"The history of the calendar dates back many centuries to when most people were not literate," it was explained. "The calendar tells a symbolic story of the history of Jesus and the church, that could be understood by the illiterate." There were said to be "6 seasons in the Christian calendar which traces the birth and death of Jesus and the formation of his church in annual rites and celebrations (such as Advent; Christmas; Epiphany; Lent; Easter and Pentecost)." It was noted "the 40 days is a symbolic number, commonly found in the Bible, indicating a 'fullness of time' not necessarily exactly 40 days."
G.K. Chesterton, 'Heretics' (John Lane Co. 1909): "Strong and genuine religious sentiment has never had any objection to realism; on the contrary, religion was the realistic thing, the brutal thing, the thing that called names . . . But if it was a chief claim of religion that it spoke plainly about evil, it was the chief claim of all that it spoke plainly about good. The thing which is resented, and, as I think, rightly resented . . . is that while the eye that can perceive what are the wrong things increases in an uncanny and devouring clarity, the eye which sees what things are right is growing mistier and mistier every moment, till it goes almost blind with doubt." Finally, "The human race, according to religion, fell once, and in falling gained the knowledge of good and evil. Now we have fallen a second time, and only the knowledge of evil remains to us." (Ibid, page 32)
It was understood "purple is the Christian color for suffering and victory." In 1985, Bill Saxton told congregation at St Paul United Methodist Church, "Color is a language and we use it naturally, as we use all other forms of language. Expression through the language and symbolism of color are among the most primitive and at the same time, sophisticated instincts. We see red, feel blue, and a green with envy. It is natural for colors to be used in religion, the innermost concern for our being.
"Reference to colors in both Old and New Testament indicate that there were symbolic overtones . . . Old records show such colors as rose, red, green, purple, blue and gold. (Gold) was the oldest color . . . There was no general agreement as to what different colors signified – above all, blue. A ban on the use of blue did not prevent it from becoming closely associated with the Virgin Mary. Red suggests fire and blood, the Holy Spirit, love and the blood of Christ. Green, the color of nature and growth, promises life and hope through Christ. Purple suggests royal mourning and repentance."
Each of the 6 seasons had been said "marked by different observances and colors. For example, the color for Advent is purple or royal blue. At Christmas, the colors white or gold represent a festive mood. Epiphany, the color green signifies a verdant season of growth and fertility, of seeds being sown." Jesse McKinley of the New York Times reported in 2005, "Religion and the theater, of course, have been connected since long before Jesus' time, and performers of all faiths populate Broadway, where praying before performing auditioning is common (if not always successful)."
The pastor, Reverend Richard D. Baker from the Actors Chapel (St Malachy's church in New York) believed, "The Broadway experience is rooted in the great Western drama of the liturgy and of the beliefs."
Actress Renee Elise Goldsberry who played Evangeline Williams on the daytime soap opera, 'One Life To Live', observed, "I'm surprised that people can survived in this business and not have a real strong spiritual life. Especially as a performer, who feels like there's a calling on their lives, that God has given you a certain gift and set up opportunity for you to use it. I can't imagine how it would feel to deal with the kind of rejection that's so common and how things happen so randomly." Dale Salvidge added, "Theater is very incarnational and the Christian religion is centered on incarnation, that God made himself present through Christ. We see the incarnation as germane to both our faith and our work as theater artists." Richard Baker also pointed out, "Like God, the artist is one who creates and even though they're using their talents, their work appears to be something that is created effortlessly."
In June 1996, Diana made her first trip to Chicago to raise fund for cancer research. Some 500 reporters from all over the world followed Diana. At the charity ball held at the Field Museum of Natural History, 1300 A-list people paid from $500 to $2500 a head, or as much as $50,000 a table to "steal glances" of Diana, wearing a Gianni Versace's long purple wool crepe dress and matching purple high heels, dined on salmon and lamb chops, California wine and French champagne.
Diana raised $1.4 million (or at least $1 million after expenses) for 3 cancer charities: the London's Royal Marsden Hospital, Gilda's Club and Northwestern's Robert Lurie Cancer Center. Some of the public reportedly brought along binoculars to get a close-up view of Diana. At least 20 people were handling public relations for the Royal visit. Tony Bennett acknowledged, "I've never seen a reception like this one." During her 3-day visit of Chicago, Diana created a stir among some 3000 students at Northwestern University. Governor Jim Edgar told the press Diana was "the only person I know who can push Michael Jordan from the front page."
Back in 1994, Peggy Fletcher Stack of 'The Salt Lake Tribune' reported, "Hats, hoods, helmets, chapeaus, caps, crowns, bowlers, top hats, yarmulkes, skullcaps, fedoras, bonnets, kerchiefs, veils, turbans – all have had religious significance at some time in the sweep of history. The use of hats to distinguish ecclesiastical authority declined after the Protestant Reformation." According to university lecturer Beverly Chico when "Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox Christians and many others eliminated indications of ranking head wear, democracy entered religion."
It was informed after the ruin of the Jewish temple in 70AD, the "functioning priestly class no longer existed in Judaism." In later centuries, "elaborate crown adornments were placed on the sacred Torah – the written word of God." Peggy also told readers, "In the early days of Christianity, the leaders had no distinguishing clothing or head wear. But by the 4th century, when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire, ecclesiastics wore a crown similary to the political rulers as a symbol of their parallel power . . . Nowadays (in 1994) popes, as well as bishops, wear miters (Greek for crown), or a folded 2-piece, stiffened hat of silk or linen, joined with soft material allowing it to be bowed open or folded flat. These miters usually have 2 fringed streamers hanging from the back. Episcopal bishops also wear miters. Their shape is symbolic of the 'tongues of fire', mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, an early book of the New Testament. The color and style of Episcopal miters is a matter of choice, but the color most often follows the liturgical season."
