With all of the available information available to explain our beliefs, our values, our spirituality, and our code of ethics, a simple deck of playing cards holds a volume of special and inclusive explanations for the simple person to absorb. To focus on the mere secular aspects, we can observe 52 cards for 52 weeks in a year; four suits for the ordinary four seasons; for 13 cards in a suit for the number of weeks in a quarter of a year; and an explanation for each card from the ace to the number 2 for each aspect of our daily lives.
From the spiritual point of view for a practicing Catholic, the significance for each playing card is designated with a certain value or belief. Here is a listing of those spiritual and guiding dimensions:
The Aces stand for ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, and APOSTOLIC CHURCH founded by Jesus Christ, the God-man. Also, the Ace may be used as a ONE, which could be interpreted as the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the beginning and the end, of all for all in Jesus Christ, Redeemer, Messiah, and Savior.
The King stands for the KING OF KINGS, Jesus Christ and for His kingly people.
The Queen stands for the QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE, Mary, Mother of God, and our Spiritual Mother.
The Jack stands for JOHN, the Revelation and the promoter of God is Love through the succession of Popes from St. Peter, the Apostle until the current Pope, Benedict XVI (265th Pope).
The ten stands for the 10 COMMANDMENTS given by God to Moses and the people of the Old Testament in Salvation History to the New Testament and the New Covenant.
The nine stands for a NOVENA OF NINE DAYS for prayer and fasting in petition and in thanksgiving for requests. Also, THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, AND SELF-CONTROL.
The eight stands for the EIGHT BEATITUDES, the heart of Jesus Christ's preaching. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account, Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven."
The seven stands for the SEVEN SACRAMENTS, which is an encounter with Jesus Christ and includes: BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, EUCHARIST, PENANCE, ANOINTING OF THE SICK, HOLY ORDERS, and MATRIMONY. The seven also includes the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Gift of wonder and awe in God's presence, the Gift of Reverence, the Gift of Courage, the Gift of Knowledge, the Gift of Understanding, the Gift of Right Judgment, and the Gift of Wisdom.
The six stands for the period of time that God created the Entire Universe. On the seventh day (the Sabbath) HE RESTED.
The five stands for the five decades of each Mystery of the Holy Rosary: The Joyful, the Illuminating, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The five also stands for the FIVE WOUNDS of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the piercing of His hands, His feet, and His Heart.
The four stands for the Four Gospels of the New Testament with the writers: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN.
The three stands for the HOLY TRINITY: THREE PERSONS IN ONE GOD, a mystery of Love Infinite.
The two stands for the Human and the Divine Natures of Jesus Christ, His Alpha and Omega, and the Old and New Covenants (Testaments) of the Holy Bible.
"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose...If God is for us, who can be against us?...What will separate us from the love of Jesus Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...No, in all things we conquer overwhelmingly through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD in CHRIST JESUS, OUR LORD."
(Romans: 8:28-39).
The next time that you are traveling or are sitting alone with a deck of playing cards remember to think about the UNCAUSED CAUSE of our vast universe and solar system by looking at each of the 52 cards that you have been dealt as an ACHIEVEMENT LADDER ENTHUSIAST. "Bloom where you are planted!"
1 comment:
For the wonderful comments that have been made on this blog, obviously the persons making the comments are using their native language even though they understand English. A translation to any English produced blog would be encouraging or challenging to an English speaking person who may have to obtain an interpreter to understand a language in script. Thank you for your comments. Maybe, some day the language will be easily understood by good linguists.
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