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Image © Hildesheim, St Godehard
Psalm: 21
Iconography: From beyond the margin of the page the hand of God reaches down in blessing. The naked and fearful sinner complains 'Many calves have surrounded me'.He leaps over a herd of calves. According to St Jerome, calves symbolise lust and incontinence, and are thus a threat to the naked flesh (St Jerome,PL, xxvi, 881). From a monastic point of view, the vulnerable soul is escaping from the lusts of the flesh with God's helping hand.
Art:
Thread stitch:
Historical Relevance: Christina understood the symbolic danger of bulls. In a vision she saw a herd of bulls trying to charge her, but their hooves were stuck in mud. She interpreted the bulls as wicked men attacking her virginity. She had to stand fast herself in order to keep them stuck in the mud (Talbot, 1998, 99)
Quire: 7


Image © Hildesheim, St Godehard

 

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