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VATICAN STAMPS FOR UNITED NATIONS FREEDOM FROM HUNGER CAMPAIGN. In its cooperation with the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for their Freedom From Hunger Campaign, Vatican issued four stamps (400-03) and chose for the designs two events from the life of Jesus Christ,- the miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes and the Miraculous Draught of Fishes. In these the example of Christ was put before us,- the feeding of the multitude who were hungry, and the great catch of fishes for the men who supplied that part of the diet of Capharnaum and its vicinity. By the example of Jesus our motives are raised from the merely natural motive to the supernatural level of Christian charity. The design of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes is from a painting by Murillo, which is to be found at Charity Hospital, Seville, Spain. There are two accounts of separate instances of this kind in the New Testament. The first is the feeding of 5000 men plus the women and children with five loaves and two fishes, and this evidently is the one depicted by Murillo, because of the presence of the small boy in the picture referred to in the account by John. This event is recorded in Matthew 14/1-13; Mark 6/34-44; and Luke 9/10-17, as well as the text we quote from John 6/1-13. John 6/1-13. After this Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And there followed him a great crowd, because they were witnessing the great signs he worked on those who were sick. Jesus therefore went up the mountain, and was sitting there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. When therefore Jesus had lifted up his eyes and seen that a very great crowd had come to him, he said to Philip:"Whence shall we buy bread that they may eat?" But he said this to try him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered:"Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough for them that each one may receive a little." One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him: "There is a young boy here who has five barley loaves and two fishes; but what are these among so many?" Jesus then said:"Make the people recline." Now there was much, grass in the place. The men therefore reclined in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, distributed them to those reclining; and likewise the fishes as much as they wished. But when they were filled, he said to his disciples:"Gather the fragments that are left over, lest they be wasted." They therefore gathered than up; and they filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. The second recounting of another multiplication of loaves and fishes is told in Matthew 15/32-38 and Mark 8/1-10, wherein 4000 are fed from seven loaves and a few little fishes. The second subject chosen for this issue, the Miraculous Draught of Fishes is found in Luke 5/1-11. Luke 5/1-11. Now it came to pass, while the crowds were pressing upon him to hear the word of God, that he was standing by Lake Genesareth. And he saw two boats moored by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of than and were washing their nets. And getting into one of the boats, the one that was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And sitting down he began to teach the crowds from the boat. But when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon:"Put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch." And Simon answered and said to him: "Master, the whole night through we have toiled and have taken nothing, but at thy word I will lower the net." And when they had done so, they enclosed a great number of fishes, but their nets were breaking. And they beckoned to their comrades in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying:"Depart from me for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord." For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had made; and so were James and John, the sons of Zebadee, who were partners with Simon. Abd Jesus said to Simon: "Do not be afraid; henceforth thou shalt catch men." and when they had brought their boats to land, they left all and followed him. The design of this stamp is taken from one of the tapestries of Raphael which hangs in the Hall of Tapestries in the Vatican Palace. In this connection, we refer you to an article -"The Tapestries of Raphael" by Fr. Phinney, in Vatican Notes for May-June 1964, Volume XII, #6, pages 11-12. The United Nations requested that a spike of grain either be the main design or be incorporated into the design, and in the top margin of the stamp we see three spikes of grain. In the side margins of the stamp is FAMEL/CIS ADIUVANDIS or To Aid the Hungry. We refer you to the article below by Ted Morello which appeared in the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum Newsletter of March, 1963, and we thank Sister Fidelma, the Curator of the Museum at Weston, Mass., for her permission to reprint here this most informative article. (See VATICAN PARTICIPATES IN FREEDOM FROM HUNGER CAMPAIGN) Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 356 - 359 Date Issued - 21 March 1963 Face Value - 15 l, 40 l, 100 l, 200 l Perforations - 14 Printer - The Italian State Printing Works |
| (From Vatican Notes Volume XIV, Number 4, January - February 1966, Page 1 & 2) |
