In several Roman churches, from SSma Trinità to St Peter's itself, I've observed the mysterious inscription VNVM EX VII ALTAR.
What does it mean?
It appears above some altars, but not others in the same church...
I take it it doesn't mean "one ex-Vatican II altar" for sale!
(It seems distinct from that other familiar superscription, <<Altare privilegiatum>>, meaning a privileged altar at which, formerly, a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory could be gained by having a Mass offered up.)
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An answer? From Wikipedia: "Another curiosity are the "Unum ex septem" signs at some chapels. It is said that if one prays looking at these signs one would obtain a five-year forgiveness for one's sins, and seven years if one prays during the patron saint's day."
This sounds a bit mangled in the telling...
What does it mean?
It appears above some altars, but not others in the same church...
I take it it doesn't mean "one ex-Vatican II altar" for sale!
(It seems distinct from that other familiar superscription, <<Altare privilegiatum>>, meaning a privileged altar at which, formerly, a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory could be gained by having a Mass offered up.)
An answer? From Wikipedia: "Another curiosity are the "Unum ex septem" signs at some chapels. It is said that if one prays looking at these signs one would obtain a five-year forgiveness for one's sins, and seven years if one prays during the patron saint's day."
This sounds a bit mangled in the telling...
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