Mantel in modern English largely does one job: it refers to the shelf above a fireplace. You can remember it by thinking of the “el” in both mantel and shelf.
While it’s certainly simpler to use mantle in all cases, mantel is significantly more common as the choice for the shelf, which means it’s the safer choice in those cases.
Mantle on the other hand, does many jobs, including a number that are technical or scientific. Its most common uses are to refer to a literal cloak, mostly of the kind worn in days of yore (“she drew her mantle tighter”), and to a figurative cloak symbolizing authority or importance (“taking on the mantle of the museum’s directorship”). It also refers to a general covering in literary uses like “wet earth covered in a mantle of leaves” or “a past shrouded in a mantle of secrecy.” And it’s also the term for the middle layer of the Earth between the crust and the inner core.This isn’t terribly surprising, given the histories of the words. They both derive from the Latin word mantellum, which refers both to a cloak and to a beam or stone supporting the masonry above a fireplace. The words came into use in English a couple centuries apart, but were for a time in the past nothing more than spelling variants.
There is, however, a catch to these distinctions: mantle is sometimes used (especially in American English) to refer to the shelf above a fireplace as well—that is, as a synonym of mantel.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘mantle.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.“[A few days later] all of the living ordained Apostles gathered in a spirit of fasting and prayer in the upper room of the temple. Here we sang a sacred hymn and prayed together. We partook of the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, renewing in that sacred, symbolic testament our covenants and our relationship with Him who is our divine Redeemer. The Presidency was then reorganized, following a precedent well established through generations of the past [this precedent is explained in the preceding statement by President Joseph Fielding Smith]. There was no campaigning, no contest, no ambition for office. It was quiet, peaceful, simple, and sacred. It was done after the pattern which the Lord Himself had put in place” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 92; or Ensign, May 1995, 69).
What did Naaman try to give Elisha after being healed? (See 2 Kings 5:15.) Why do you think Elisha refused Naaman’s offer? Why is it important to serve without concern for earthly rewards?
How did the people respond when they saw Elisha duplicate Elijah’s miracle of parting the waters of Jordan? (See 2 Kings 2:14–15.) Why is it important that we immediately accept and sustain a newly ordained President of the Church? (See D&C 43:2–3, 7.)
Testify that the President of the Church is a prophet of God. Encourage class members to sustain new Church leaders and to follow the counsel of the prophets. Testify that the power of God is greater than any other power.
Elder Rex D. Pinegar asked, “Are we not sometimes like Naaman, looking for big or important things to do and bypassing simple things which could change our lives and heal us of our afflictions?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 106; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 80). After recounting the story of Naaman, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: “The way of the gospel is a simple way. Some of the requirements may appear to you as elementary and unnecessary. Do not spurn them. Humble yourselves and walk in obedience. I promise that the results that follow will be marvelous to behold and satisfying to experience” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, 143; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, 96). “There is no mystery about the choosing of the successor to the President of the Church. The Lord settled this a long time ago, and the senior apostle automatically becomes the presiding officer of the Church, and he is so sustained by the Council of the Twelve which becomes the presiding body of the Church when there is no First Presidency. The president is not elected, but he has to be sustained both by his brethren of the Council and by the members of the Church” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:156).How did Elisha help the king of Israel in the war against Syria? (See 2 Kings 6:8–10.) What did the king of Syria do when he learned what Elisha was doing? (See 2 Kings 6:11–14.) How did Elisha’s servant respond when he saw the Syrian horses and chariots surrounding the city? (See 2 Kings 6:15.) How did Elisha respond? (See 2 Kings 6:16.) What did Elisha mean when he told his servant, “They that be with us are more than they that be with them”? (2 Kings 6:16). How have you seen that Elisha’s statement is still true today? What did Elisha say to the people when the 50 men came back without finding Elijah? (See 2 Kings 2:18.) What can we learn from the experience of the 50 men? (We should follow the counsel of the prophet the first time we hear it.) Why do we sometimes wait for prophets to repeat counsel before we follow it? What counsel have Church leaders given us in recent years? How have you been blessed as you have followed this counsel?
Do you think that miracles occur in our day to the same extent that they occurred in Elisha’s? What are the dangers of looking only for the spectacular miracles? What seemingly small miracles occur in our lives?
Drape a piece of cloth around your shoulders (or around the shoulders of a class member). Explain that the prophet Elijah wore a mantle. We do not know exactly what the mantle looked like, but it apparently was a cloak made of cloth. The passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha symbolized the passing of prophetic authority to Elisha. Soon after Elijah had been taken into heaven, the people wanted to send 50 strong men to look for him. What did Elisha tell the people? (See 2 Kings 2:16.) How did the people respond to Elisha’s answer? (See 2 Kings 2:17. They pleaded with Elisha until he permitted the men to go.) How did Naaman learn about Elisha and his healing powers? (See 2 Kings 5:2–4. A young Israelite girl whom the Syrians had taken captive told Naaman’s wife that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman.) How is this young Israelite girl an example for us? (Regardless of our age, circumstance, or Church calling, we can do much good by directing people to the prophets—and to the Lord.)President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “We have not as yet carried the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. But we have made great strides. We have gone wherever we are permitted to go. God is at the helm, and doors will be opened by His power according to His divine will. Of that I am confident. Of that I am certain” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 93; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 70–71).
“With President Hunter’s passing, the First Presidency was dissolved. Brother Monson and I, who had served as his counselors, took our places in the Quorum of the Twelve, which became the presiding authority of the Church.Who was Naaman, and what was his affliction? (See 2 Kings 5:1.) Why did he go to Elisha? (See 2 Kings 5:2–9.) What did Elisha’s messenger tell Naaman to do to be healed? (See 2 Kings 5:10.) Why, at first, did Naaman refuse to follow Elisha’s instructions? (See 2 Kings 5:11–12.)
To help class members understand how the authority (mantle) passes from one prophet to another, to encourage them to obey the words of the prophets, and to assure them that the power of God is greater than any other power.
President Gordon B. Hinckley explained how this procedure was followed when he was ordained and set apart as the prophet and President of the Church following the death of President Howard W. Hunter:In modern times we sometimes speak of the “mantle” of authority that the prophet receives when he is ordained and set apart. Although the prophet today does not carry a cloak or piece of cloth, God bestows the keys of the priesthood on him. These keys give him the power to act in God’s name as the leader of the Church on the earth. When a prophet dies, this mantle of authority is given to the new prophet.
What was Elisha’s prayer in his servant’s behalf? (See 2 Kings 6:17.) Why, at first, didn’t the servant see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire that God had sent? What can we do to open our eyes more fully to the power of God in our own lives and in the world?You may want to point out that as he did anciently, the Savior has given the keys of the priesthood to each of the latter-day Apostles. However, only the President of the Church, who is the senior living Apostle, may use these keys (or authorize others to use them) on behalf of the entire Church (see D&C 132:7).
Does it matter which side Mary is in a nativity scene?
Left side: Mary, the ox, the shepherd, and the sheep From the left, i.e. from Mary’s side, the shepherds approach with their sheep. They represent the believers who bring sacrificial animals, food and clothing.
2 Kings 6:8–18. Elisha guides the king of Israel in a war with Syria (6:8–10). The king of Syria commands his men to capture Elisha, and the army surrounds the city of Dothan (6:11–14). Unafraid, Elisha prays, and the Lord reveals a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire, then smites the Syrian army with blindness (6:15–18).
How did Naaman’s servants convince him to do what Elisha had told him to do? (See 2 Kings 5:13.) What happened after Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River? (See 2 Kings 5:14.)
2 Kings 2:1–18. Elijah prepares Elisha to become the new prophet (2:1–10). Elijah is taken up into heaven. Elisha takes up Elijah’s mantle and becomes the prophet (2:11–15). Fifty men search for Elijah for three days despite Elisha’s counsel that they should not do so (2:16–18).What can the story of Naaman teach us about following the counsel of the prophet—even when we may not like or understand it or when it may be about small and simple matters? What are some of the small, simple things we have been asked to do by the prophet or other Church leaders? Why are these things sometimes hard to do? How can we increase our willingness to follow the counsel of Church leaders? What modern-day circumstances might lead some of us to believe that we are helpless against the evils of the world? How can the confidence that “they that be with us are more than they that be with them” help us as we battle against these evils? Elisha performed many great miracles, showing compassion for the people and giving further evidence that he was Elijah’s authorized successor. He parted the waters of Jordan, healed the waters of Jericho, multiplied a widow’s oil, raised a boy from the dead, healed people who had been poisoned, fed the hungry, healed Naaman’s leprosy, caused an ax to float, and guided kings in war. You may want to review some of these miracles from 2 Kings 2–6.How can the confidence that “they that be with us are more than they that be with them” help us as we take the gospel to all people? (See D&C 84:87–88.)
What relationship existed between Elijah and Elisha? (See 2 Kings 2:2–10.) Why do you think Elisha was so intent on staying with Elijah? What did Elisha do after Elijah was taken up into heaven? (See 2 Kings 2:11–13. If you did not use the attention activity, refer to it to explain what Elijah’s mantle was and what it represented.)Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “When I read this wonderful story as a boy, I always identified with the young servant of Elisha. I thought, If I am ever surrounded by the forces of evil while I am in the Lord’s service, I hope the Lord will open my eyes and give me faith to understand that when we are in the work of the Lord, those who are with us are always more powerful than those who oppose us” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 54; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 39).
As you teach the following scripture passages, discuss how they apply to daily life. Encourage class members to share experiences that relate to the scriptural principles. Our fellow citizens, spiritually blinded and subject to diabolical influence, are “in most need of mercy.” America’s Guardian Angel is asking for our sincere reparations because they will not and cannot make atonement for themselves. God loves every person in America, so you are being called to provide the most effective spiritual remedy for every soul in our nation. The Sacred Heart of Jesus (a traditional representation of his Divine Mercy) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, are coming together to form the heel to crush the head of the serpent, as prophesied in the first book of the Bible (Genesis 3:15). It is no coincidence that our bishops solemnly consecrated the United States under the title of the Immaculate Virgin Mary in every century since our founding, making her the Heavenly Queen of every American citizen.We are all sinners. Everyone has tolerated sin, especially abortion (even if not directly), to some degree, in addition to committing our own innumerable personal sins. You know this.
What does the Bible mean by mantle?
The mantle was originally a cape worn simply to ward off the cold. The mantle was first mentioned in the Old Testament, as a garment worn by several prophets including Elijah and Elisha.
Any prayer you offer with the intention of union with Christ Crucified is atonement for sin. During this crisis, the Guardian Angel of the United States has requested unceasing Divine Mercy prayers, so please continue your normal devotions: morning prayers, the Holy Rosary, prayerful Bible reading, daily Holy Communion (if possible), and Eucharistic adoration in addition to the devotions of this daily prayer movement.Father John Anthony enlisted his friend, Bud Macfarlane, bestselling novelist and the tireless leader of the Mary Foundation, to bring this prophetic act of faith into reality through its tens of thousands of worldwide supporters.
The battle over our nation’s future could be lost because of the sin of abortion, and the only power that can prevent this is the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ through the Eternal Father Prayer that Faustina prayed.
The power that truly matters, the invincible divine power of merciful atonement that Saint Faustina beheld, is there on the Cross. Our acts of reparation and self-denial bring us there. When we are with Christ there, no created being, no demon, no corrupted human institution, and no power or principality can prevail against us.
The Divine Mercy Prayer is therefore an absolutely staggering gift, designed to make Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection into rungs of a mystical ladder we can use to mystically climb up onto the Holy Cross and join ourselves to His body, blood, soul, and divinity as He offers himself to the Eternal Father.
Embedded within the Eternal Father prayer, God emphasized the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist using the precise formulation of the Council of Trent: “body and blood, soul and divinity.” Thus the Holy Trinity gave us the Divine Mercy Prayer to allow us to enter into the Eucharistic Mystery of the Cross, by which Jesus atoned for all the past and future sins of mankind.Jesus gave the Divine Mercy Prayer to Saint Faustina in 1935 when she beheld a vision of a terrifying angel of wrath sent to destroy a country. She prayed desperately, yet none of her prayers could stop the pending attack!
“Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity, of your dearly beloved son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world…”
Jesus Christ himself surely brought you to this webpage, at this precise moment, to urge you to bravely stand with him against these forces of evil by making Divine Mercy atonement. Before you were born, He foresaw your enlistment in our hidden prayer army.The demons, bound and immobilized by Divine Mercy atonement and the angelic Auxilium Christianorum excorism prayers, will be vanquished and cast into the abyss. You shall witness a great victory, such as at Lepanto in the late 1500s, the precursor to the coming Triumph of the Immaculate Mary and the era of peace which Our Lady promised at Fatima.Gaze upon the Holy Cross: Jesus denied himself unto death. Any form of self-denial you undertake in atonement for the sins of the United States will help secure victory during this supernatural conflict. We encourage you to fast on bread and water, abstain from meals, coffee, television, etc. To find what fits your personal circumstances, refer to this comprehensive listing of penances from our Atonement List.
Talk to your relatives and friends. Spread the word online and distribute the prayer book to family, friends, parishes, and prayer groups—especially during our daring Operation True Cross spiritual warfare campaign.By the merit of our participatory atonement, we chosen few (a politically powerless and penniless remnant by every worldly measure) shall witness a truly awesome, unprecedented Red Sea moment. The sword of the Guardian Angel of the United States of America, bright shining as the sun, is now being unsheathed! Later Saint Faustina told her spiritual director that the city earmarked for divine punishment was Warsaw, the capital of Poland, which was a major center for abortion at that time at that time due to corrupt communist influence. In late summer of 2020, inspired to call upon God the Father to grant an unprecedented outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Father John Anthony and Bud Macfarlane “pinned the Mantle of Mary” onto the extreme four corners of the United States through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Now you understand that atonement can paralyze demonic forces. Atonement is also called penance, reparation, self-denial, or, offering life’s inevitable physical or mental suffering in union with Christ Crucified. Now the Mary Foundation is calling upon Catholics everywhere to pray daily in atonement for the sins of the United States as a small team of brave men carries an authentic relic of the True Cross 4,500 miles from four National Marian Shrines on foot to form a “Crucifix of Reparation” over America. Learn more here:You can read Vince’s moving account of this angelic visitation (which has received an Imprimatur from Archbishop Argüelles) in this brief excerpt from the Catholic bestseller, The Warning. After giving alms, most people typically find themselves more deeply committed to the daily spiritual actions of this prayer movement. Your gift can go to any worthy Catholic organization, of course. It does not matter if you are wealthy, poor, or in-between, because God sees the sacrifice, not the amount. Giving alms can be quite difficult for many of us, which is precisely why it is such an effective form of self-denial. And, as the Scriptures reassure us, “alms atone for sins.” It can also bring great joy! We invite you to open your heart by inviting God into your decision to embrace true financial self-denial.Our soil is soaked in the blood of tens of millions of innocent unborn babies crying out to heaven for divine justice. Ending this holocaust is what this supernatural war of powers and principalities is about. Our calling is to join our own suffering to Christ Crucified to make atonement for this abomidable sin.
We can all feel it in our bones. A supernatural battle is taking place to determine the future of the United States. In just twelve minutes a day, you can help bring forth the divine intervention needed to save America by using this book:
A percentage of all proceeds will benefit the Pregnancy Aid Clinic. The clinic offers comprehensive programs for mothers and fathers to navigate from pregnancy to parenthood with a focus on parenting and life skills. We strive to protect children by strengthening families.
How is Mary in the Manger instead of the elf on the shelf?
Similarly to the Elf, Mary moves around your house throughout Advent, perhaps drawing closer to the Christmas manger. But instead of spying on your kids for Santa, she’s preparing for the birth of her baby. Instead of heading to the North Pole, she’s journeying to Bethlehem, where her Son will be born.
Your new favorite family Christmas tradition: a fun, interactive way to help kids prepare for the arrival of baby Jesus. Introducing our brand new Mary on the Mantel activity kit has everything you need to simplify your Advent without losing any of the meaning.The tablets on the Bishop’s mantle may be more finely embroidered or made of more costly material than those on the mantle of an archimandrite. The upper tablets (those at the neck) may be embroidered with icons; those at the feet may be embroidered with the bishop’s monogram. The episcopal tablets symbolise the four Gospels which must be the focus of a bishop’s teachings. The episcopal mantle always has a train on it, and may have small bells attached as well, recalling the bells attached to the Robe of the High Priest (Exodus 28:33–34). In the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, the mantle is a monastic garment worn by bishops, hegumens, archimandrites, and other monastics in processions and while attending various church services, such as Vespers or Matins; but not when vested to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Unlike the Western cope, the mantle is worn only by monastics. The klobuk is worn over the mantle. Depictions of monks on icons show the mantle in use from the earliest Christian times. The original monastic mantle was of simple material: black, brown or grey, depending on what was at hand. As time went on, the use of mantles of a particular color and style came to be established as specific monastic vesture. Over the years distinguishing colors and ornamentation came to be applied to the mantle to distinguish monastics of higher positions within the church, while still reminding them of the need for monastic humility.”[The mantle] is called ‘the garment of incorruption and purity’ [in the text of the Tonsure ceremony], and the absence of sleeves is to remind the monk that he is debarred from worldly pursuits. The mantle is given him in token of the ‘exalted angelic state’ which he assumes”
The funeral of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow. The patriarchal mantle is draped over his coffin. The patriarch’s monograms in Church Slavonic: “P” and “A”, for “Patriarch Alexy”, are visible in front.
The monastic mantle is worn by Orthodox Christian monks and nuns of the Lesser Schema and Great Schema. In the Greek practice the use of the mantle by those of the Lesser Schema is less common. (It is not worn by Rassaphores). The mantle worn by a simple monk or nun is black (black being the traditional monastic color, symbolizing mourning over one’s sins and a reminder of the vow of poverty), joined at the neck and hanging down to the feet. In the Russian tradition, the mantle is usually pleated (33 pleats for the number of years in the earthly life of Jesus). It may or may not have a train. Over the centuries, much symbolic meaning has come to be attributed to the mantle:
In the Russian tradition, the episcopal mantiya is characteristically decorated with red and white horizontal ribbons, called “rivers” or “streams” (Greek: ποταμοί, potamoí; Slavonic: Istochniki), symbolizing the word of God going out into the entire world (Ezekiel 47:1–12, John 7:38, Revelation 22:1). Among the Greeks, these rivers are usually gold.
A mantle (Koinē Greek: μανδύας, romanized: mandyas; Church Slavonic: мантия, romanized: mantiya) is an ecclesiastical garment in the form of a very full cape that extends to the floor, joined at the neck, that is worn over the outer garments. Especially in the case of Elijah, it was likely a tallit, a Hebrew garment that housed the fringes still seen today which are also translated at “the hem of His garment” in the New Testament. It is also likely that further ecclesiastical garments were based originally on this one.
Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, Primate of the Church of Greece, wearing a red mantle with gold rivers. Icons of the four evangelists are present on the “tablets,” at the clasps of the garment; the icon of Matthew the Apostle is clearly visible in this picture.
When an Orthodox monk or nun dies, they are vested in their religious habit. A strip of cloth is torn from the bottom of their mantle and is used to bind their body three times: around the chest, around the waist, and around the feet.The mantle worn by an archimandrite will be joined in front at the bottom as well as at the neck, and will have “tablets” or “pectorals” (Greek: πόματα, pómata; Slavonic: skrizhali)—rectangular pieces of red or green cloth sewn onto the corners of the mantle (i.e., two at the neck and two at the feet). The upper two tablets (those at the neck) will often be embroidered with crosses. The tablets symbolize the fact that the Archimandrite will guide the brethren according to the commandments of God. The four tablets are symbolic of the Old and the New Testaments, and of the Four Gospels.Christian knights, many of whom take monastic vows, wear a mantle as well, often containing Christian symbols. Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, for example, wear a white mantle with a Jerusalem cross that represents the Five Holy Woundsof Jesus.
The mantle is bestowed upon a monk when he becomes as Stavrophore (Lesser Schema), for which reason this rank of monk is sometimes referred to as a “mantle monk”. The mantle is bestowed a second time if he becomes a Schemamonk (Greater Schema).
“[The] mantle is a monastic vestment, which covers the whole person with the exception of the head. Its freely flowing lines typify the wings of the Angels; hence it is called “the Angelic vestment.” The folds of the Mantle are symbolical of the all-embracing power of God; and also of the strictness, piety and meekness of the monastic life; and that the hands and other members of a monk do not live, and are not fitted for worldly activity, but are all dead.”The mantle was originally a cape worn simply to ward off the cold. The mantle was first mentioned in the Old Testament, as a garment worn by several prophets including Elijah and Elisha. In 2 Kings 2:11–14, the mantle passing from Elijah the prophet, to Elisha, his successor, symbolizes the passing of prophetic authority:
There is also an episcopal mantle which is not worn with the other episcopal vestments while celebrating the Divine Liturgy, but when the bishop formally enters the church beforehand, or when a bishop is formally attending (i.e., presiding over) a service in which he is not serving. Among the Greeks, it is common for all bishops regardless of rank, to wear a red mantle; however, many also use purple during Great Lent. In the Slavic tradition, a more complex color scheme has developed, and hierarchs wear different-colored mantles according to their rank: violet for bishops; plum for archbishops; blue for metropolitans; and green for patriarchs in the Russian tradition. Different national churches have different traditions regarding the colors worn by bishops.
In the contemporary practice of the Eastern Orthodox Church, monks and nuns wear solid black mantles. They also wear veils, differing between traditions and rank. In common practice, monks wear a black veil that covers a Kalimavkion, a cylindrical hat. Abbesses also wear this same veil and hat while nuns only wear the veil. The practice of wearing a kalimavkion below the veil has only arisen in the last 300 years, and prior to this period, monks either wore no veil, or wore a pointed veil, as seen in many Russians of the old rite and icons of African saints. Nuns have been wearing a veil, in addition to the mantle since at least the 11th Century. In general, when a bishop celebrates any service other than the Divine Liturgy (or when he is attending, but not celebrating Liturgy), he will wear the mantle with the Epitrachelion, the Omophorion (the latter being worn outside the mantle), and, in some liturgical traditions, the Cuffs. He will also stand on an orlets. In time, mantle was applied to other non-textile structures: for example, it referred to a movable shelter for besieging soldiers and a covering designed to be placed over a flame to enhance its glow. The word’s association with solidly-built objects may have stoked the usage of mantle for the shelf.But bygone are the days of storming castles and gas lamps, leaving us to wonder if use of mantle in reference to a fireplace should now be considered an error. Although we can say that most writers differentiate the homophones, there is still a significant number who seem unaware of the existence of mantel. Historically, using mantle as a variant spelling of mantel isn’t incorrect, but we can say that it does not conform to prevalent usage. If you do use it, you probably won’t have to take cover but be prepared for some criticism.
Why do they call it the mantle?
They both derive from the Latin word mantellum, which refers both to a cloak and to a beam or stone supporting the masonry above a fireplace. The words came into use in English a couple centuries apart, but were for a time in the past nothing more than spelling variants.
Mantel and mantle are now usually regarded as distinct from each other, with mantel used for a shelf above a fireplace, and mantle used for a cloak or other covering. However, in the past, they were nothing more than spelling variants—and, perhaps to the surprise of British writers in particular, that is (in part, anyway) still the case.
English mantle and mantel both derive from the Latin word for “cloak,” mantellum, which was adopted into Old English in the form mentel. The word eventually evolved to mantle under the influence of Anglo-French mantel—a derivative of the Latin term that was borrowed into early Middle English. Initially, mantle referred to a loose, sleeveless cloak or a protective garment or blanket. It then specified the long cloaks worn by royalty, dignitaries, and ecclesiastics as symbols of authority or preeminence. By the 17th century, this sense of mantle gained figurative use in contexts describing a transfer of power, with allusion to the allegorical passing of Elijah’s mantle to Elisha in the biblical Books of Kings.
Current usage evidence indicates that mantle is sometimes used in place of mantel to refer to the shelf, and, in American English, it is considered acceptable. Here are a couple of examples:
What does the Bible say about mantle?
The passing of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha symbolized the passing of prophetic authority to Elisha. In modern times we sometimes speak of the “mantle” of authority that the prophet receives when he is ordained and set apart.
In Latin, mantellum also referred to a beam or stone supporting the masonry above a fireplace. That sense was also adopted into English in the 14th century—again through Anglo-French. Evidence suggests that there was a tendency to use the French spelling mantel in early reference to these structures.In modern usage, mantel refers to a shelf above a fireplace and mantle refers to a cloak or covering. “Mantle” is also used metaphorically when describing the transfer of power such as when one “takes on the mantle.” Some still identify these words as spelling variants, but you are better off separating them.
As I’ve designed various products, I’ve repeatedly been drawn to the connection between a mantle and a blanket. I have always loved the imagery of being completely enveloped in an embrace from the Virgin Mary, or being “wrapped in her mantle”.
It is my hope and prayer that these blankets give you a visual of your child being wrapped in Mary’s mantle, covered in prayer, and surrounded by love.Literally speaking, a mantle is an article of clothing similar to a cape or a cloak, that was used in biblical times to keep a person warm and protect them from the elements. It can also be used symbolically, to indicate being wrapped in God’s authority, or even being graced with the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus gave us the gift of His mother as He was dying on the cross when He said “Behold, your mother.” Mary, as our spiritual mother, looks after us in a special, intimate way. As a mother comforts her baby, Mary gently comforts us. As a mother supports and nurtures her child, Mary guides and encourages us. As a mother protects her child from harm, Mary, through her intercession, defends us from evil. As a mother embraces her child, Mary covers us in her perfect love. As a mother lovingly swaddles her baby, Mary lovingly wraps us in her mantle and offers us courage and strength to unite ourselves more fully to Christ.
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Practice Alms-Gifting by making a gift of $30 to Catholic Charities of Acadiana on your behalf or in honor of a friend or loved one! This donation will reduce hunger for those in need through FoodNet FoodBank.While hanging upon the cross, Jesus said to John the Apostle (as well as to all of us), “Behold, your mother” (John 19:27). This was not simply a sweet way of Jesus caring for his aging mother, but a bold declaration that all of us are called to share Mary as our true spiritual mother.
Why is it called a mantle?
English mantle and mantel both derive from the Latin word for “cloak,” mantellum, which was adopted into Old English in the form mentel. The word eventually evolved to mantle under the influence of Anglo-French mantel—a derivative of the Latin term that was borrowed into early Middle English.
Many saints over the centuries have urged the Christian faithful to view Mary as a spiritual mother to whom we can run to in our time of need. A helpful image is to imagine ourselves running like a little child and throwing our heads into the lap of the Blessed Mother. Once there, the Virgin Mary will caress our hair and cover us with her soft and warm mantle, ensuring us that all will be well.
Was Mary in the manger?
Like Mary she went around singing God’s praises, “We must always say, Blessed be God!” Standing with Mary in the manger was Joseph, God’s faithful servant and Jesus’ foster-father.
The Blessed Mother may not be physically present on this earth, but she does remain at the side of her son, Jesus, and listens attentively to the cries of the world. On account of this heavenly position, she can make her presence felt anywhere on earth and can comfort us in our sorrows and rejoice with us in our joys.
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At House of Joppa we know the importance of being good stewards so we consistently work with smaller scale manufacturers who create ethically made products.We hope our products will inspire you to live your faith boldly in a world in such desperate need of beauty and that by doing so, many will come to believe in our Lord!When you shop with House of Joppa, not only are you supporting our small family owned Catholic business, but also 36+ other Catholic artisans and creators whose products we feature. That’s shopping you can feel good about!This amazing set features a Mary Doll, a caregiver guide with tips and ideas for what Mary can do around your home, 60 Acts of Kindness cards to tuck into Mary’s tote bag and a fun map of the Holy Land for Mary and Joseph to plan out their journey. Everything you need for a simple, well thought out way to celebrate Advent with kids!
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The Be A Heart Mary on the Mantel set prepares your child’s heart to receive Jesus in the manger by loving others. Includes a special book to read with your child about Mary and the Christmas story. Activity cards included for each day as you prepare for the birth of Jesus. Mary on the Mantel activity kit has everything you need to simplify your Advent without losing any of the meaning. Immerse your children in the Advent and Christmas story using the book, your very own Mary doll (sold separately) and activity cards every day of Advent and beyond. A wonderful gift for children, grandchildren and Godchildren. Mary doll is sold separately.
We use cookies (and other similar technologies) to collect data to improve your shopping experience. By using our website, you’re agreeing to the collection of data as described in our Privacy Policy.Simply click here to order Mary’s Mantle Consecration, and click here to order the accompanying Mary’s Mantle Prayer Journal. Follow the instructions at the beginning of the consecration book to do the 46-Day Consecration. You can encourage children to participate by having them add stars each day to the beautiful Mary’s Mantle Poster, and/or color the Mary’s Mantle coloring page.
Simply click here to order Mary’s Mantle Consecration, and click here to order the accompanying Mary’s Mantle Prayer Journal. Follow the instructions at the beginning of the consecration book to do the 46-Day Consecration.
Prayer groups require a group coordinator who sends out daily emails to Mary’s Mantle participants. Please adapt the group coordinator instructions to your needs. Groups can meet weekly in-person, online, or simply receive daily emails. Click here to go to the Videos and Coordinator Instruction page.
What does a mantle symbolize?
The mantle represented a man’s gift, the call of GOD, and the purpose for which GOD had called him. The mantle served as a symbolic purpose, in the case of the prophets, showing they were wrapped in GOD’s authority.
For parishes, a group coordinator is assigned and all materials and instructions needed are provided on the Videos and C/for-the-group-or-parish-coordinatorordinator Instruction page.The way the nativity figures are placed depends on you. Some nativity scene owners prefer a minimalist nativity scene, others like to set up a large nativity scene with many sacred and profane figures. Electric lighting is also available for the stable. A base or stand helps to ensure that the Christmas crib can be safely installed and the crib figurines do not tip over so easily. If you want to decorate your crib with natural materials, you should pick chestnuts, acorns and pine cones during the fall, as well as fir branches, straw and brightly colored leaves. The dried flowers of the orange alchechengio are also suitable for decorating a Christmas crib.For many families with children, displaying a nativity scene is a regular Christmas tradition. We tell you what you should look for when choosing a child-friendly nativity scene and present the Fairy-Tale Nativity as a beautiful, age-appropriate Christmas nativity scene for children made of wood. Before setting up a Christmas crib, some points should be clarified. This includes the question of the size, the space available, the religiousness of the family or whether the hut should have a fun educational effect for children. In some families the crib is often used as a Christmas decoration. Are there any instructions on how to properly place the figurines? The stable serves as an improvised shelter and is mentioned in both the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Nowhere else can Mary and Joseph find a place to stay. In this stable, according to the Christmas story, the baby Jesus is born. Since she has no other bed, Mary puts the baby in a manger full of hay.
Cribs are not available only during the Christmas period. Have you ever heard of Easter cribs? In our article we explain why a carved nativity scene could help you understand the biblical history of Easter and where you can admire the nativity scenes.
There are, however, also families that are strictly inspired by the Christmas story of the Gospel of Luke and that insert the characters in the scene only gradually. Shortly before Christmas, Mary and Joseph move into the stable. Christmas Eve becomes a special experience for the children who, on the occasion of a solemn ceremony, can put the newborn Jesus in the crib. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, they follow the shepherds with their sheep. On January 6, the Epiphany, the characters of the Three Kings appear.A stable is usually used as a background to set up the Christmas crib. It does not matter if it is a nativity stable in alpine, classic or middle-eastern style. Its rustic appearance is important to make it clear that the family comes from a very poor environment and simply cannot afford other accommodation.
Maria is sitting or kneeling to the right of the child. Seen by the spectator, she is on the left. Behind or next to her is the ox, which does not actually appear in Luke’s Gospel but is considered a kosher animal and symbolizes the people of Israel and Christianity. From the left, i.e. from Mary’s side, the shepherds approach with their sheep. They represent the believers who bring sacrificial animals, food and clothing.
A crib without ox and donkey would be incomplete: the two animals, together with the main characters Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, simply belong to a traditional crib. But how did the ox and donkey, which are among the oldest Christian motifs, enter the stable? And what is the meaning of the other animals in the stable?It is also important that the stable of the crib is always open and freely visible to the viewer. This is a symbol that everyone, regardless of nationality and faith, is welcome and welcomed by Jesus.
Giuseppe is on the left side of the baby Jesus, that is, on the right if seen by the viewer. Next to Joseph is the donkey, also not mentioned in Luke’s Gospel. The donkey is interpreted as an impure animal and symbolizes non-religious or even pagan people. Therefore, also the three wise men. Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar are the “wise men of the East” who donate gold, incense and myrrh. With youth, middle age and old age, they are on the one hand a symbol for the different stages of people’s lives. On the other hand, their origins from Africa, Asia and Europe are associated with the three continents known at the time. Since Melchior represents the European continent and therefore the West, the designation “Three … from the East” is actually not entirely correct.
The main Angel acts as an announcer and symbolizes the angel Gabriel who informed the shepherds of the birth of Jesus Christ. This angel is usually mounted above the crib. If no special support is available, the angel can be hung above the stable and suspended above it. Another alternative could be to place a taller object behind the shed, such as a large book or tall cardboard, to place the angel there. The raised position is important because for the shepherds, the angel was a celestial phenomenon they had to look at. If there are several angels in the Christmas crib, they form the heavenly choir. Unlike the announcing angels, they are located on the right, left or both sides, next to the stable.It is interesting that St. John Paul uses the word covenant. A covenant, in Jewish belief, was an act that creates a family bond between two parties. Therefore, the scapular is a sign that Mary is now our mother and that we are dedicated to her. It is a symbol of a special relationship with the Mother of God.
What is the mantle of Mary?
Many depictions of Mary show her wearing a long veil that covers her head and stretches to the ground. This is also referred to as a mantle. Many Catholics find comfort in the image of Mary holding open her mantle and wrapping it around us, protecting us as a mother would protect her children.
On July 16, 1251 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite friar, in Aylesford, England. She told him, “Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger and a pledge of special peace and protection.”
What is the biblical meaning of mantle?
The mantle was originally a cape worn simply to ward off the cold. The mantle was first mentioned in the Old Testament, as a garment worn by several prophets including Elijah and Elisha.
According to Canon 1166 in the Code of Canon Law, “Sacramentals are sacred signs which in a sense imitate the sacraments. They signify certain effects, especially spiritual ones, and they achieve these effects through the intercession of the Church.” The Directory of Popular Piety, No. 205, says, “The scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.”“The sign of the scapular points to an effective synthesis of Marian spirituality, which nourishes the devotion of believers and makes them sensitive to the Virgin Mother’s loving presence in their lives. The scapular is essentially a ‘habit.’ Those who receive it are associated more or less closely with the Order of Carmel and dedicate themselves to the service of Our Lady for the good of the whole Church. Those who wear the scapular … experience the loving and motherly presence of Mary in their daily commitment to be clothed in Jesus Christ and to manifest him in their life for the good of the Church and the whole of humanity.”
