e. Its ends are
divided and curved backward. As they are turned in all directions,
they are said to express the universal diffusion of the blessings of
the Cross; or, as they decline both to the right and the left, they
express willingness to do exact justice and give to all their due.

[Illustration: Cross Moline. Cross Recercele.]

The "cross recercele" resembles the cross moline, but with its
floriations more expanded.

{59}

The "cross bottone" (budded) or "trefle" (like trefoil), the "cross
patonce" (like the paw of the ounce, or panther), and the "cross flory"
(like the fleur-de-lis), all with limbs ending in threefold figures,
have evident reference to the Holy Trinity.

[Illustration: Cross Bottone, or trefle. Cross Patonce. Cross flory.]

The "cross pommee" has ends terminating in circles suggestive of
apples, as the name shows. It is said to express the fruitful reward
of devotion to the Cross.

[Illustration: Cross pommee. Cross crosslet. Cross fitche.]

{60}

The "cross crosslet" is formed of four Latin or Passion crosses placed
foot to foot.

It is said that the "cross fitche" (sharpened and so fixable in the
ground) was carried in pilgrimages so that it might be readily set up
while performing devotions.

The "cross patte" (broad-footed) is much like the "Maltese cross," the
cross of Knights Templars and Hospitalers, which differs from it simply
in having its extremities indented or notched. The eight points thus
formed are said to symbolize the eight Beatitudes of our Lord.

[Illustration: Cross patte]

The "floriated cross," which is developed in many ornamental forms, as
the cross bursting into bloom or adorned with garlands, alludes to the
triumph of Christ and to our future triumph and glory through Him. It
symbolizes also our holy religion growing with perpetual vitality.

[Illustration: Maltese cross]

One of the most singular, as well as most ancient, of the many forms
and modifications of the cross is the "fylfot." It is found, probably
as a disguised form of the cross, on the tombs in the catacombs. {61}
Its use illustrates the adoption by the early Christians, as in the
case of the tau-cross, of prechristian symbols. By its employment they
simply "diverted to their own purpose a symbol centuries older than the
Christian era, a symbol of early Aryan origin, found in Indian and
Chinese art, and spreading westward, long before the dawn of
Christianity, to Greece and