Chapter 2 - Animals

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SWAN – 1. The swan is symbolic of the hypocrite because its plumage is pure white but underneath is black skin. It also has beautiful wings but can hardly fly. 2. The swan symbolizes the end of one’s life. 3. A swan’s song symbolizes a last effort.

TIGER – 1. The tiger symbolizes cruelty, treachery and martyrdom. This was especially true for early Christians. Most of them knew of at least one Christian who had been thrown to the lions and tigers in the arenas because of his/her faith. 2. The tiger symbolizes vanity. The Bestiaries state that the best way to capture a tiger’s young is to distract it by placing reflective glass balls in its path. The hunter grabs the young and sneaks away. If the tigress pursues the hunter, the hunter throws down a glass ball. The tigress, stopping to examine the sphere, mistakes her own image for that of her cub’s and stop the pursuit. Upon realizing her mistake, she again renews the pursuit. Again, the hunter throws down another reflective glass ball, again distracting the tigress. Satan does the same thing to believers by putting things that distract them in their paths to divert them from their goal of pursuing Jesus.

TURTLE DOVE – 1. The turtle dove symbolizes constancy. 2. It also symbolizes virginity and chastity based on its white color and peaceful nature. 3. The Bestiaries speak of the turtle dove only taking one mate during its lifetime. If that mate dies, it never takes another. This symbolizes the church’s dedication and faithfulness to Jesus. 4. Widowhood.

UNICORN – 1. The unicorn symbolizes purity and strength. This mythical creature is depicted as a snowy white animal with a horse’s head, a goat’s beard, an antelope’s legs and a lion’s tail. From the center of its head it has a single spiraling horn.

2. The unicorn enjoys solitude. This is symbolic of the monastic life. 3. Legend tells us that the only way to capture a unicorn is by placing a young, virgin girl in the woods. The unicorn, sensing her purity, will go to her and lay his head in her lap. The unicorn symbolizes Jesus Christ, His Incarnation and His sinless life. Jesus, as God, is uncontainable. But, Jesus humbled Himself and limited Himself to a human body.

VIPER – 1. A symbol of Satan. 2. Sin and evil. 3. Ingratitude.

VULTURE – 1. A symbol of evil. 2. The Bestiaries tell us that the female vulture does not need to mate to become pregnant. The vulture was used for centuries as natures proof that the miraculous
pregnancy of Mary could and did happen.

WOLF – 1. The wolf symbolizes Satan. The Bestiaries tell us that the wolf only hunts its victims at night. It amplifies its cry to frighten its victims. When attacking the sheepfold, it acts like a tame dog. It then attacks

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