VIII 



THE COLUMBINE 



We read in Isaiah : ' And there shall come 

 forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a 

 Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the 

 Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit 

 of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of 

 counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and 

 the fear of the Lord.' ' 



' These words were addressed to the Messiah. 

 The Divine Child was therefore clothed with 

 the Spirit of God, whose faculties are seven in 

 number, for He possesses as His peculiar gifts, 

 wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, know- 

 ledge, piety and fear. 



' This subject has frequently been portrayed 

 by Christian artists. A tree springs from the 

 bowels, the breast or the mouth of Jesse. The 



^ Isaiah xi. 1-2. 

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