Catholic jewelry has a long and rich history. It has taken many forms and many meanings over the millennia. From the hidden meanings of anchors and Ichthys, to the development of the crucifix in the 5th century AD. C., Catholic jewelry has played an important role in the faith of millions.
Early Catholic Jewelry:
While the cross has always been the most important Christian symbol, it was not openly used as such until the fourth century AD. C. Early Christians feared persecution for their faith, so they developed various symbols that were not easily recognized as Catholic jewelry to recognize each of them. other. The two most frequent of these symbols were the anchor and the Ichthys. Ichthys, two intersecting bows resembling the profile of a fish, were probably used in Catholic jewelry as a reference to Christ as “the fisher of men.” The anchor, or sailor’s cross, was used in Catholic jewelry as a symbol of hope based on faith in Christ. By wearing these forms of Catholic jewelry, early Christians were able to avoid persecution.
The cross and the crucifix
It was not until the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in the fourth century AD. C. that the cross began to be worn openly and widely in Catholic jewelry. More than fifty variants of the cross would later be developed, but the four most important were: the Latin cross, a cross with a horizontal bar intersecting with a longer vertical bar near the top; the Greek cross, a cross with equilateral arms; the Tau cross, a cross in the shape of the letter T; and the cross of Saint Andrew, a cross shaped like the letter X. The crucifix, a Latin cross with the body of Christ (corpus) and the inscription INRI or “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” on it, was not made frequent. in Catholic jewelry until the 5th century AD While the Protestant churches use a blank Latin cross to symbolize the Resurrection, the Catholic Church uses the crucifix to symbolize the sacrifice of Jesus.
Saint Medallions:
The tradition of wearing medallions of saints stems from the pagan practice of wearing talismans representing their gods as a form of protection. The Catholic Church, instead of prohibiting it, embraced this practice, substituting the pagan gods for Catholic saints. Saint medallions are now one of the most popular forms of Catholic jewelry. They are used as a way to invoke the protection of a patron saint. Patron Saints include: Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, ecology and peace; Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland and of the excluded; Saint Helena, patron saint of archaeologists and converts; Saint John Bosco, patron saint of students and workers. Here is a good page to see all the styles of Catholic jewelry.
Where is the best place to buy Catholic jewelry?
To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in Catholic jewelry, it is best to look at them online before shopping at local jewelry stores.
Retail jewelers sometimes have a small selection of Catholic jewelry, but you are more likely to find a larger selection online. Simply type “Catholic jewelry” into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you’ll find several reputable websites that specialize in Catholic jewelry.
The cost of Catholic jewelry depends on many variables. In solid 14-karat yellow or white gold, crucifixes should cost between $50 and $300, depending on the size. Saint medals should cost between $40 and $200, depending on the size.
The highest expression of faith:
Catholic jewelry is the ultimate expression of faith. Whether it is a pendant, a cross, a crucifix, an Ichthys or an anchor, Catholic jewelry has always and always will proclaim the proud heritage of Christians around the world.