d in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it
had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."

A star of nine points has allusion to St. Paul's enumeration of the
fruits of the Holy Spirit: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance."

An interesting symbol of our Saviour is that of the _Pelican_, which,
the old naturalists said, was accustomed to tear open its breast in
order to feed its young with its own blood. So the blood shed on
Calvary gives life to the Church.

[Illustration: The pelican]

The _fish_ was also a very early symbol of our Lord. It was observed
that the five letters of the Greek word for a fish were, taken
separately, the initials in Greek of the words "Jesus Christ, Son of
God, Saviour." In this way the fish became a symbol of our Saviour.

The pointed oval, or vesica, is the conventionalized form of the fish.
Ecclesiastical seals are commonly made in this form. It represents
{71} in rude outline a fish before the fins and tail are added.

[Illustration: Vesica]

It is thought by some that the Gothic or pointed arch is derived from
this symbol, being simply the upper half of a vesica.

Other symbols of our Lord are formed from monograms of the sacred name,
Jesus, and of His official title, Christ. These are used separately
and also together. The earliest form of monogram of the sacred name,
that often found on tombs of early Christians, is the symbol which is
said to have appeared in a vision to the Emperor Constantine.

The story is related by Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, who asserts
that it was communicated to him by Constantine himself, who confirmed
it with an oath. The story is this: Constantine, whose mind was
wavering between Christianity and paganism, was on the eve of a great
battle. Knowing that Maxentius, his enemy, was seeking the aid of
magic and supernatural rites, and remembering also that his father, who
had been well disposed to the Christians, had always prospered, while
their persecutors failed, he determined to pray to Christ. While
engaged with such thoughts he saw at mid-day a luminous figure in the
heavens, with the words, "By this conquer." Both he and the whole army
were struck with awe at the sight. At night {72} Christ appeared to
him in a dream, holding in His hand the same symbol, which He
admonished him