Nurturing Faith

Dear Dr. Murphy:
Would you please explain the meaning of these symbols of Christ? The letters IHS, INRI, the Lamb carrying a banner with a cross, and the letter P with an X below it.
Thank you,
John

Dear John:
I would be delighted to share the meanings of these symbols with you. I would also like to tell you where to find the meaning of some other popular symbols.

IHS
You asked about the letters IHS. This symbol stands for the first three letters of the Greek word for "Jesus" (IHCOYC).

INRI
The letters INRI stand for the inscription that Pontius Pilate ordered to be placed on the sign that was hung on Jesus' cross: "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum" which means "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews." The sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. This is described in John 19:19-22.

Lamb of God
The "Lamb of God" standing with a banner represents the risen Christ who triumphs over death.

Chi Rho
This sign was developed by the early Christians. It is made up of the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" (XPICTOC). Christians would write XP or Chi Rho to make known that they were followers of the way of Jesus Christ. Today when we see the Chi Rho symbol we recognize it as a symbol for Christ.

The Liturgical Year
There are many other wonderful symbols that reveal the beauty of our Faith. If you visit the Liturgical Year section on CyberFaith, you will find an explanation for each of the liturgical seasons and a symbol associated with that season.

Dear Dr. Murphy:
Do you have anything on different titles of Mary? I am interested in knowing where and how the many different titles of Mary developed. I am especially interested in the title "Our Lady of Victory."
Thanks,
Earnestene

Dear Earnestene:
There are so many titles for Mary! Each one is as beautiful as the other. Let us start with Our Lady of Victory.

The Feast of Our Lady of Victory was established by St. Pope Pius V in 1571 in thanksgiving for the Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto. Don John of Austria defeated the Turk fleet at Lepanto in 1571. The Pope established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to commemorate this victory, which he attributed to Mary's intercession.

However, Our Lady of Victory is only one of many titles for Mary. The Marian Library at the University of Dayton has more than 6,000 titles for Mary at its site.

There are titles which have to do with the teaching of the Church about Mary. For example, the Virgin Mary, Mary, Mother of God. There is one that I particularly love. This title for Mary is Theotokos. This is a title that developed in the early history of the Church in the East. It is Greek and means literally "the God Bearer."

Raymond Brown, SS, writes beautifully about Mary in Scripture in the May 1997 issue of St. Anthony Messenger. Raymond Brown says of Mary:

Mary is also remembered in connection with shrines and apparitions around the world, for example, Our Lady of Lourdes in France, Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, and Our Lady of Knock in Ireland.

Lastly, Mary is beautifully remembered with a series of lovely titles in the Litany of Loretto, which was composed during the Middle Ages.

The Litany of Loretto
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us, Christ graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, unto us thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of your eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Marie Murphy, Ph.D., serves as William. H. Sadlier's National Catechetical Consultant, conducting workshops nationwide on catechetical and theological topics as part of Sadlier's Consultant Services. Marie received her doctorate in theology from Fordham University and has served as a parish catechist and Director of Religious Education.