THE AGATE GEMSTONE IS THE EIGHTH STONE IN THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGEMENT,
REPRESENTING THE ISRAEL TRIBE OF GAD.
Sacred scripture reveals Gad, and his brother Asher, as sons of Jacob [Israel] borne to Zilpah,
the handmaid of Jacob's wife Leah.
The wisdom of the ancient sage, Richard of Saint Victor, reveals Zilppah as representing human sensuality, and her offspring Gad & Asher as representing the virtues of "abstinence [temperance]" and "patience", respectively; as Gad is born first and Asher second. Richard explains that it is necessary to first train ourselves in due abstinence, and then to bear external discomfort through God's grace. Throughout the ages, ancient and modern sages have personally attested that disposition toward this grace often comes through long suffering; through practicing the virtue of patience. [Patience comes from the Latin, meaning: 'to suffer well".] Many of these saints responded to God's grace to 'suffer well' and were given the spiritual consolation to acquire supernatural joy in suffering.
Hence when Gad was born, Leah cried out,"Happily!" In the spiritual life,
Gad signifies 'happiness', or 'blessedness'.
THE AGATE GEMSTONE IS THE EIGHTH STONE IN THE BREASTPLATE OF JUDGEMENT,
REPRESENTING THE ISRAEL TRIBE OF GAD.
Sacred scripture reveals Gad, and his brother Asher, as sons of Jacob [Israel] borne to Zilpah,
the handmaid of Jacob's wife Leah.
The wisdom of the ancient sage, Richard of Saint Victor, reveals Zilppah as representing human sensuality, and her offspring Gad & Asher as representing the virtues of "abstinence [temperance]" and "patience", respectively; as Gad is born first and Asher second. Richard explains that it is necessary to first train ourselves in due abstinence, and then to bear external discomfort through God's grace. Throughout the ages, ancient and modern sages have personally attested that disposition toward this grace often comes through long suffering; through practicing the virtue of patience. [Patience comes from the Latin, meaning: 'to suffer well".] Many of these saints responded to God's grace to 'suffer well' and were given the spiritual consolation to acquire supernatural joy in suffering.
Hence when Gad was born, Leah cried out,"Happily!" In the spiritual life,
Gad signifies 'happiness', or 'blessedness'.