It's me again.

I know someone can tell me what this means, and whoever answers my question - I thank you.

I am ashamed to admit that I don't know what this means. The medal on a pair of rosary beads I gave to a friend (the medal after we say the Our Father, 3 HM's and the Glory Be) has a picture of the Pope and on the back of the medal is a sword and a shield...is this St. Michael?

I also don't know what this means - a cross with the letters JHS on it.

Thank you for your answers.

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), August 06, 2004

Answers

IHS are the first three letters of the Greek word for Jesus: IHSOYS (Iota, Eta, Sigma, Omicron, Ypsilon, Sigma)

The "medal" with the Pope is usually called the "center" or the "centerpiece." (And while I'm at it, the loop part of the rosary is called the "decades," and the section from the center to the crucifix is called the "pendant."

As for the sword and shield, could it be keys and a shield? Follow this link:

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/index.htm

If it isn't keys and a shield, then I don't know what it is.

-- JJ, Rosary maker (nospam@nospam.com), August 06, 2004.

Thank you. I will check that out.

ML

-- MaryLu (mlc327@juno.com), August 06, 2004.