The Symbolism of Churches and Church Ornaments: A Translation of the First Book of the Rationale Divinorum OfficiorumDurand, Guillaume
Religion
The Symbolism of Churches and Church Ornaments: A Translation of the First Book of the Rationale Divinorum Officiorum
Durand, Guillaume
Christian art and symbolism; Church architecture
In looking at the details of churches, the Cross is marked on the
Dos-d'ânes and plain coffin lids of the earliest times: it commences
the later inscriptions on brass: it surmounts pinnacle, and gable, and
porch; it is often imprinted on the jambs of the principal entrance,
showing the exact spot touched in the consecration with chrism,
[Footnote 54] and possibly having reference to the blood sprinkled at
the Passover on the Door Post: and finally, in a more august form, is
erected in the churchyard. And here we may notice another curious and
beautiful expression of Catholic feeling. [Footnote 55]
[Footnote 54: It is proper to distinguish between Dedication
Crosses, which are generally of considerable size,
examples of which may be seen in Moorlinch, Somersetshire,
and those small crosses in door jambs, as in Preston,
Sussex, the use of which is not very clear, but which
were perhaps intended to remind the entering worshipper to
cross himself. At Yatton, Somersetshire, inside the
northern door, and towards the east, is a large
quatrefoil-fashioned cross: this perhaps pointed out a
now destroyed benatura.]
[Footnote 55: That there are some plain crosses, cannot be
denied--more especially that on which the weathercock is placed. A
little consideration will, perhaps, clear up this difficulty. The
cross may be viewed in two distinct lights. It may either set forth
that on which our Redeemer suffered--in which case it is the symbol
of glory: or it may image that Cross which every true Christian is
to take up--in which case it may still be called the Symbol of
Shame. In the latter signification, it may well be quite plain. But,
inasmuch as our ancestors looked more to the Passion of Christ than
to their own unworthiness, the former symbol is that which generally
occurs. Yet not always on the church spire, perhaps for this
reason:--the spire urges us, by its upward tendency, to press on
towards our heavenly home--a home which can only be reached by the
cheerful bearing of that cross by means of which (as it were) it
points. The cross therefore is here, with propriety, plain.]
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