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Is the phoenix currently considered a valid symbol of
the Resurrection for Catholics (as it was by the early
Church); or is it considered a purely pagan symbol
to be avoided by practicing Catholics?
Anonymous
{
Is
the phoenix today considered a valid Catholic symbol for
the Resurrection? }
Mike
replied:
Hi, Anonymous —
I can't think of any culture today in the world
that would use the Phoenix as a valid symbol for
the Resurrection of Christ. That doesn't mean it
couldn't.
The issue you bring up, is one of practice, custom
and tradition "small t" and not doctrine.
I'd say that any symbol that meaningfully and respectfully
connotes a valid symbol for the Resurrection of Our
Lord would be OK to use.
You are correct that previous [illiterate] cultures
used symbols as a means to spread the Gospel. (i.e.
in the catacombs)
I found a couple pages on the Catholic Answers web
site that you and our other readers may find interesting.
In this first article by Mike Aquilina, he writes:
I found it fascinating that these ancient preachers
and correspondents, though from different lands,
drew from a common store of rhetorical devices,
metaphors, and symbolic allusions. Writing from
Rome to Corinth, for example, St. Clement could
invoke the story of the phoenix — the mythological
bird that dies in flame and rises from the ashes
— as an obvious sign of the Resurrection.
Thanks for your answer. What you have written seems
like a reasonable approach.
I'm confused by your emphasis on illiterate cultures;
both for its relevance (although I suspect you were
saying it was used to simplify the message and make
it readily accessible), and also that St. Clement
(one of the earliest popes which some say was ordained
by St. Peter
himself) wrote about it as a symbol in his first
letter to the Corinthians. I believe it can also
be found in many churches, especially older european
ones. And it is listed in the Catholic encyclopedia...
I suppose my question, or concern is in the context
of using symbols from other mythologies for Christianity.
The symbolism of the phoenix is similar to the resurrection...
However does incorporating mythological symbols end
up tainting the truth of Christianity... Is it akin
to pagan idol worship? If so, why would an early
Catholic pope encourage it? Or are such things considered
acceptable as long as there is no worship of the
symbol itself? Perhaps this is why it is not so widely
used anymore.
Anyway, thanks for any insight.
Anonymous
Mike
replied:
Hi, Anonymous —
You said: If so, why would an early Catholic
pope encourage it?
Or are such things considered acceptable as long
as there is no worship of the symbol itself?
I can't speak for a Pope nor am knowledgeable about
the culture back then but I would tend to agree with
your second statement:
Such things considered acceptable as long as
there is no worship of the symbol itself.
My understanding is some of the early Christian
symbols, like Christmas trees have pagan origins.
Nevertheless, they were Christianized.
Side note:
The statement on symbols being used in [illiterate]
cultures as a means to spread the Gospel was just
a statement **I** was making. No emphasis was intended.
Sorry if I came across the wrong way.
Mike
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