Astrology in the Christian World
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day and the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.”
Genesis 1:14
Jesus was born under a special star. This star guided the “Magi” astrologers and shepherds in the fields to behold the King’s birth. When Jesus died, the sky darkened from noon to 3pm, denoting an eclipse. These heavenly signs prophesied that Yeshua had indeed returned.
Natural uses of astrology were accepted by the Catholic Church into the Renaissance period.
Fifteen Popes either were astrologers or studied astrology. Saint Thomas Aquinas included in his work, Summa Theologica, a discussion of astrology and its effects on humans and events.
Catholic monks devised some of our current astrological house systems. There is a rich history in Catholic paintings, stained glass, church architecture and manuscripts depicting astrological symbols. In Book of Hours, artwork with zodiac signs and seasonal labors were depicted in its pages.
Chartres Cathedral in France
A common architectural feature in many church windows is that of stained glass Rosettes divided into 12 sections like a zodiac.
Stained glass windows from the 13th Century at Chartres Cathedral in France depict the zodiac signs. Chartres Cathedral also has an astrological clock on its exterior.
Synagogue at Hammath Tiberias
Astrological artwork can be found in Jewish synagogues as well. The synagogue at Hammath Tiberias was excavated by the Jewish Palestine Exploration Society in 1920-1. The mosaic floor they discovered depicts a Zodiac panel. Experts date this discovery as 4th century CE.
Astrology has been incorrectly established as off-limits to Christians based on faulty interpretation and the desire to control the populous. The Catholic Encyclopedia states that “divination is the seeking after knowledge of future or hidden things by inadequate means. The means being inadequate they must, therefore, be supplemented by some power which is represented all through history as coming from evil spirits.”
Many bible quotes testify that God placed the stars in the sky, including Genesis 1:16-18. It says, " And God made two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness."
In the Book of Romans, 10:18, Paul writes, “But I ask, did they not hear? Certainly they did; for ‘Their voice has gone forth to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” Some scholars believe that in this verse, Paul asked how it is possible that the entire world has been told of God and his word. The follow-up to this is found in Psalm 19, when it states, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. One day imparts that message to the next, and night conveys that knowledge to night. All this occurs without speech or utterance; no voice can be heard. Yet their message goes forth throughout the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
Astrology is God’s story in the stars. Therefore, Astrology cannot be considered divination, because it did not come from evil spirits. It comes from God’s creation. Astrology is the study of what God has placed for our understanding.
”The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the firmament shows forth the work of his hands. One day imparts that message to the next, and night conveys that knowledge to night. All this occurs without speech or utterance; no voice can be heard. Yet their message goes forth throughout the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to a poor man named Juan Diego in December of 1531. When the Archbishop asked for a miraculous sign to prove this apparition was real, Mary appeared to Juan Diego and arranged roses inside of his tilma, or cloak. These Castilian roses, not native to Mexico, blooming in a barren area during winter, left an imprint on the cloak. When Juan Diego unfolded his tilma to show the Archbishop, the roses fell to the floor and the image of Mary was imprinted on the fabric.
The image is stunning. Mary is seen eclipsing the sun, standing atop the moon, with a cloak of stars around her shoulders.
The image has not aged. The tilma, made of cactus fibers, should have deteriorated within 30 years. However, it has remained in vibrancy for over 475 years.
Many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
