Did you know…
…that there are symbolic meanings to certain body positions and gestures in sacred art?! As we near Christmas, there is a multitude of artwork depicting baby Jesus or the Holy Family. When you look closely, you may notice Jesus’ hand in this particular position. Have you ever stopped to wonder what it means??
Let us take a moment to consider Jesus’ hand positions in some works and what message it is giving to us!
You may have seen this hand position used during the mass by the priest to give blessing. This hand position is a blessing and represents Trinitarian love. In addition to signifying a blessing or that the Lord is speaking, this position conveys doctrinal truth, the three uplifted fingers depict the unity of God in the Holy Trinity… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Additionally, the two fingers that come downward depict the Incarnation—the union of His two natures (divine and human) in the person of Christ. Who knew all that was being said in one simple hand position?!
So the next time you see an image with Christ’s hand like this, you’ll know what it is saying! I hope this encourages you to think a little more deeply about what the artwork is saying!
Tell me, have you heard about this before?
Kate Capato
Kate is a Sacred Art Painter, Inspirational Speaker, and Faith-filled Movement artist on a mission to spread God's love through beauty! Her inspiration comes from prayerful encounters with the Lord, and the rich traditions of our Catholic faith. When she's not creating something faith inspired, Kate is often traveling all over the world with her hubby soaking in the wonders of God's creation, or spending time with family and friends to live every moment to the fullest. To see her work, visit her portfolio below and share in this mission of spreading truth and goodness.
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All work is the sole property of Katelyn Capato and may not be used or reproduced in any way without permission.