man. It also allegorises peace and reconciliation. Like the masters of middleages symbols are used as the language of praising God. A visible presentation of a parable which will express a belief.

The Hedgehog: hunter of snakes - conquering the devil. Snakes represented evil.

The Deer: Symbol of Christ the Redeemer and Saviour. The deer's grace - the grace through baptism. Psalm: like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you my God.

The Owl stands for wisdom,

The Snail: Symbol of the resurrection as it bursts the cover of its house in spring. Also symbol of virginity.

The Butterfly: It is the best known symbol of the resurrection. It leaves its ugly caterpillar appearance and then lives in the light.

The Hare: In the middle ages the hare symbolised the divine. The defencelessness of the hare represents those who put their trust in Christ.

The Lamb: The lamb is Christ - sacrificed for the sins of the world. Christ, the Lamb of God that takes away our sins.

The Bees: Diligence, good order, purity, courage, prudence, cooperation, sweetness, religous eloquence, the bee is regarded as never sleeping. Christian vigilance and zeal.

The Birds: keepers of the truth as they live in the blue air - symbol of the unobtainable holiness - souls in paradise.

The Cock: Announcer of the new day - Christ. Also symbol for light and salvation.

The Fish: 'Like the fish that lives in the depth of the water without dying so lives the Christian in the water of baptism.' Words by St. Augistine,

Over it all the hand of God emerges from a cloud which in early Christianity proclaimed the presence of God. The three circles represent the perfect divinity, symbolising the Holy trinity.

The reredos was designed by Imogen Stuart, executed by Niall O'Niell in 1999.

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