Today, the cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. It was not always so. In the early centuries after the time of Jesus Christ, there were other symbols: a dove, a ship, an anchor and a lyre.

The Cross. A Universal Symbol. By Helen Hoffner. Marian Press, 2024. 136 pages; $23.95. To order: ShopMercy.org or (800) 462-7426 As Catholics, we are all familiar with the crucifix.

Introduction Cross at Cape Kamenjack, Istria, Croatia. Photo: Florian Frühstück ©. Paradoxically a symbol of suffering and defeat but also of triumph and salvation, the cross is the universal ...