Lists of Seven

On this site:

• The Seven Sisters (Colleges)
• The Seven Sisters (Magazines)
• The Seven Sisters of Petroleum
• The Seven Sisters of American Protestant Churches
• The Seven Sisters of the Telephone (The “Baby Bells”)
• Seven base units of SI
  • Seven definitional constants of SI
• Days of the Week
• Other lists of Seven
  • seven capital sins
  • seven virtues
  • the seven sacraments
  • the seven churches of Asia
  • the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit
  • Seven Sisters on Wikipedia
  • Seven archangels
  • the seven laws of Noah
  • the seven words from the cross
  • the Seven Sorrows of Mary
  • the Seven Joys of Mary

The Seven Sisters of Colleges

Colleges that were considered the “female” counterpart to the Ivy League, which formerly was all male. The notion of Seven Sisters is from the Pleiades of Greek mythology (Maia [Μαῖα], Electra [Ἠλέκτρα], Taygete [Ταϋγέτη], Alcyone [Ἀλκυόνη], Celaeno [Κελαινώ], Sterope [Στερόπη], and Merope [Μερόπη]). All except Radcliffe and Vassar are still all female.

• Barnard College (New York, NY)—founded in 1889; associated with Columbia University, but independent; students receive a diploma signed by the presidents of both schools.
• Bryn Mawr College (Bryn Mawr, PA)—founded in 1885 as a Quaker institution, but no longer; Woodrow Wilson was once its president; alumnae include actress Katharine Hepburn; part of the Tri-College Consortium (which also includes Haverford College and Swarthmore College) and is also affiliated with the nearby University of Pennsylvania through the Tri-College Consortium schools’ membership in the Quaker Consortium, allowing Bryn Mawr students to attend classes at Haverford, Swarthmore, and Penn and vice versa. A merger between Bryn Mawr and Haverford College was considered at one point.
• Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA)—founded in 1837, the first of the Seven Sister schools, and the first institution of higher education for women in the U.S.
• Radcliffe College (Cambridge, MA)—emerged in 1893 as an institution adjacent to, yet separate from, Harvard University. In the 1970s, the two schools merged and women were officially granted Harvard degrees. Radcliffe College is now the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study for graduate students.
• Smith College (Northampton, MA)—Chartered in 1871 and opened in 1875; Australian educator and author Jill Ker Conway became Smith’s first woman president in 1975
• Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY)—Founded 1861; coeducational since 1969, it was the first of the Seven Sisters to admit both sexes; formerly affiliated with Yale University.
• Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)—Founded 1870; Wellesley’s presidents have all been women, many of them Wellesley alumnae; Hillary Rodham is an alumna; has cross-registration and dual degree programs with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Olin College, cross registration with Brandeis University and Babson College, and has an exchange program with Spelman College.

In Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College and Smith College are part of the Five College Consortium with Amherst College, Hampshire College, and University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The Seven Sisters (magazines)

These are seven magazines aimed primarily at married women who are homemakers. Only three (as of 2020) are still published monthly.

• Better Homes and Gardens (1922-)
• Good Housekeeping (1885-)
• Woman’s Day (1937-)
• McCall’s (1873-2002)
• Ladies’ Home Journal (1883-) Now published quarterly, available at newsstands only.
• Redbook (1903-) Ceased print publication at the end of 2018; now available online only.
• Family Circle (1932-2019)

The Seven Sisters of Petroleum

Seven petroleum companies that dominated the world’s oil drilling, refining, and distribution

• Exxon—Originally Standard Oil of New Jersey; used the name Esso; the largest piece of the original Standard Oil trust; merged with Mobil in 1999 to become Exxon-Mobil
• Mobil—Originally Standard Oil Company Of New York: SOCONY; one of the larger pieces of Standard Oil; merged a small piece, the Vacuum company, to become Socony-Vacuum; later became Socony-Mobil, and finally Mobil; merged with Exxon in 1999 to become Exxon-Mobil
• Chevron—Petroleum discovered in 1876 near Los Angeles by what became the Pacific Coast Oil Co; Standard Oil established an office in San Francisco 1878, which was consolidated with Standard Oil (Iowa) 1885; Standard acquired Pacific Coast Oil in 1900; reorganized 1906 as Standard Oil (California); Standard Oil Trust broken up 1911; Standard Oil of California (Socal) began using the chevron logo on its signs 1931; began using the Chevron as a brand name 1937; merged Gulf Oil Company in 1985 to become Chevron USA; merged in 2001 with Texaco to become ChevronTexaco. In 2005, the company dropped the Texaco name and resumed the name Chevron.
• Gulf—merged 1985 by Standard Oil of California to become part of Chevron
• Texaco—originally The Texas Company; began using the Texaco brand 1911; changed corporate name to Texaco, Inc. 1959; acquired Getty Oil Co. 1984; merged in 2001 with Chevron to become ChevronTexaco. In 2005, the company dropped the Texaco name and resumed the name Chevron. 
• Royal Dutch-Shell Group—formed 1907 by combining operations of the British company known as The “Shell” Transport and Trading Company p.l.c.,  and the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company.
• BP (British Petroleum)—originally (1909) Anglo-Persian Oil Company (although operations in Iran go back to 1901), then (1927) the Anglo-Iranian Company; renamed BP (1954) after nationalization of Iranian assets by the Iranian government; has swallowed many other companies, including Amoco (started as Standard of Indiana [1889]; bought Amoco 1923; changed its name to Amoco 1985; acquired by BP 1998) and Arco (formed by 1966 merger of Atlantic [a Standard Oil piece] with Richfield; FTC approved merger by BP 2000); in 1987, merged Standard of Ohio (Sohio) the first of the Standard Oil companies, and the last to use the name Standard.

Today (2020), there are six “supermajor” petroleum companies, in order of net revenue:

• Exxon-Mobil (brands: Exxon [US], Mobil [US, AUS, NZ], Esso [EU])
• Royal Dutch-Shell (brand: Shell [worldwide])
• BP (brands: BP, Arco [US], Aral [EU])
• Chevron (brands: Chevron [US, Canada], Texaco [EU, US, Latin America])
• Total S.A. (brands: Total, Elf, Petrofina [all EU])
• Eni (brands: Eni, Agip [Italy, France, Germany, Czech Rep., Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia])

Others:

• Conoco-Phillips (brands: Union 76, Conoco, Phillips 66 [all US]; Jet [EU])

Seven Sisters of American Protestantism

The seven protestant denominational structures in the United States that were considered “mainline”, and now are mostly quite liberal. They all have experienced declining membership, including the large United Methodist Church.

• The Episcopal Church—organized 1789; descended from the Church of England; now undergoing a split provoked by the consecration of an openly homosexual bishop and endorsement of same-sex unions.
• The Presbyterian Church (USA)—organized 1983 by reunion of churches split since the civil war; first organized in America as Presbytery of Philadelphia, 1706; Synod of Philadelphia, 1716; first General Assembly 1789; originally strongly Calvinist; but no longer in agreement over doctrine; currently stressed by tensions between orthodox and liberals over homosexuality and support of radical groups in the U.S. and abroad.
• The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—organized 1988, completing a process which began in 1960 of mergers of formerly ethnic churches
• The United Church of Christ—organized 1957 by merger of Congregational churches (going back to the ”Pilgrims” and New England Puritans) with Evangelical United Brethren; stresses organic unity over doctrinal agreement
• American Baptist Churches USA—in 1630s Roger Williams was forced out of Massachusetts for his views, and then established the first Baptist church in America in what became Rhode Island; in 1707 first Baptist organization formed; in 1845 southern Baptists withdrew over issue of slavery; Northern Baptist Convention organized in 1907; renamed American Baptist Convention in 1950, and then American Baptist Churches USA in 1972.  ABCUSA churches are active in social issues, but the trend is in the liberal direction.  Although not as liberal as the Episcopal, Methodist, or Presbyterian church organizations, the orthodox-liberal tension is still there.
• Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ)—formally organized 1968, but the movement goes back as far as 1808; this is the most liberal of the ”Campbellite” movement
• The United Methodist Church—organized 1968, but origins go back to colonial America; Methodist Episcopal Church organized 1784; currently stressed by tensions between liberals and orthodox over homosexuality and other issues

The links above are to the official denominational sites, and as such tend to downplay controversy within their organizations.  There is useful information there, though. For another perspective, visit some of the sites given below.

• American Anglican Council
• The Fellowship Community (Presbyterian)
• The Institute on Religion and Democracy
• Presbyterian Layman  

Days of the Week

Other Lists of Seven

Additional colors (shades approximate)

• A Site on Tinctures
• Planet Narnia

Church Sevens

Seven Capital Sins

*  St Gregory the Great has Tristia (Sadness) instead of Acedia (Sloth).

Seven Virtues

The first four of these are called the natural virtues, as they were known to the pagan Greeks.  The last three are the Christian virtues, as enumerated by St Paul in 1 Corinthians 13.

Other lists of seven virtues:

• Another list is given in 2 Peter 1.4-6: faith, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.
• The Seven Contrary Virtues which are specific opposites to the Seven Capital Sins: humility versus pride, kindness versus envy, abstinence versus gluttony, chastity versus lust, patience versus anger, liberality versus greed, and diligence versus sloth.
• The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy are a medieval list of things one can do to help others: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to give shelter to strangers, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick, to minister to prisoners, and to bury the dead.
• The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy are: to admonish the sinner, to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to bear wrongs patiently, to forgive all injuries, and to pray for the living and the dead.
• The Seven Bushido Virtues: Right decisions, Valor, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor, and Loyalty. 

More on this page.

The Seven Sacraments

Only the first two are recognized as sacraments by most protestant churches.

• Baptism, the Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Ordination, Penance, and [Extreme] Unction

The Seven Churches of Asia

See Revelation chapters 1,  2 and 3.

• Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea

The Sevenfold Gifts of the Holy Spirit

As listed in Isaiah 11 (note that piety is from the Greek and Latin versions; in the Hebrew the sixth word translates as “fear of the Lord”):

• wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, piety, and the fear of the Lord.

As listed in Romans 12:6-8:

• prophecy, ministry [or service], teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling [or leadership], and [showing] mercy.

Seven Archangels

The Seven archangels, from the Jewish Encyclopedia, entry “Angelology”

• Michael (archangel) (translation: who is like God?), kindness of God, and stands up for the children of mankind (Mentioned in the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation
• Gabriel (archangel) (translation: God is my strength), performs acts of justice and power (Mentioned in the biblical books of Daniel and Luke)
• Jophiel (translation: Beauty of God), expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden holding a flaming sword and punishes those who transgress against God.
• Raphael (archangel) (translation: It is God who heals), God’s healing force (Mentioned in the apocryphal book of Tobit)
• Uriel (archangel) (translation: God is my light), leads us to destiny (Mentioned in the apocryphal book of 2 Esdras)
• Samael (archangel) (translation: Venom of God), angel of death—see also Malach HaMavet (translation: the angel of death)
• Sandalphon (archangel) (translation: bringing together), battles Samael and brings mankind together

Only Michael and Gabriel are mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament; Raphael is mentioned in the book of Tobit (deuterocanonical/apocryphal), Uriel in the book of 2 Edras (apocryphal); the rest are from extra-biblical tradition.

Other traditions

• Eastern (Byzantine) tradition: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel (Salathiel), Jegudiel (Jehudiel), Barachiel; and the eighth, Jerahmeel (Jeremiel)
• Book of Enoch: Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jerahmeel, while other apocryphal sources give instead the names Uriel, Izidkiel, Hanael, and Kepharel.
• In the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition the seven Archangels are named as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Phanuel, and Sachiel.
• In the Coptic Orthodox tradition the seven archangels are named as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Suriel, Zadkiel, Sarathiel, and Ananiel.
• According to the Revelation of Esdras, the angels that will rule at the end of the world are Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Gabuthelon, Beburos, Zebuleon, Aker, and Arphugitonos.

The Seven Laws of Noah

The Seven Laws of Noah (Hebrew: שבע מצוות בני נח, Sheva Mitzvot B'nei Noach), otherwise referred to as the Noahide Laws, are a set of universal moral laws which, according to the Talmud, were given by God as a covenant with Noah and with the “sons of Noah”: that is, all of mankind.

1. Not to worship idols.
2. Not to curse God.
3. Not to commit murder.
4. Not to commit adultery or sexual immorality.
5. Not to steal.
6. Not to eat flesh torn from a living animal.
7. To establish courts of justice.

The Seven Words from the Cross

Also known as the Seven Last Words of Christ

1. Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
2. Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
3. Woman, behold thy son! and Behold thy mother! (John 19:26–27)
4. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
5. I thirst. (John 19:28)
6. It is finished. (John 19:30)
7. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46)

The Seven Sorrows of Mary

1. The Prophecy of Simeon [Luke 2.22-38 : ³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; ³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.]
2. The Flight to Egypt [Matthew 2.13-21 : ¹³And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. ¹⁴When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: ¹⁵And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.]
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem [Luke 2.41-52 : ⁴³And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. ⁴⁴But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. ⁴⁵And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. ⁴⁶And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. ⁴⁸And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. ⁴⁹And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? ⁵⁰And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.]
4. Mary meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa [The Fourth Station of the Cross, not mentioned in the Bible]
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary [John 19 : ²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.  (also in Matthew 27, Mark 15, and Luke 23)]
6. Jesus’ Descent from the Cross in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19; [³⁸And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. ]
7. The Burial of the Body of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea also in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19; [³⁹And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. ⁴⁰Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. ⁴²There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.]

The Seven Joys of Mary

As often depicted in medieval art and literature:

1. The Annunciation [Luke 1:26-38 : 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
   31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
   35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
   38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.]
2. The Nativity of Jesus [Luke 2.1-7 : ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.]
3. The Adoration of the Magi [Matthew 2.1-11 : ¹¹And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.]
4. The Resurrection of Christ [Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20]
5. The Ascension of Christ to Heaven [Acts 1.1-14 : ⁹And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.]
6. Pentecost: the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary [Acts 2.1-11 : ¹And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.]
7. The Coronation of the Virgin in Heaven [Not mentioned in the Bible]

In the carol “Joys Seven”:

1. The very first joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of one.
To see the blessèd Jesus Christ
When He was first her Son.

Chorus
When he was first her Son, good man;
And blessèd may he be,
Both Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
To all eternity.

2. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of two.
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To make the lame to go.
Chorus

3. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of three.
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To make the blind to see.
Chorus

4. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of four.
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To read the Bible o'er.
Chorus

5. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five.
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To bring the dead alive.
Chorus

6. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six.
To see her own son Jesus Christ
Upon the Crucifix.
Chorus

7. The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven.
To see her own son Jesus Christ
To wear the crown of Heaven,
Chorus