Halos: Many Signs of Sanctity

By Sean M. Wright

The halo is a phenomenon seen in nature as a ring around the sun or moon, a result of refracted or reflected light. The corona (Latin for “wreath”) surrounding the sun during a total eclipse is similar. Any of these forms of halo may be called a nimbus (Latin for “cloud”). Some authorities suggest that these titles may be used interchangeably, along with aura, aureole, glory or gloriole (Latin: “a small glory”).

The halo was not a Christian artistic invention. Depicting a burst of light behind revered persons and supposed deities began in the East at least two centuries before Christ. The practice came to Rome, where rays of glory shot out from Helios, god of the sun. 

Due to their association with paganism, Christian artists were slow to adopt halos, even though the concept of martyrs crowned in glory goes back to the promise found in Revelation 2:10: “Be thou faithful unto death and thou shalt win a crown of life.”

Rays of light emanating from the figure of Jesus began to be shown in Rome in the middle of the 3rd century. Signs of glory were reserved for him alone until the 5th century, when artists began to employ halos to indicate sainted individuals.

Special radiances soon took different shapes depending on the holiness or state of eminence of the subject. Christian iconographers placed halos around the heads of Jesus, God the Father or the Holy Spirit dove, the Virgin Mary, angels, or any recognized saint.

The Nimbus Halo

The ring, a simple circle; the disk, a solid circle; or the corona, a luminous circle, may all be termed a nimbus. In art these forms are seen behind and surrounding the heads of the blessed. They might also be shown horizontally, hovering over holy heads.  Then, again, the halo might be tilted over the crown of a head, taking the perspective of the sanctified person being depicted.

 The Mandorla

The Mandorla (Italian for “almond”) first appeared in the 5th century. Referring to a supernal, ovoid shape outlining the entire body of an individual, it is also known as the “Vesica Pisca,” a stylized shape for a fish. It came to be reserved for indicating the divinity of the persons of the Holy Trinity.

It is an artistic distortion to depict the Virgin Mary or another saint in a mandorla unless they are holding the Christ Child or otherwise in company with the divine God the Son. Use of the mandorla waned in the 15th century when, according to Britannica: “the mandorla became  . .  incongruous in a naturalistic context,” and the aura or glory replaced the mandorla.

The Aureole or Gloriole

The aureole (Latin: golden, diminutive of aureus) is a radiant light artistically surrounding the head or emanating from the body of a sacred personage. The gloriole, “a small glory” (Latin: probably a blending of gloria and aureole) usually refers to a crown of glory.

The Triangular Halo

The triangular halo implies the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, One God in three Divine Persons. It is most often seen behind the head of God the Father. The triangular halo may be, but is seldom, used for God the Son and God the Holy Spirit since each of the Divine Persons is God. Obviously, this halo may not adorn the head of any mortal, no matter how holy.

The Tri-Radiant or Cruciform Halo

The Tri-Radiant or Cruciform Halo is quite ancient. It is often seen within a disk behind the head of Jesus Christ where the three bars or glory rays imply his divinity. Some commentators say the bars indicate the Cross; the fourth bar hidden by Christ’s head and neck. All Three Persons of the Holy Trinity are equal in dignity so it is permissible for the Tri-Radiant Halo to be used for the Father and Holy Spirit as well.

The Halo (or crown) of Twelve Stars

The Halo of Twelve Stars, also seen as a Crown of Twelve Stars, is reserved to Mary as the Woman of the Apocalypse: “And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1).

Pope Benedict XVI wrote “This sign symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel and means that the Virgin Mary is at the center of the People of God, of the entire communion of saints. And thus this image of the crown of 12 stars ushers us into the second great interpretation of the heavenly portent of the ‘woman clothed with the sun’.” The image also symbolizes the Blessed Virgin as Queen of the Apostles.

The Hexagonal, Scalloped or Cusped Halo

While this halo is seen in art of the late Middle Ages behind the heads of angels known as Virtues, it more often denotes holy personages of the Old Testament. This includes those who lived during the New Testament era but before the Resurrection, such as Sts. Joachim and Anne or even St. Joseph. 

The Scroll Halo

Rarely seen, this halo shows a piece of parchment scrolling behind the head of a person, indicating the addition of his or her name to the Canon of the Saints. This is the origin of the word “canonization”. 

Through a living belief in our Blessed Lord, and following the examples of our holy forebears, let us walk in good works (see Eph 2:8-10) so we may all win the halos God has prepared for us.

(Sean M. Wright, MA, award-winning essayist, Emmy nominee, and Master Catechist for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Santa Clarita. He answers comments at Locksley69@aol.com.)