The Tau Cross
During the summer of 1992, Joe Livingston was working at a construction site in St. Fergus, northern Scotland. During a lovely summers evening, Joe went to his room, at the boarding house he was staying at. For some reason, Joe was prompted to kneel down, and begin saying the Rosary. As the Rosary started, Joe’s gaze kept being drawn to a specific area on the wall of his bedroom. Suddenly a shaft of light shone through the blinds on to the exact area Joe was looking at. First the light formed a vertical line and then a horizontal line, to finally form a T shape.
Years later Joe was told the meaning of Tau cross. The Tau cross is an ancient Christian symbol. It can be traced to the words of the prophet
Ezekiel. People marked with the TAU, i.e. an X or T, belong to God. They were saved from death: “ ‘ Go through the city of Jerusalem,’ said the Lord, ‘and mark with a cross (TAU) the foreheads of those who groan and lament over the abominations practised there.’ To the others I heard him say: ‘ Follow him through the city and deal out death; show no pity, spare no one…. but touch no one who bears the mark.’ “ (Ezekiel 9:4-6 - REB) Early penitents in the Church (5th century) wore the “tau” sign.
Other research connects the TAU with the cross of Jesus. Those who wear the TAU are marked as belonging to Jesus. St. Francis, devoted to the cross, used the TAU to sign his name. Crusaders wore the TAU on their shields as they fought for the Faith.
Franciscans use the TAU as a symbol of commitment to Jesus through the SFO way of life. In its National Statutes the National Fraternity has adopted the TAU as the “distinctive Franciscan sign” of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States. (cf. SFO Rule, Article #23)
The TAU cross is the sign of the SFO in this country, not the San Damiano crucifix, not a medal of St. Francis, not a scapular and cord (such as were mandated under the Rule of 1883), and not a modified religious habit such as the friars wear! The TAU is worn with pride and joy.
Francis saw the TAU as a symbol of the cross of Christ. It was the sign of salvation. It was as a sign of belonging to God, being chosen and saved. Francis embraced it with love. It was pregnant with meaning for him. Franciscans wear it as a sign of their commitment to Jesus and the gospel way of life.
