cross
Article
The most important of Catholic emblems, symbolizing the Church‘s holy faith and the redemption of mankind, because Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, died on a cross. It is used on Catholic churches, schools, institutions, altars, vestments, etc., to indicate that they are consecrated to God‘s service; and, when blessed, either as a cross or a crucifix, it becomes a sacramental. Crosses were used among many nations for the execution of criminals, in certain regions they were held in religious honour because of their symbolism. There are many varieties of crosses including,
- anchor-cross
- archiepiscopal cross
- Celtic cross
- consecration cross
- cross croslet
- crux ansata
- episcopal cross
- croix fourchée
- crux capitata
- crux immissa
- forked cross
- Greek cross
- Latin cross
- Maltese cross
- patriarchal cross
- pectoral cross
- processional cross
- ragged cross
- reversed cross
- Saint Andrew’s cross
- saltire cross
- swastika
- Tau cross
- transverse cross
Associated in Art with
- Blessed Bernardine of Feltre
- Blessed Columba of Rieti
- Blessed Gerard of Villamagna
- Blessed Ranieri Scacceri
- Pope Saint Agatho
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Saint Acacius of Byzantium
- Saint Adalbert of Prague
- Saint Agnes of Montepulciano
- Saint Agrippina of Rome
- Saint Alban of Britain
- Saint Alexius of Rome
- Saint Anastasia of Sirmium
- Saint Andrew Corsini
- Saint Ansanus the Baptizer
- Saint Anthony the Abbot
- Saint Antonius of Florence
- Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
- Saint Bridget of Sweden
- Saint Brigid of Ireland
- Saint Bruno
- Saint Catherine del Ricci
- Saint Catherine of Siena
- Saint Columbanus
- Saint Conrad of Piacenza
- Saint Constantius the Theban
- Saint Cristanziano of Piceno
- Saint Cyrus the Physician
- Saint Didacus of Alcalá
- Saint Disibod of Disenberg
- Saint Dismas
- Saint Edisto
- Saint Ephrem of Syria
- Saint Eulalia of Barcelona
- Saint Eulalia of Merida
- Saint Expeditus of Melitene
- Saint Ferrutius
- Saint Francis Xavier
- Saint Frigidian of Lucca
- Saint Guntramnus
- Saint Helena of Constantinople
- Saint Humbert of Pelagius
- Saint Ingbert
- Saint Jane of Valois
- Saint Joanna the Myrrhbearer
- Saint John Berchmans
- Saint John of Capistrano
- Saint John of Matha
- Saint John the Baptist
- Saint Joseph
Additional Information
- cross bearer
- cross in hand
- cross in the Mass
- cross week
- Cross Mass
- crucifix
- veneration of the cross
- —
- Externals of the Catholic Church: The Cross and the Crucifix
MLA Citation
- “cross”. New Catholic Dictionary. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 February 2021. Web. 27 April 2024. <>