Moreover we worship even the image of the precious
and life-giving Cross, although made of another tree, not honouring the
tree (God forbid) but the image as a symbol of Christ. For He
said to His disciples, admonishing them, Then shall appear the sign
of the Son of Man in Heaven St. Matt. xxiv. 30., meaning
the Cross. And so also the angel of the resurrection said to the
woman, Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified St. Mark xvi. 6.. And the Apostle said, We
preach Christ crucified 1 Cor. i. 23.. For
there are many Christs and many Jesuses, but one crucified. He
does not say speared but crucified. It behoves us, then, to
worship the sign of Christ Text,
Χριστοῦ.
Variant, σταυροῦ.. For
wherever the sign may be, there also will He be. But it does not
behove us to worship the material of which the image of the Cross is
composed, even though it be gold or precious stones, after it is
destroyed, if that should happen. Everything, therefore, that is
dedicated to God we worship, conferring the adoration on
Him.