View source for Marian Cross

{{Short description|Christian symbol for Mary}}
{{distinguish|Cross Marian}}
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[[File:Miraculous medal.jpg|thumb|The [[Miraculous Medal]] of Our Lady of Graces]]
A '''Marian Cross''' is a term to describe a symbolic representation of the close connection of Mary, with the redemptive mission of Jesus. The letter "M" below the cross indicates Mary's presence at the foot of the cross.

==Miraculous Medal==
The combination of the letter M with a Latin cross is found as part of the 1830 design of the [[Miraculous Medal]] (also known as the Medal of Our Lady of Graces based on Saint [[Catherine Labouré]] revelations). In that design the letter M is surmounted by a normal Latin cross standing on a bar interlaced with the letter M.<ref>[http://www.amm.org Association of the Miraculous Medal]</ref><ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10115a.htm Glass, Joseph. "Miraculous Medal." The Catholic Encyclopedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225185021/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10115a.htm |date=2018-12-25 }} Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 12 April 2016</ref>

==Coat of arms of Pope John Paul II==
[[Image:Coat of arms of Ioannes Paulus II.svg|thumb|160px|[[John Paul II]] coat of arms]]
The [[Papal coats of arms|papal coat of arms]] of [[John Paul II]] features a [[cross (heraldry)|cross]] shifted away from its usual central position to make room for a letter "[[M]]" in the [[sinister (heraldry)|sinister]] base quarter (lower right as seen by the viewer), which represents [[Blessed Virgin Mary|the Virgin Mary]]’s presence at Jesus’ death on the cross.<ref>[http://www.liguorian.org/files/Liguorian_JPII_intro.pdf "The Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II", ''Liguorian'']</ref> 

In a 1978 article, Vatican newspaper, ''[[L'Osservatore Romano]]'', reported:<blockquote>The coat of arms for Pope John Paul II is intended to be a homage to the central mystery of Christianity, that of Redemption. It mainly represents a cross, whose form however does not correspond to any of the usual heraldry models. The reason for the unusual shift of the vertical part of the cross is striking, if one considers the second object included in the Coat of Arms: the large and majestic capital M, which recalls the presence of the Madonna under the Cross and Her exceptional participation in Redemption. The Pontiff’s intense devotion to the Holy Virgin is manifested in this manner.<ref>[[L'Osservatore Romano]], 09.11.1978</ref></blockquote>

John Paul wrote: "As is well-known, in my episcopal arms, which are a symbolic illustration of the gospel text John 19:25-27."<ref>[http://www.montfort.org/content/index2.php?action=article&article=15&lang=EN Letter of Pope John Paul II to the religious of the Mortfortian congregations]</ref> ("Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother.{{'"}})<ref>[{{bibleverse||John|19:25-27|ESV}}]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Stabat Mater (art)]]
{{commons category|Marian cross}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/sp_ss_scv/insigne/sp_ss_scv_stemma-bandiera-sigillo_en.html#Stemma%20di%20Sua%20Santità%20Giovanni%20Paolo%20II Coat of Arms of His Holiness John Paul II, Holy See Press Office]

{{Christian crosses}}

[[Category:Christian crosses]]
[[Category:Mary, mother of Jesus]]
[[Category:Crosses in heraldry]]