Celtic Crosses

THE CELTIC CROSS

The Cross, of course, has its commemorative meaning in the Christian tradition. That is the crucifixion and death of Christ. The IHS is a contraction of the Greek word for Jesus, although, oven the ages, it has been misunderstood to stand for various Latin abbreviations such as "Lesus Hominum Salvator" (Jesus, Savior of Men), "In Hoc Signo [Vinces]" (In this sign thou shall conquer) and last, but not least, "In Hoc [Cruces] Salus" (in this [Cross] salvation).

In other traditions the vertical cross component represents manhood and the horizontal womanhood. In Chinese philosophy the vertical component represents the "yang" or active, masculine force or principle in the universe while the horizontal represents the "yin" or passive, feminine force. Both are contrasting but are also always complementary. Together they represent humanity.

In the ancient Celtic Christian tradition the commemorative religious meaning predominates. Additionally, there is the mystical aspect of man being contrasted but complemented by womanhood. The circle is a Celtic mystical representation of the spiritual life of all of us - a never ending cycle of birth (baptism), puberty (confirmation) maturity (marriage) and death (extreme unction). The combined meaning of the two symbols — cross and circle is too obvious to mention.