Jacques Coeur being publicly punished in France in 1453. "A part of the Amende Honorable of Jacques Coeur before Charles VII of France." -Bodmer, 1917

Amende Honorable of Jacques Coeur

Jacques Coeur being publicly punished in France in 1453. "A part of the Amende Honorable of Jacques…

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus." Luke 1:26-31 KJV

<p>Illustration of the Virgin Mary praying at an altar in her room as the archangel Gabriel approaches her to tell her she will give birth to Jesus. Gabriel is knelt on a cloud, his left arm raised. He is holding an olive branch. Above Mary's head, a dove is flying out of a cloud and a shaft of light glows down on Mary's head. A vase with lilies in it sits on the floor.

The Annunciation - the Angel Gabriel Approaches Mary while She is Praying

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,…

The crew of a naval ship in the Revolutionary War praying before they head in to battle.

Before Battle Prayer

The crew of a naval ship in the Revolutionary War praying before they head in to battle.

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; and he sent and beheaded John in the prison." Matthew 14:8-10 ASV
<p>Illustration of John the Baptist, having just been unshackled, kneeling in prayer while a soldier waits to behead him with an axe. . A shaft of light beams down on John. Salome can be seen just outside the archway with a platter in her hands.

John the Baptist Prays in Prison Just Before His Beheading

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.…

This illustration shows one fragment of a French cloister built in the Middle Ages. The architecture is Gothic, with pointed arches and vaulted ceilings, Two monks huddle in the passageway. This cloister looks very similar to the cloister at Mont Saint Michel Abbey, though it is not labeled as such.

A Cloister at a French Monastery from the Middle Ages

This illustration shows one fragment of a French cloister built in the Middle Ages. The architecture…

"Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever." Daniel 6:19-21 ASV
<p>Illustration of Daniel sitting in the midst of three male lions and one female lion. Daniel is looking up to the edge of the pit, his right hand raised and his left hand over his heart. The king can be seen looking down on him. The lions are completely at peace. An arch and a stone wall are pictured in the background.

Daniel Sits Safely among the Lions in the Den

"Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he…

"39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" Matthew 26:39-40 ASV
<p>Illustration of Jesus praying, on his knees, hands clasped, as an angel emerges from the clouds, carrying the cross. Peter, James, and John are sleeping nearby. Soldiers are marching out of the city gate, towards the garden, in the background.

Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane - Peter, James, and John Fall Asleep

"39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible,…

This diagram is of two hands clasped together.

Clasped hands

This diagram is of two hands clasped together.

This diagram is of two hands pressed together to form a praying position.

Praying Positioned Hands

This diagram is of two hands pressed together to form a praying position.

"And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep." Matthew 8:23-24 ASV
<p>Illustration of Jesus asleep in the bow of a boat while a tempest rages around him. His disciples are in the boat with him. Four disciples pray to Jesus, the rest are trying to keep the boat from sinking in the waves. The boat has one mast with a collapsed sail.

Jesus Sleeps Through a Storm at Sea

"And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great tempest…

Joab's Artifice, from Hans Holbein's series of engravings known as his Bible Cuts.

Joab's Artifice

Joab's Artifice, from Hans Holbein's series of engravings known as his Bible Cuts.

Christ on the Mount of Olives is an engraving by Albrecht D&uuml;rer in 1508. It is part of a series of engravings called the "Passion". It depicts Jesus in his last days when he and his disciples went up to Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. Jesus goes to pray on his own and comes back to find his disciples sleeping.

Christ on the Mount of Olives

Christ on the Mount of Olives is an engraving by Albrecht Dürer in 1508. It is part of a series…

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." Luke 18:10 ASV
<p>Illustration of a Pharisee and a publican, also referred to as a tax collector, praying in the temple. The Pharisee is dressed in full priestly costume and robes. He is standing behind the veil, within the room that holds the menorah and incense altar, and praying with his head up and chest out. The publican stands outside of the main room, head bowed, staff in hand.

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, or the Tax Collector

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican." Luke 18:10…

"And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:27-30 ASV
<p>Illustration of the jailer kneeling on one knee at Paul's feet in the jail. Paul stands above him with arms open and Silas is sitting on a bench leaning toward and reaching out for the jailer. A lamp is burning on the ground next to the jailer's sword. The door to the jail is in the corner.

Paul and Silas in Jail - the Jailer Kneels Before Paul

"And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was…

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner." Luke 18:10-13
<p>Illustration of two men, one a Pharisee and one a publican, praying in the temple. The Pharisee on the right is standing, while the publican on the left kneels and bows on the steps. Incense burns in a large container behind them.

A Pharisee and a Publican Pray in the Temple

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee…

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner." Luke 18:10-13
<p>Illustration of two men, one a Pharisee and one a publican, praying on the steps of the temple. The Pharisee in front is standing, while the publican behind him kneels and bows on the steps, arms folded on his chest. Incense burns in a large container behind them.

A Pharisee and a Publican Praying on the Steps of the Temple

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee…

The last appearance of the sangreal.

Sangreal

The last appearance of the sangreal.