The Franciscan Tau Cross
Español The Franciscan Tau Cross The Tau is the last letter of the ancient Hebrew alphabet and resembles the form of a simple cross. Its spiritual significance originates in the Book of Ezekiel (9:4), where those who remained faithful to God were marked with a sign upon their foreheads. Early Christian writers saw this mark as a prefiguration of the Cross of Christ, and over the centuries the Tau became a symbol of salvation, conversion, and divine protection. On November 11, 1215, Saint Francis of Assisi attended the Fourth Lateran Council in Rome as founder and General Superior of an Order approved by the Catholic Church. During the council, Pope Innocent III preached on the significance of the Tau, declaring: "Tau is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and has the shape of a cross. Tau is the sign that is worn on the forehead when the splendor of the cross manifests itself in us." Deeply moved by these words, Saint Francis embraced the Tau as a personal emblem of his...
