Soldiers' Brass Pull-Chain Rosaries of World War I
The cross is older than Christianity. Ancient Egyptians used the ankh, a cross with a loop at the top, to symbolize life. Buddist monks in Tibet used thread crosses to trap evil spirits. Native Americans used the Zia, a red circle surrounded by red rays to form a cross, to represent the sun as well as the four seasons of the year, four compass points, and four stages of life ( childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age).
In the 21st century, the cross symbolizes Christianity and Christians use many forms. Among the most popular are the Tau Cross which resembles the letter T, Greek crosses in which all four bars are the same lenght, and Latin crosses in which the base stem is longer than the remaining three arms. Each form of the Christian cross is a reminder of Christ's mission and sacrifice. Crosses appear on national flags, public buildings, military medals, and crowns. Every cross has a story to tell and unites us to our ancestors and beliefs.
To learn more about the history of crosses and the beliefs they represent, read The Cross: A Universal Symbol by Dr. Helen Hoffner, published by Marian Press. Available with the link:
https://shopmercy.org/the-cross-a-universal-symbol.html