~ The Cross ~

The cross is perhaps the best known of all Christian symbols.In the ancient Church the cross was usually depicted without thefigure of Christ. It was adorned and decorated as a symbol of the victory Christ won through His suffering. For the ancientworld it was a symbol of humiliation, but for Christians it was asymbol of victory and glory. In Christian art, the figure of thesuffering Christ was added to the cross only in medieval times.

~ The Lamb ~

We refer to Christ as "The Lamb of God," and "ThePaschal Lamb," because he was sent as a sacrificefor the sins of the world. We also lovingly refer toHim as "The Good Shepherd," since He is ourShepherd and told Peter to feed His sheep.

~ The Bells ~

In countries like France and Italy the bells are silent from HolyThursday until Easter Sunday. In Germany and central Europeeven the bells on farm buildings are still, though they begin toring again on Holy Saturday. With the bells silent, the farmpeople of the Middle Ages felt uneasy. So, to comfortthemselves and their children, they would say, "The bells haveflown to Rome, but they'll come back on Easter.”

~ The Egg ~

The egg is like Jesus’ tomb. It is enclosed, it isquiet, and it seems lifeless. Yet within an egg, thepromise of new life is waiting to burst forth. Jesus’tomb was like an egg until early on Easter whenJesus rose up to a new and glorious life.

~The Butterfly ~

Butterflies are an apt symbol of the day's meaning.Beginning life as lowly humble caterpillars, they"entomb" themselves in cocoons only to emerge with jewel-colored wings and the ability to soar. Whatbetter symbol of the Resurrection -- except maybe foreggs, which had always been symbols of Spring andwere items of wonderment to all -- an inanimate objectout of which comes life. For Christians, they becamethe perfect symbol of the tomb Christ conquered.

~ The Peacock ~

It was once believed that the flesh of the peacocknever corrupts, so peacocks became the classicsymbol of immortality. They are an ancientChristian symbol of the Resurrection, andrepresentations of them are found on the tombs of ancient Christians as an expression of their hope tofollow Christ in His defeat of death.