Christian Art | George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | To All Angels And Saints
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | To All Angels And Saints
Oh glorious spirits, who after all your bands
See the smooth face of God, without a frown
Or strict commands;
Where ev’ry one is king, and hath his crown,
If not upon his head, yet in his hands:
Not out of envie or maliciousnesse
Do I forbear to crave your speciall aid:I would addresse
My vows to thee most gladly, blessed Maid,
And Mother of my God, in my distresse.
Thou art the holy mine, whence came the gold,
The great restorative for all decayIn young and old;
Thou art the cabinet where the jewell lay:
Chiefly to thee would I my soul unfold:
But now (alas!) I dare not; for our King,
Whom we do all joyntly adore and praise,Bids no such thing:
And where his pleasure no injunction layes,
(’Tis your own case) ye never move a wing.
All worship is prerogative, and a flower
Of his rich crown, from whom lyes no appealAt the last houre:
Therefore we dare not from his garland steal,
To make a posie for inferiour power.
Although then others court you, if ye know
What’s done on earth, we shall not fare the worse,
Who do not so;
Since we are ever ready to disburse,
If any one our Masters hand can show…
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | To All Angels And Saints
The poem explores themes of worship, reverence, and obedience to divine authority. The poem reflects religious tensions of the legacy Reformation era. It expresses Herbert’s struggle with the practice of venerating saints and Mary, this with an unwavering commitment to Christ’s commands. Herbert knows truth, and yet refrains from seeking angels’ and saints’ intercession, with the thought that all worship belongs solely to God.
The opening stanza sets a tone of admiration for the saints, describing their heavenly state and their direct communion with God. The saints are portrayed as glorified beings, crowned with divine favor, and enjoying eternal peace. Herbert’s reverence is clear, but it is not uncritical. He acknowledges their majesty while carefully maintaining a theological boundary: their glory derives entirely from God, not from themselves.
The poem moves to address Blessed Virgin Mary, whom the speaker honors as the ‘holy mine’ from which Christ’s redemptive presence emerged. This description highlights Mary’s unique role in salvation history, portraying her as both sacred and intimately connected to Christ. Yet Herbert refrains from directing his prayers to Mary. This decision is not rooted in disdain but in theological caution, as Christ has issued no command to venerate Mary or the saints.
Central to the poem is the assertion that worship is a divine prerogative. Herbert describes worship as a ‘flower of his rich crown’, a metaphor emphasizing its sacred exclusivity. To divert any portion of worship to ‘inferior power’ is to diminish God’s glory. This reflects the protestant reformation’s rejection of practices such as and including invocation of saints, which reformers viewed as potentially idolatrous.
The poem’s tone remains respectful rather than polemical. Herbert does not denounce those who seek the intercession of saints; instead, he defends his own restraint by appealing to divine authority. The final stanza underscores this principle, stating that while others may choose differently, he and his community adhere strictly to Christ’s instructions. This decision is framed not as a rejection of the saints but as fidelity to God’s will.
The poem emphasizes sufficiency of Christ as the sole mediator and the centrality of Scripture in guiding worship. The poem also reflects a personal humility, as Herbert seeks to honour God without presuming to know more than what has been revealed. In so doing, the poem presents a nuanced and reverent meditation on faith, obedience, and boundaries of devotion.
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
Saint Ambrose writes at a time when the Church was still catechising adults over a prolonged period before admitting them to baptism, typically at the Easter Vigil. These catechumens underwent a spiritual and moral formation, echoing Israel’s long preparation for the Promised Land. In Milan, the Lenten season was filled with scriptural instruction, exorcisms, and the rites of scrutiny to prepare them for rebirth through water and the Spirit [ … ]
Dear Jesus, You have taught us the value of each person and the importance of justice. Open my eyes to see the suffering and injustice around me. Fill my heart with compassion and the desire to act. Help me to stand up for those who are oppressed and marginalized, to speak out against injustice, and to work tirelessly for a world that reflects your love and justice. Guide my steps and use my voice to bring about change. May your spirit of justice be my guide, and may I be a beacon of your love in a world that so desperately needs it [ … ]
