SALTIRE An X or chi-shaped cross. Saltire is the tech­ nical name for the cross of St. Andrew. He is said to have died on this form of cross, con­ sidering himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type as his Lord died upon. He con­ tinued in prayer until the very end. This cross symbolizes humility and suffering. The beginning of the Christian year, Advent is alway? the nearest Sunday to St. Andrew's Day, November 30. TAU A cross formed of the letter "tau," the first letter of the Greek word "Theos," meaning God. It may be con­ sidered as a pre-Christian cross. It is also referred to as the Old Testament Cross, Cross Potent, Cross of Prophecy, Anticipatory Cross, Advent Cross, St. Anthony's Cross, and Egyptian Cross. It is the Old Testament Cross because it is the tradi­ tional sign which the Israelites made with blood on their door-posts to avert death on the night of the Passover. (Exodus 12: 22, 23) As the Cross of Prophecy, or Anticipatory Cross, it is often called the Advent Cross. St. Anthony's or Egyptian Cross are names for the Tau because St. Anthony of Egypt sold all his possessions while a young man. He lived in complete solitude for twenty years. He is regarded as the patriarch of monks. BRAZEN SERPENT ON A CROSS This Tau Cross of Prbphecy·or_Anticipatory Cross refers to Numbers 21, verses 8 and 9, in which "the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten (by a fiery serpent) when he looketh upon it, shall live." This symbol is a link between the time of Moses and the time of Christ. For Jesus said: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." (John 3: 14) 36 I TAU CROSS ENHANCED The nimbus is a symbol of sanctity. Rays of light were ancient symbols of divine power and glory. TRIUMPHANT This Cross of Conquest and Victory is comprised of the Cross and Orb. The orb represents the earth and symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. It is a reminder that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of Christ. With the Cross, it signifies the victory of our Savior over the evils of the world -- the triumph of the Gospel throughout all the earth. VAIR The Cross Vair is a cross composed of four figures, each resembling a bell. At the top may be seen the Chi Rho (X P), the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ." (X PICT O C) On the left and the right arms respectively are the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, • which are a symbol of the eternity of our Savior. 37 ■ VOIDED Any cross that pictures the color of the field or background showing through is called a Cross Voided. 38 I EARTH AND SKY BETHLEHEM The star is always taken as a symbol of the Redeemer's birth, and is an emblem especially appropriate for Christmastide in the Church. Its use from early Christian times signifies the bright star of the heavens which heralded forth the Messiah's coming to earth as the new born Babe. FIRE AND FLAMES Fire and flames are symbolic of both martyrdom and religious fervor. The aureole is the symbol of divinity; therefore, of supreme power. The aureole often appears to end in, or to consist of, pointed flames. It may be shaded off in the colors of the rainbow. The early aureoles were white, but by the Renaissance, gold was generally used to give the impression of light. A blue aureole, indicating celestial glory, is occasionally seen. 39 - THE FLAME OF FIRE Next to the dove, the most common symbol of the Holy Spirit is the cloven flame of•fire which appeared on the Day of Pentecost. "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2: 3,4) GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON God the Father presides over the creation of the world; the Son endures the Passion; and the Holy Ghost illumines the Church, the society of the redeemed. The sun and moon are often represented in scenes of the Crucifixion to indicate the sorrow of all creation at the death of Christ. The primary symbol of Christianity is the cross. The eight-pointed star symbolizes regeneration. The clouds in the heavens are the natural veil of the blue sky, and are used as the symbol of the unseen God. The mountains, rocks, are a symbol of the Lord. T-HE MAGI AT BETHLEHEM The great symbol of the Epiphany, when Christ was manifested to the Gentiles by the guiding of the star, is given in Matthew 2: 1-2: "There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." 40 FLOWERS, PLANTS, TREES THE APPLE (MALUM) THE APPLE TREE In Latin, the word'·for apple and the word for evil, malum, are identical. It is for this reason that the legend has grown up that the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, the fruit of which Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat, was an apple tree (Genesis 3:3). Since sin entered the world when Eve tasted of the forbidden fruit, pictured in art as an apple, the same fruit sometimes is given to the Virgin Mary, for it was her Son who took away the curse of sin. The apple may also be symbolic of Christ, the new Adam, who took upon Himself the burden of man's sin. For this reason, when the apple appears in the hands of Adam it means sin, but when it is in the hands of Christ, it symbolizes the fruit of salvation. BARLEY/WHEAT In Bible times, barley was a very important cereal grain used both to feed animals and to make bread and porridge for human consumption (I Kings 4: 28; Judges 7:13). This grain became a staple food for poor people, a symbol of poverty in a household. Bread was the "Staff of Life" to people in ancient times. It was the basis of every meal. Bread making was a daily chore for the women in Bible times. The bread was always broken into smaller pieces. TMe term, to break bread, means to share in a meal •. In Christian symbolism, barley and wheat sheaves are used as a symbol of the Body of Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life. (John 6:35) 41 ■ BASKET OF MIXED FLOWERS Jesus used the flowers of the field to teach about the glory of the created world, God's un­ ending care, and to emphasize that God's grace is freely given, not earned by man and his own efforts. (Matthew 6: 28) THE BURNING BUSH The burning bush is a symbol of Moses, called to deliver his people from the Egyptian oppressor (Exodus 3: 2). It also is a symbol of the announcement of the coming of Jesus, called to deliver the world from sin� (Luke 1:28-33) THE CHRISTMAS ROSE The Christmas rose symbolizes the Nativity of our Lord and of the messianic prophecy, a white hardy rose that blooms at Christmas. The rose has been used only since the thirteenth century as a Christian symbol, and is shown usually in conventional form. EASTER CROSS The Easter Cross consists of a Latin Cross with either rays of shining light or Easter lilies surrounding it, as a symbol of our Risen Lord and of Easter Day. 42 I THE EUCHARIST Here are symbols of the wine and bread of Holy Communion. The grape is the symbol of the Blood of Christ. It also is a representation of labor in the vine­ yard signifying the work of the Christian in the vineyard of the Lord. Wheat is the symbol of the Body of Christ in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Wheat symbolizes the Bread of Life; symbolic of God's bounty, conve�ni.ng� the thought that every year there is a harvest to be garnered from the fields. As God enables man­ kind to garner a harvest from the earth, he makes it possible to reap a spiritual harvest. Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life - with bread symbolizing all things necessary for his life. GRAPES ON CROSS The Latin cross symbolizes the Passion of Christ or the Atonement. The vine is a symbol of the Savior. It refers to the source of the wine which in its consecrated form becomes "the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ" as administered to the devout in the Altar Sacrament. Grapes were an important part of the biblical economy, being used for food and drink. The symbolism of the vine and the branches used by Jesus (John 15: 1) is thus related to the very necessities of life. THE GRAPEVINE Bunches of grapes were used to symbolize the wine of Holy Communion. The grape, like the Eucharistic wine, is a symbol of the Blood of Christ. The •••• grapevine is used as an emblem of the Saviour, the "true vine." The vine is one of the most vivid symbols in the Bible, and is used to express the relationship between God and His people.