Saturday, July 08, 2006

Can angels wear capes?

Here's a great Superman post from Me monk, Me meander:

Superman R.I.P. 29 September

The pastor gives me Wednesdays as a day off.

Today I saw the new "Superman" movie.

While Superman is unconscious in a hospital, Perry White (the editor-in-chief of "The Daily Planet") and reporter Jimmy Olsen are working on a "just-in-case" front page headline:SUPERMAN IS DEAD.

The month and day that appear with the headline caught my eye: September 29.

The Catholic feast of the archangels Micha-El, Gabri-El and Rapha-El!

Interesting!

Superman's native Kryptonian name, "Kal-El," sounds like Hebrew. The suffix "El" is one of the ancient names for God, used throughout the Bible. It is also found in the names of great Biblical figures like Isra-El, Samu-El, Dani-El and angels such as Micha-El, Gabri-El and Rapha-El.
"Micha-El" means "like God" or "likeness of God".
"Gabri-El" means "mighty one of God".
"Rapha-El means "God heals" or "God has healed"

The prefix of Superman's name, "Kal," sounds close to the root of several Hebrew words: "lightness," "swiftness," "vessel," and "voice." "Kal-El" sounds similar to something in Hebrew that could mean:"Lightness of God"..."Swiftness of God"..."Vessel of God"..."Voice of God".

No one seems to know whether the comic-book creators of Superman were aware of-- or so much as intended-- these Hebraicisms.

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