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The Letters & Their Meaning
The Christian Alphabet Symbology
A symbol is an outward, visible form of something inward and invisible.
“Symbols are the language of the soul.” George Ferguson 1954
Each letter is its own work of art!
They all contain a word and have a Bible verse that correlates.
See all the symbology explained below.
Know the meaning in The Christian Alphabet…
Click on Letters to Enlarge
A = ALWAYS (Matt 28:20)
A1- Alpha Omega (Green A)
This is a mix of two Greek letters which are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet: an A for Alpha and an O for Omega (The Greek “O” looks like and upside down U )
God said he is “the Alpha and the Omega” which means He is the beginning and the end. (Rev 1:8, 21:6 22:13 )
There is an infinity sign because God’s love endures forever. (Psalms 100, 106, 107, 117, 118, 136 )
The green colors and the ivy represent evergreens and always growing.
The cross at the top is for Christ, who died on the cross to save the world.
I wanted this letter to look a bit futuristic because eternity is a long time :) and that is what Jesus promises us- Eternity in heaven with Him. Heaven is our hope and Final home. It is where every tear is wiped away and there is only love and goodness. (Isaiah 25:8)
A2- Merciful Heart
This “A” is a combination of two iconic images:
1.) The Sacred Heart of Jesus
2.) The Divine Mercy image of Jesus
The Sacred Heart of Jesus burns with love for us. The Heart is the symbolic center of feeling and emotion, and it represents Jesus’ deep love and affection for us. It is red, the color of blood, which Jesus poured out for us (Jn 19:34). Red signifies fervent love, and Jesus loves us so much that he laid down his life for us. (Jn 15:13).
The Flames of fire represent the intensity of the warmth of Jesus’ love for us.
The cross, and crown of thorns (Mt 27:29; Mk 15:17; Jn 19:2,5), also represent the love of Jesus for the entire world. Jesus suffered on our account. He died for this love. Then, He rose from the grave and continues to pour out his Heart/Love to us.
The red rays of light represent the Blood of Jesus poured out for the life of souls. The blue rays of light represent the water of Baptism which makes souls righteous. St. Faustina helps us remember to say the prayer “Jesus, I trust in you.” “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.” – Jesus, from the diary of St. Faustina.
A3-13- Praying Person
Praying hands - Jesus tells us to watch and pray all the time. (Matthew 26:41) St. Paul said to be joyful always, and to pray continually. Prayer is simply lifting your heart to God, being grateful, praising Him and spending time with Him. (1Thessalonians 5:16-17)
The cross is the best known symbol of Jesus because Jesus died on a cross for each of us. (John 19:17) In a broader sense, the cross is the sign of redemption, salvation, and Christianity. (Revelation 12:10)
B = BELIEVE (John 3:16)
B1 – Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments - God gave these laws to Moses on two tablets of stone. These are rules that God wants us to follow in order to make our lives holy. (Exodus 19-20)
The three leaf clover (shamrock) is a symbol of the Holy Trinity - the mystery of our one God in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. (1 Timothy 3:16)
The holly, because of its thorny leaves and red berries, is symbolic of Christ’s crown of thorns and blood. (John 19:2)Legend tells us that it was the tree used for Jesus’ cross.
The ivy, because it is evergreen, is a symbol of eternal life. Because it clings as it grows, it reminds us to cling to Jesus in order to grow in holiness. (Psalm 136)
B2 - The Lion B
The Lion represents our great, big, powerful God (Revelation 5:5)- Our Creator who became human to show us how to love each other and get to heaven.
The Lamb = Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) Jesus sacrificed his life on a cross to save us from our sins. Jewish tradition was to sacrifice a lamb to God, but since Jesus died for all of us on the cross about 2022 years ago, He changed everything!
Jesus Christ is our strong Lord and humble Savior. We BELIEVE He is the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God.
C = CHRIST (Galatians 2:20)
C1 – Shepherd
Jesus tells us that he is the good shepherd. (John 10:7-18) He lays down his life for his sheep. Also, Jesus tells us in a parable (Matthew 18:10) that our Father, in heaven, is like the shepherd. He wants all of his sheep to be with him and is very happy to find the lost one. (God/Jesus is our shepherd who watches over us. We are his sheep, sometimes lost, but He always loves us.)
The nail, wood, and cross represent the suffering and death of Jesus. Read about Thomas and the nail prints on Jesus’ hands. (John 20:24-29)
C2 - Baby Jesus
Mary and baby Jesus are pictured playing joyfully.
Mary has a halo to show her unique favor with God. All generation still call her blessed because she trusted God and bore His Son. (Luke 1:30)
Jesus has a wooden crown made by his earthly father, Joseph - the carpenter. Jesus is our King of Kings and the Prince of Peace. (John 18:37 & Isaiah 9:6)