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THE MEANING OF
NUMBERS
ONE,
it cannot be divided without stopping existing.It is the
symbol of God Father.
TWO,
it designates the two natures of Christ, human and
divine.
THREE,
it is the figure of the Holy Trinity.It is sybolized by
the tree angels at Abraham’s table. Concerning the
construction of churches it is represented by the three
apses and the three porches of the facade. It is also
the figure of the Three Wise Men that represent the
three parts of the known world in Christ time.
FOUR,
It is the number of the elements, the seasons, the
rivers of the paradise, the four Evangelists, the Major
Prophets, the Fathers of the Church, the virtues. It is
also the number that represents the parts of the world
after the discovery of America.
FIVE,
it symbolizes the five books of Moses, the five wounds
of Christ, the fivebsilly and the five sensible
virgins,the five senses.
SIX,
it is the symbol of perfection: the six days of the
Creation.
SEVEN,
it’s a very important number: it’s the result of the
addition of three (odd number of the Holy Trinity) plus
four (even number formed by four elements). Number seven
is applied to Creation, to the Holy Spirit’s gifts, to
the verses of the Virgin, to the theological and
cardinal virtues,to the Sacraments, to the planets, to
life’s different ages. It takes a very important place
in the Apocalypsis where refers to the seven churches of
Asia, to the seven seals, to the seven cups of divine
rage and to the dragon of the seven heads. Concerning
the religious tradition number seven represents the
figure of gentility and universality.
EIGHT,
symbolizes the renaissance thanks to the baptism and the
resurrection. That is the reason why the baptistries are
often octogonal. It is also linked to the Beatitudes and
the tones of the Gregorian chant.
NINE,
it contains the number of the Holy trinity thrice.It’s
the same number as the chorus of Angels.
TEN,
It corresponds to the Decalogue.
ELEVEN,
it means sin as this number trespasses number ten, the
number of the Decalogue and of the Law.
TWELVE,
it’s the result of the multiplication of three
multiplied by four. Number seven and twelve rival each
other in importance. Number twelve is not only the
number of the months of the year and the Zodiac, but
also and above all, the number of the twelve tribes of
Israel, the twelve Apostles and so, it represents the
universal church.
THIRTEEN,
it was said to bring unhappiness.
FOURTEEN,
It’s twice seven. It’s the figure for the intercessors.
TWENTY-FOUR,
it is the same quantity as the Old Men of the Apocalypse.
THIRTY-THREE,
it’s the number Christ’s age.That’s why Dante divides
his trilogy-the Divine Comedy-into thirty-three cantos.
FORTY,
it is the biblical figure for hard times. The Flood
lasted forty days. Christ fasted for forty days after
his baptism. The Israeli wandered about the desert for
forty days before enterin the Promise
Land.
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