South Portal 4

Quatrefoils: Subject Matter

Nebuchadnessar's Dream

Daniel 2

[44] But in the days of those kingdoms the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and his kingdom shall not be delivered up to another people, and it shall break in pieces, and shall consume all these kingdoms, and itself shall stand for ever. [45] According as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and broke in pieces, the clay, and the iron, and the brass, and the silver, and the gold, the great God hath shewn the king what shall come to pass hereafter, and the dream is true, and the interpretation thereof is faithful.

Moses and the Burning Bush 

Exodus 3: 2-5

[2] And the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he saw that the bush was on fire and was not burnt. [3] And Moses said: I will go and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. [4] And when the Lord saw that he went forward to see, he called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said: Moses, Moses. And he answered: Here I am. [5] And he said: Come not nigh hither, put off the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Gideon's Fleece

Judges 6 36-40

And Gedeon said to God: If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, [37] I will put this fleece of wool on the floor: if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground beside, I, shall know that by my hand, as thou hast said, thou wilt deliver Israel. [38] And it was so. And rising before day wringing the fleece, he filled a vessel with the dew. [39] And he said again to God: let not thy wrath be kindled against me if I try once more, seeking a sign in the fleece. I pray that the fleece only may be dry, and all the ground wet with dew. [40] And God did that night as he had requested: and it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Aaron's Rod 

Numbers 17

1] And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: [2] Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of every man upon his rod.... 5] Whomsoever of these I shall choose, his rod shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, wherewith they murmur against you....[7] And when Moses had laid them up before the Lord in the tabernacle of the testimony: [8] He returned on the following day, and found that the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi, was budded: and that the buds swelling it had bloomed blossoms, which spreading the leaves, were formed into almonds.

Annunciation to Zachariah, father of John Baptist

Luke 1: 11-13

11] And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the alter of incense. [12] And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:

Birth of John Baptist

Luke 1: 23-25 

23] And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house. [24] And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: [25] Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.

Zachariah Struck Dumb

Luke 1:

21] And the people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they understood that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb.

Naming of John

Luke 1: 63

And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.

Flight to Egypt

Matthew 2: 13-15

[13] And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. [14] Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod: [15] That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Christ Among the Doctors

Luke 2,

[42] And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, [43] And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. [44] And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day' s journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. [45] And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

[46] And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions.

Fall of the Idols 

Isaiah 19: 1

[1] The burden of Egypt. Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst thereof.

Return to Nazareth

Luke 2: 51

51] And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. [52] And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.

Source: Douay-Rheims Bible