Cross of Tau Meaning: Cross of Francis of Assisi

The Cross of Tau or Cross of Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most used Christian symbols in Christianity, the "Tau" represents the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Not to be confused with the Crucifix, the Tau cross is also a symbol dear to Christians . Sometimes called the Cross of Saint Francis of Assisi , it is easily recognized by its T shape . Did you know? It draws its origins from Hebrew traditions recounted in part in the Old Testament.

As you will see in this article, the Tau cross has a fascinating history that has already lasted for thousands of years. In fact, it is one of the few Christian symbols that have been able to last so long. We owe this in large part to Saint Francis of Assisi.

In this article you will find:

• The origin of the Tau Cross

• The definition of the Tau Cross

• The reasons that led Christians to adopt the Cross of Tau

• The meaning of the Tau Cross

Let's start the article now.

Origin of the Tau Cross

“ And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst of the city. ” This Bible verse (Ezekiel 9:4) proves that the Tau cross has held a central importance in the lives of believers since at least the time of Ezekiel.

It must be understood that the Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet . At that time, it held an inestimable saving value . The inhabitants of Israel suffering from the abominations committed in Jerusalem drew it on their foreheads. This saved them from extermination. How? Our Lord recognized them as his faithful believers by this seal and spared them. From then on, the Tau cross became a true symbol of salvation for believers, which is still the case today.

Later, the early Christians adopted the Tau cross as a symbol of recognition among themselves. They drew it, for example, during secret meetings in the Catacombs. The Tau Cross had saved them from persecution . Once again, this symbol demonstrated its saving power. But at this point, Christians already associated it with the cross of the Messiah. It must be admitted that the two look quite similar.

Definition of the Tau Cross

The Tau cross therefore reproduces the shape of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet tau . The faithful have always used the capital letter to demonstrate their belief and trust in our God . Over the centuries, this cross has retained its importance in religion. For example, the Antonine monks and knights used it under the order of Saint Anthony the Great. These Christians, who devoted themselves mainly to caring for lepers, wore the embroidery of the Tau Cross on their hooded robes. They accessorized this typical outfit with an Antonine rosary worn in the hand or on a belt.

Then, it was the turn of the Franciscans to adopt it towards the beginning of the 13th ^century , notably thanks to the fervor of Saint Francis of Assisi. The latter used this index so much that it ended up bearing his name. Indeed, many people, Christians or not, today call the Tau cross the cross of Francis of Assisi. He drew it everywhere, on houses, on walls and even on trees. He also used it as a seal and signed his notes with it to bless the recipients, among other things.

Why did Christians adopt the Tau Cross?

Thanks to the story of the wretched people of Jerusalem saved by God and thanks to the letter "T" inscribed on their foreheads, the Tau cross was very quickly adopted by believers from the time of early Christianity . In addition, it is a symbol that recalls the Crucifix , the ultimate tool of Redemption. Moreover, many people confuse the two by thinking that the Tau cross is simply another way of representing the cross of Christ. In any case, this symbol reminds us that God is our Savior and that He never leaves us to our own devices when we entrust our problems to Him.

Furthermore, the symbolism of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet refers to that of the Greek alphabet which is none other than omega . In the New Testament, more precisely in the Apocalypse, Omega marks a prophecy of the last days . The Messiah declared himself as the Alpha and the Omega, in other words the beginning and the end, or the first and the last. In a way, Christians have adopted the Tau cross because its saving power is mentioned in the Bible several times, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

The Tau Cross is still very present in the Christian religion . Some believers even opt for paintings to adorn their walls and homes, others wear the Tau Cross around their necks as pendants. This is a strong mark symbolizing Christianity .

Meaning of the Tau Cross

The Tau Cross has different meanings for Christians:

The Tau as the last letter

The Tau being the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it was associated with the fulfillment of the Word of God . As we have just indicated, it has the same function as the last Greek letter, Omega. Both embody the prophecy of the last day . After declaring that He is the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus made it clear that He will give freely from the source of the water of life to those who are thirsty. Let us recall once again the story of Ezekiel, which remains the origin of this symbol for Christians. The sign T simply saved them. Thus, the Tau cross means above all that God always protects you from misfortunes if you give him your heart .

This does not mean that you will not encounter any problems in your life. Every Christian will one day have to carry his Cross. But by sharing yours with our Father and accepting the Messiah as your Savior, your problems will always end up being solved. He set a good example for us and accepted to carry his Cross with humility and patience despite his pure heart and innocence. And in the end, he was resurrected, thus proving that the glory of God always ends up fighting the force of evil and triumphing !

The Tau Cross is the mark of belonging to Christianity

A true Christian symbol , the Tau Cross was, is, and will always be used as a mark of belonging to the religion . Recalling both Salvation in the time of Ezekiel and Redemption in the time of the Messiah , the Tau Cross is undeniably the ultimate symbol of Christianity.

The Tau Cross helps us to remember at all times the very foundation of our belief: our Lord is Love , He loves us in His infinite Goodness. All that remains for us to do is simply to keep the faith and let Him guide our lives . Whether in happiness or in misfortune, never stray from our God . Here again, wearing jewelry that represents the Tau Cross can help you easily remember that you are blessed by being a faithful Christian . At the same time, you will show, not without pride, to those around you that you are a good follower of Christ, an excellent example to follow. 🙏

The Tau Cross is a sign of obedience and protection

When God told the persecuted and unfortunate people of Israel to sign the Tau message on their foreheads, it was obedience that saved them from the punishment that threatened the city of Jerusalem. By following this divine instruction, they survived. This also means that the Tau cross symbolizes the liberation of God's faithful from evil . Likewise, it was the Savior's obedience to his Father that allowed Salvation to be realized. Let us remember that the Messiah had to endure not only intense physical suffering, but also great humiliation throughout the Way of the Cross. He accepted the torture out of respect for the Will of God , his Father.

Thus, the Tau cross pushes us to always follow the right path , to live according to the 10 commandments . From time to time, you will encounter obstacles and more or less difficult trials. But your Christian devotion will always allow you to emerge victorious no matter what. In the event of a problem or even injustice, endure with patience without blaming anyone. The Lord will be your Ally and your Protector . With Him, suffering never has the last word! Thus, the Tau cross is the mark of divine protection against evil . It distinguishes people who repent before the Lord, his believers, his faithful, his children whom He always spares from danger, to whom He has promised eternal life.

The Meaning of the Tau Cross according to Saint Francis of Assisi

It is clear that the Tau mark was already used in the New Testament. The early Christians also adopted it, but it would not have its current level of notoriety if St. Francis of Assisi had not demonstrated its importance to Christians. No other religious figure has ever been able to show his attachment to the Tau cross than he. Rubbing shoulders with the Antonines, he quickly appreciated and adopted some of their spiritual habits. This included wearing the Tau cross as a pendant . The Antonines wore this accessory to protect them from diseases and plagues of all kinds.

In addition to wearing the T-cross as a pendant, he drew it everywhere he went. He even chose it as his own seal . For him, the Tau cross had two very distinct meanings :

• His faithfulness and gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ , the One who gave his life to save us.

• His promise to God to always serve those in need (the poor and the sick).

Thanks to Saint Francis of Assisi, the Tau, which had remained in the shadows in favor of other Christian symbols such as the Latin cross and the Ichthus Fish, returns and finds its saving force as well as its importance in the lives of believers. With the seal of the Tau, Saint Francis of Assisi expressed in his letters his spirit of charity . He also used it to reveal to all his deep spiritual conviction that God granted his Salvation to men long before the Crucifixion of the Messiah. In addition, he always emphasized that the Tau is the mark that God wanted you to wear to show our faith in his Love and mercy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by At the Center of Prayer 🙏🏼 (@croix_chretiennes_com)

Why wear objects representing the Cross of Tau?

There are several ways to show that, like St. Francis of Assisi, you give the Tau Cross the necessary importance . If you really want to follow the example of the Antonines and Francis of Assisi, you can wear the Tau Cross as a wooden pendant . In wood, because it is a simple and fascinating material. This reflects well the qualities that a good Christian must have: to remain humble and to let oneself be shaped or guided by God. However, you can choose a colored Tau cross jewel in gold or silver according to your preferences. In any case, it shows that:

• You accept the Lord as your Protector against evil.

• You accept Jesus as your Savior.

• You are proud to be a Christian.

• You love your neighbor and are willing to help those in need.

• You believe in eternal life.

We hope that this article has helped you learn more about the origin, essence and meaning of the Tau Cross. You now know that this Christian cross symbolizes divine protection, Salvation and love of neighbor .

In addition to this article on the Tau Cross, we offer you another similar article which will explain everything about the Stations of the Cross .