Joshua Bennett
The number 13 is considered unlucky in some countries, with the fear of the number having a recognised phobia called triskaidekaphobia. This fear is also prevalent among Catholics, with some associating the number with Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, as he was believed to be the 13th person at the Last Supper. However, this superstition is not encouraged by the Catholic Church, which considers it a sin. In contrast, some cultures consider 13 a lucky number, and it is associated with femininity in ancient cultures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fear of the number 13 | Triskaidekaphobia |
| Number of people at the Last Supper | 13 |
| Person who betrayed Jesus Christ | Judas Iscariot |
| Date of the arrest of the Knights Templar | Friday, 13 October 1307 |
| Number of full moons in a typical year | 12 or 13 |
| Number of lunar cycles in a year | 13 |
| Number of times the word "Hinnom" occurs in King James Verses | 13 |
| Number of times the word "thirteen" is recorded in the King James Bible | 15 |
| Number of apparitions of the Virgin of Fátima | 6 |
| Number of decades in St. Anthony’s Chaplet | 13 |
| Number of famines mentioned in the Bible | At least 13 |
| Number of knots in a hangman's knot | 13 |
| Number of sides in a tridecagon | 13 |
| Number of words and phrases in the Bible's original languages recorded 13 times | 147 |
| Number of Greek words that occur 13 times in the Greek New Testament | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's teachings discourage superstition
The Church defines superstition as attributing "the efficacy of prayers or sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand" (CCC 2111). For example, the belief that saying a prayer or leaving copies of it in a church will guarantee a certain outcome is considered superstitious because it defeats the purpose of prayer, which should involve submitting to God's will. Similarly, practices like burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down to expedite the sale of a home are considered superstitious as they attempt to manipulate God's will.
The Church encourages Catholics to approach prophets and alleged revelations with skepticism, emphasising that private revelations neither add to nor correct public revelation and that no one is obligated to believe them. The Church condemns practices that promise to guarantee prayer intentions, such as online novenas, as they are likened to spiritual vending machines.
While the Church acknowledges the existence of superstition within its walls, it actively works to remove fraud or error that is inconsistent with true devotion. The Church tolerates "pious beliefs" that further Christian piety, such as the apparitions of the Virgin of Fátima and the feast of Corpus Christi.
The spread of superstition in the pagan world was largely eliminated by the preaching of Christianity, and the Church, through its legislation and the advancement of scientific knowledge, has played a role in eradicating earlier forms of superstition. However, the tendency towards superstition persists, and even within the modern Catholic Church, there are complexities in its relationship with superstition.
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The Virgin of Fátima appeared on the 13th day of six months in 1917
The number 13 is often considered an unlucky number in many cultures around the world. The fear of the number 13 has a specific phobia called triskaidekaphobia. Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day, and this can be traced back to the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, when King Philip IV of France ordered their arrest, and most of the knights were tortured and killed. The number 13 is also associated with Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, as he was the 13th person to sit at the table during the Last Supper.
However, the number 13 is not always considered unlucky. In ancient cultures, it represented femininity as it corresponded to the number of lunar (menstrual) cycles in a year. In Italy, 13 is considered a lucky number, and the expression "fare tredici" ("make thirteen") means to hit the jackpot.
In Catholic devotional practice, the number 13 is associated with Saint Anthony of Padua, as his feast day falls on June 13. There is also a traditional devotion called the Thirteen Tuesdays of St. Anthony, which involves praying for the saint every Tuesday over a period of thirteen weeks.
The Virgin of Fátima, also known as Our Lady of Fátima, is a Catholic title of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three young shepherd children: Francisco, Jacinta, and Lucia dos Santos, near the village of Fátima in Portugal. These apparitions occurred on the 13th day of six consecutive months, from May to October. The children recounted that the Virgin told them that God had sent her with a message for every person living in the century. She promised that God would grant peace to the world if her requests for prayer, reparation, and consecration were heard and obeyed.
The appearances of the Virgin Mary were investigated and approved by the local bishop, who declared them worthy of belief and public devotion in 1930. Fátima became the location of one of the most famous Marian shrines in the world, drawing thousands of pilgrims each year. The first national pilgrimage to Fátima took place in 1927, and a basilica was consecrated in 1953.
The story of the Virgin of Fátima and her appearances on the 13th day of six months in 1917 challenges the notion that the number 13 is universally unlucky or evil. While some Catholics may have a negative association with the number due to its symbolic meaning in the Bible, the positive message and miracles associated with the Virgin of Fátima's appearances on the 13th day offer a different perspective.
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Saint Anthony of Padua's feast day is on June 13
Saint Anthony of Padua, also known as Anthony of Lisbon, was a Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. He was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal, and died in 1231 in Padua, Italy. He is known for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick. He is also invoked and respected around the world as the patron saint for the recovery of lost items and is credited with several miracles involving lost people, things, and even spiritual goods.
Saint Anthony of Padua's feast day is celebrated annually on June 13, the day of his death. On this day, various religious ceremonies, processions, and festivities take place in his honor. For instance, in New York City, the Shrine Church of St. Anthony in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, celebrates with a traditional novena of prayers asking for his intercession on the 13 Tuesdays preceding his feast. This is followed by a week-long series of services and a street fair.
The number 13 is often considered unlucky, and this belief has influenced various aspects of culture, such as the omission of the 13th floor in buildings. However, it is important to note that the number 13 is not universally considered unlucky. In some cultures and contexts, it is associated with luck and positivity.
In Catholic devotional practice, the number 13 is associated with Saint Anthony of Padua due to his feast day falling on June 13. There are traditional devotions, such as the Thirteen Tuesdays of St. Anthony, which involve praying for the saint every Tuesday over a period of thirteen weeks. Another devotion, St. Anthony’s Chaplet, consists of thirteen decades of three beads each.
While some may associate the number 13 with unluckiness or negativity, it is clear that in the context of Saint Anthony of Padua's feast day, the number takes on a positive and devotional significance for Catholics.
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The Last Supper had 13 guests, including Judas, Jesus' betrayer
The number 13 is considered unlucky in many cultures around the world, and this belief is also present in some Catholic circles. The fear of the number 13 has a specific term: triskaidekaphobia. While some sources claim that the number 13 is neither lucky nor unlucky in the Bible, others argue that it symbolises rebellion and lawlessness.
The Last Supper, as described in the Bible, was the final meal Jesus shared with his 12 apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. It is mentioned in four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. During the meal, Jesus predicts that one of the apostles will betray him. He is described as reiterating that the betrayer will be one of those present, despite each apostle's assertion that they would not betray him.
The Gospel of John specifically identifies Judas Iscariot as the traitor. Jesus states that the traitor will be the one to whom he gives a piece of bread. After dipping the bread, he gives it to Judas, and Satan enters him.
The number of guests at the Last Supper is significant. Including Jesus and Judas, there were 13 people at the table. Some believe this number is unlucky because Judas, one of the thirteen, was the betrayer of Jesus. From the 1890s, a number of English language sources relate the "unlucky" thirteen to the idea that Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th guest at the Last Supper.
However, it is important to note that the number 13 is not universally considered unlucky. In ancient cultures, it represented femininity, corresponding to the number of lunar (menstrual) cycles in a year. In some instances, the number 13 is considered lucky, such as in Italy, where "fare tredici" means to hit the jackpot.
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Friday the 13th: The Knights Templar were arrested and killed
The number 13 is considered unlucky in many cultures around the world, and this belief is prevalent in Western Christianity. The fear of the number 13 has a specific term, triskaidekaphobia, and Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day. This belief is especially prominent among Catholics, who associate the number with the Last Supper, where there were thirteen people, including Jesus Christ and Judas, who betrayed him.
Friday, October 13, 1307, marked a significant event in history that reinforced the association of bad luck with the number 13, particularly in the Catholic faith. On this day, known as Friday the 13th, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Knights Templar, a powerful and influential monastic military order within the Catholic Church.
The Knights Templar, officially known as the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, was founded in 1118 or 1119 to protect Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land during the Crusades. Over time, they established a vast network of castles, churches, and banks across Western Europe, amassing significant wealth and influence. However, their success and wealth also made them a target for King Philip IV, who was deeply in debt to the Templars due to his war against England.
On Friday the 13th of 1307, King Philip IV sent secret documents and orders to his men and bailiffs throughout France. The documents contained accusations of black magic and scandalous sexual rituals against the Templars. As a result, more than 600 Templars were arrested, including the order's leader, Jacques de Molay, and other high-ranking members. The arrested Templars were subjected to brutal torture techniques, isolation, and near-starvation rations. Many confessed to false charges under extreme duress, and their properties were confiscated.
The arrest and subsequent execution of the Knights Templar on Friday the 13th solidified the association of bad luck and misfortune with the date in Christian, and particularly Catholic, tradition. The Knights Templar's downfall, orchestrated by King Philip IV with the backing of Pope Clement V, contributed to the enduring belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholics should not fear the number 13. Superstition is not smiled upon by the Church, and Catholics have found something that far surpasses any superstitious belief: the truth of the Gospel.
The number 13 is considered unlucky in some cultures. There are several theories as to why this is the case. One theory suggests that there were 13 people at the Last Supper, including Jesus and the twelve apostles, with Judas being the 13th man, who betrayed Jesus. Another theory suggests that the number 13 is associated with the arrest and killing of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, by King Philip IV of France.
Some people believe that having thirteen guests at a table is unlucky. The number 13 is also considered a harbinger of the apocalypse, as seen in the Mayan calendar's 13th Baktun. Additionally, some buildings omit the 13th floor due to the fear associated with the number.
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