Biblical Basis of Heavenly "Halo" (Nimbus) by Nico Lopez

The Saints in Heavenly Glory by Fra Angelico

Biblical Basis of Heavenly "Halo"(Nimbus)

by Nico Lopez on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 8:46pm

+JMJ

(Latin, related to Nebula, nephele, properly vapour, cloud), in art and archaeology signifies a shining light implying great dignity. Closely related are the halo, glory, and aureole.)

Significance of One Triune God with a nimbus in the Bible:

Hebrews 1:3 - "Who being the brightness of his glory and the figure of his substance and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sits on the right hand of the majesty on high"

Revelation 4:3 - "And he that sat was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."

Significance of Haloes to Saints:

(The Middle Ages scarcely recognized such influence, and were satisfied to refer to the Bible as an example for wreath and crown or shield shaped discs as marks of honour to holy personages.)

Biblical Support on Using Haloes to Saints:

2 Tm 4:8 - "From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance."

James 1:12 - " Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him."

1 Peter 5:4 - "And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."

Crown of Motherhood to the Blessed Mother:

Rev 12:1 - "A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."

Anti-Catholics have criticized of using haloes on art as a symbol of deity, but we Catholics define haloes to define the Light of God and we define haloes as crowns for our saints as we honor them and imitate them and it symbolizes their rewards of witnessing the Glory of God.

Reference:

(http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11080b.htm)