Hello,

I bought a crucifix for my dad. It has the monogram for Christ as JHS instead of the usual IHS. Is there a reason for the difference?

Thanks

-- Michael (pickandpen@aol.com), June 16, 2002

Answers

"IHS" stands for "Iesus Salvator Hominem", or Jesus, Savior of Mankind. THe I was used by the Romans instead of the J. So both mean the same thing.

-- Christina (introibo2000@yahoo.com), June 16, 2002.

Almost, Christina.
The JHS seen by Michael does stand for "Jesus, hominum Salvator" (Jesus, Savior of men).
But, according to the old Catholic Encyclopedia, JHS started to be used because of a later misunderstanding of what IHS originally stood for.
The original IHS (says the CE) actually was from three of the letters in the Greek spelling of Jesus's name (iota, eta [looks like "H"], and sigma).
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), June 16, 2002.