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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
IHS	Joe	Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Question: Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary, I was wondering what the letters IHS meant? I asked this question to a priest once, but I forgot. I would also like to know the history behind this symbol. I see it a lot, but I never really knew the meaning. God bless you and your forum. Joe
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Joe: IHS is often interpreted to be the abbreviation of Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of Men). This is not the meaning of the abbreviation. IHS comes from a faulty Latin transliteration of the first three letters of "Jesus" in Greek capital letters, IHCOUC. There have been many variations of interpretations suggested for IHS including: Iesus Hemeteros Soter (Greek): "Jesus our Savior" - a common inscription among early Christians Iesus Hominum Salvator (Latin): "Jesus Savior of Men" - a common inscription on early Christian monuments; popularized by St. Bernadine of Siena in the 14th century *In Hoc Salus* (Latin): "In this (cross) is salvation" *In Hoc Signo* (Vinces) (Latin): "In this sign (you will conquer). This comes from the vision of Constantine before his victory in the battle of the Mulvian Bridge in A.D. 313 *I have suffered:* some unknown English speaking person came up with this one. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

IHS

Joe

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Question:

Dear Bro. Ignatius Mary,

I was wondering what the letters IHS meant? I asked this question to a priest once, but I forgot. I would also like to know the history behind this symbol. I see it a lot, but I never really knew the meaning.

God bless you and your forum.

Joe

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Joe:

IHS is often interpreted to be the abbreviation of Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of Men). This is not the meaning of the abbreviation.

IHS comes from a faulty Latin transliteration of the first three letters of "Jesus" in Greek capital letters, IHCOUC.

There have been many variations of interpretations suggested for IHS including:

Iesus Hemeteros Soter (Greek): "Jesus our Savior" - a common inscription among early Christians
Iesus Hominum Salvator (Latin): "Jesus Savior of Men" - a common inscription on early Christian monuments; popularized by St. Bernadine of Siena in the 14th century
In Hoc Salus (Latin): "In this (cross) is salvation"
In Hoc Signo (Vinces) (Latin): "In this sign (you will conquer). This comes from the vision of Constantine before his victory in the battle of the Mulvian Bridge in A.D. 313
I have suffered: some unknown English speaking person came up with this one.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum