September Newsletter
The Celtic Cross
Most who get to know me know I have an intense interest in, and derive spiritual benefit from, Christian symbolism. I collect Eastern Orthodox icons and have many in my office. The same is true of the Celtic cross. I became interested in it when I became a Presbyterian for it is one of our denominational symbols. Actually, that particular type of cross is claimed as a heritage symbol by the Welsh, Irish, and Scottish people. It is also claimed as a symbol of the Roman Catholics in Ireland as well as the Irish Church, which is Anglican. We receive it as a Presbyterian symbol from the Scottish Kirk, our mother church for those of the Presbyterian branch of Reformed faith. Our own denominational symbol is stylized on elements of the Celtic cross.
This cross is usually a traditional cross with a circle either in the middle or supporting the arms of the cross around the outside of it. The more classical expression is the latter. It was custom in pagan Ireland to set up standing stones to mark sacred places. When Ireland became Christian, the newly baptized pagans baptized this custom and made marked their sacred places with stone crosses. Most had circles etched in the center, but soon the stone crosses became so large the circles were used to support the cross beam because the weight of the stones might cause the beam to break off. That is just a theory but one that seems to make sense as to why the cross in its most common form, has the outside circle. So much for the engineering, what does it mean?
The cross of Christ, of course, symbolizes his sacrifice for our sins and his death as atonement for those sins. That is standard. Some think that the Celtic form is related to the ancient Greek letters chi and rho, which were the first Greek letters of the word Christ. The two letters were used in the ancient Church, as they are today, as a monogram of Christ. Thus we are reminded that Christ is the center of our Christian lives and the reason for our redemption. The circle around the cross symbolizes eternity. Thus it reminds us of the resurrection and Christ's gift of eternal life. It also symbolizes the eternal love of God for us. Sometimes you see a Celtic knot in the decoration of some crosses. The is an inter-linked line that has no beginning and no end. It symbolizes eternity also, and the gift of eternal life. It also symbolizes the fact that all of our lives are inter-related and all the events of our lives interact and are a part of God’s plan for the world. There are other meanings, but these are the basic ones.
What does it teach us? As a symbol, it reminds us that Christ is the center of who we are, and the center of the life of his Church. We do not live for ourselves and die for ourselves, but grow into Christ's likeness over our lifetimes. The cross is that to which all Christians cling, for in Christ's saving act upon the cross, we are forgiven and renewed. We who are vulnerable, who suffer and die, can commend our lives to God, who has given himself for us in Jesus Christ. That is basic Christian doctrine. However, the circle reminds us that God loves us eternally, and the resurrection raises us from death to life in this life, and the world to come. Life is the center of everything. It is a gift, both in the biological and spiritual sense. The Celtic knot reminds us not only of that eternal love of God and eternal life that God gives us, but that all is inter-related in our lives. Our actions have consequences, and we are here to make those consequences for the good and for God. All that happens to us is related to God's work in the world, therefore we can trust in his grace that holds us securely. When we see the Celtic cross, we are reminded of what our Presbyterian Confessions say, echoing St. Paul in the scriptures, "In life and in death we belong to God". God's love is our center, our heart and our redemption". The ancient Gaelic prayer we often sing says it another way"
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art,
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
May we walk with Christ and live our lives centered on God's love!
Grace and Peace,
Jim
The Celtic Cross
Most who get to know me know I have an intense interest in, and derive spiritual benefit from, Christian symbolism. I collect Eastern Orthodox icons and have many in my office. The same is true of the Celtic cross. I became interested in it when I became a Presbyterian for it is one of our denominational symbols. Actually, that particular type of cross is claimed as a heritage symbol by the Welsh, Irish, and Scottish people. It is also claimed as a symbol of the Roman Catholics in Ireland as well as the Irish Church, which is Anglican. We receive it as a Presbyterian symbol from the Scottish Kirk, our mother church for those of the Presbyterian branch of Reformed faith. Our own denominational symbol is stylized on elements of the Celtic cross.
This cross is usually a traditional cross with a circle either in the middle or supporting the arms of the cross around the outside of it. The more classical expression is the latter. It was custom in pagan Ireland to set up standing stones to mark sacred places. When Ireland became Christian, the newly baptized pagans baptized this custom and made marked their sacred places with stone crosses. Most had circles etched in the center, but soon the stone crosses became so large the circles were used to support the cross beam because the weight of the stones might cause the beam to break off. That is just a theory but one that seems to make sense as to why the cross in its most common form, has the outside circle. So much for the engineering, what does it mean?
The cross of Christ, of course, symbolizes his sacrifice for our sins and his death as atonement for those sins. That is standard. Some think that the Celtic form is related to the ancient Greek letters chi and rho, which were the first Greek letters of the word Christ. The two letters were used in the ancient Church, as they are today, as a monogram of Christ. Thus we are reminded that Christ is the center of our Christian lives and the reason for our redemption. The circle around the cross symbolizes eternity. Thus it reminds us of the resurrection and Christ's gift of eternal life. It also symbolizes the eternal love of God for us. Sometimes you see a Celtic knot in the decoration of some crosses. The is an inter-linked line that has no beginning and no end. It symbolizes eternity also, and the gift of eternal life. It also symbolizes the fact that all of our lives are inter-related and all the events of our lives interact and are a part of God’s plan for the world. There are other meanings, but these are the basic ones.
What does it teach us? As a symbol, it reminds us that Christ is the center of who we are, and the center of the life of his Church. We do not live for ourselves and die for ourselves, but grow into Christ's likeness over our lifetimes. The cross is that to which all Christians cling, for in Christ's saving act upon the cross, we are forgiven and renewed. We who are vulnerable, who suffer and die, can commend our lives to God, who has given himself for us in Jesus Christ. That is basic Christian doctrine. However, the circle reminds us that God loves us eternally, and the resurrection raises us from death to life in this life, and the world to come. Life is the center of everything. It is a gift, both in the biological and spiritual sense. The Celtic knot reminds us not only of that eternal love of God and eternal life that God gives us, but that all is inter-related in our lives. Our actions have consequences, and we are here to make those consequences for the good and for God. All that happens to us is related to God's work in the world, therefore we can trust in his grace that holds us securely. When we see the Celtic cross, we are reminded of what our Presbyterian Confessions say, echoing St. Paul in the scriptures, "In life and in death we belong to God". God's love is our center, our heart and our redemption". The ancient Gaelic prayer we often sing says it another way"
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art,
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
May we walk with Christ and live our lives centered on God's love!
Grace and Peace,
Jim
posted by Theoblogger at
6:39 PM
