In the time of Jesus, the cross was a tool of torture and execution, a horrific illustration of the cruelty of which mankind is capable. Today, Christians see the cross as a symbol of hope, love and, ...

A wooden cross is silhouetted by the early morning sun at the First Lutheran Church, 1701 19th St., Parkersburg. (Photo by Art Smith) As the faithful gather in church this weekend to celebrate Easter, ...

As St. Paul says he took upon himself all the filth of humanity, he was raised us up, so that all the people wounded by sin, look at him. And those who do not recognize this man who "through the power ...

Even those remotely familiar with the Catholic Church may know that there are scores of symbolic items in the faith: holy water, rosary beads and the sacraments of bread and wine are just a few. But ...

My wife has a new cross necklace, given to her by some dear friends of ours. It’s a beautiful bit of silverwork, with flowing lines, flowers and a fish symbol. In fact, our house has a lot of crosses ...

Symbols are ubiquitous and necessary channels of communication in all societies. We see and recognize perhaps dozens of logos, trademarks, pictures and slogans every day, and instinctively understand ...

"Mount Calvary" (a painting by William H. Johnson, ca. 1944/ Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation) In the fall, Catholics and some other Christian churches celebrate the ...

There has been a disturbing willingness on the part of some judges in recent years to treat the Christian cross as a symbol that isn’t, well, just Christian. The most high-profile and problematic ...

BOOK PICK: Do we know why an Orthodox cross looks a bit different, or what the St. Peter, St. Benedict and St. Brigid crosses are? Clockwise from upper right: anointing of the sick crucifix, cross of ...