Can Someone (Catholic?) Help With This Please?

[Retrochic]

I have acquired a cross shaped pendant and wondered if anyone could help explain what it is please.

It is about 3 inches long and 2 inches wide and the cross looks like gilded silver. In the centre are the initials JHS in red and underneath is a silver bowl with a fish on it. To each side of the arms of the crucifix are a bunch of grapes to the left, and some bread buns to the right.

If I can work out how, I'll take a pic tomorrow and post it up. I'm interested in what it is and what it is used for.

Thanks.

[Baldric]

IHS or JHS Christogram of western Christianity.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/JHS-IHS-Monogram-Name-Jesus.svg/240px-JHS-IHS-Monogram-Name-Jesus.svg.png

[Jonathan-Joe]

There's a lot there!
"J" was written as "I" in Latin. "IHS" is an abbreviation for "Jesus" or sometimes interpreted as meaning Iesus Hominum Salvator ("Jesus, Saviour of men" in Latin). The fish was a symbol of Christ, the letters of the Greek word for fish "Ichthus" stood for names of Christ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthys. The grapes (for wine) and bread refer to the elements of the Mass (Eucharist).

[Sam1960]

this might help with the JHS bit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christogram

[Peaspeculiars]

I'm not Catholic Retro, but it sounds like a first holy communion cross.
JHL stands for the abbreviation for the greek name 'Jesus' (The 'J' apparently is normally a stylised 'I':
Iesus (Jesus) Hominum Salvator - Latin

[Mamyalynne]

There are many variations of these , some are called 'Bread of life' crosses - other as commemorative occasions.

Yours has all the elements of the Miracles - Loaves and Fishes/ Water to wine.


this is a similar thing but without all the elements.


http://tinyurl.com/noytd7o

[Retrochic]

Thanks! So we have a cross with Jesus's monogram? on - . Peas - that's very interesting - a first Communion Cross -so would this be given to a young person at their Christening? What do the the grapes fish and bread signify?

[Mamyalynne]

^^ Given on commemorative occasions, sorry.

[Psybbo]

I agree with Mamya, that's what first came to my mind.

[tamborine]

The bowl would hold blessed water that wets dipped fingers to cross oneself with. The ornamentation depicts bible stories.

[Retrochic]

Thanks mamyalynne -this one is very thin like a crucifix and the bread and grapes are in relief. I bought it for £1 at a car boot sale yesterday, it was filthy black but has come up lovely.

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds lovely, my Grandma had a pierced silver plaque with those elements and also the Raising of Lazurus (I think) at the bottom.

[Buenchico]

A bit of googling suggests that such representations of Jesus are common in gifts given at a child's first Communion.

e.g:
http://www.giftscatholic.com/first-communion-confirmation/picture-cross-on-wood-jesus-at-the-altar-first-communion-6-inch.html
and
http://www.giftscatholic.com/religious-icons-art/picture-cross-on-wood-jesus-first-communion-6-inch.html

Here's the full Wikipedia page (explaining 'JHS') that Baldric's link is taken from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christogram

[Jackdaw33]

I must confess to being a little surprised that a French Canadian is unfamiliar with symbols of the Roman Catholic faith.

[tamborine]

Does it have a little bowl like this. Theyre usually hung at entrance of church.

http://tinyurl.com/py4ye66

[Peter Pedant]

// I must confess to being a little surprised that a French Canadian is unfamiliar with symbols of the Roman Catholic faith.//

blimey dont be so ar-se-y Jackie !
ze French did have Hugenots you know

coming from a fambly of raving RCs we didnt have first communion crosses - but nonetheless the first communion at age 7 is a big deal for the family and a fabulous excuse to get together and have a poss-up

but if it is a child's devotional crucifix then the objects portrayed give an adult an excuse to go over the usual - feeding five thousand buns and fish, meaning of ichthys as a secret sign of christianity - grapes and miracle at cana and communion transubstantiation and so on

especially for girls = white dresses and veils and looking both angelic and virginal - parents go ga=ga as I recall from my sister;s first communion in 1955

for my nieces thirty years later the drinking began as soon as mass ended

[Jackdaw33]

Just twigged the ar-sey bit. Quite clever.

[Retrochic]

jackdaw you would be very very surprised with my family - father was Atheist, Mother's family Salvation Army and one grandmother was a Witch! LOL! No catholics though....