The Meaning of IHS in Catholic Churches

What does the IHS mean in Catholic churches?

You may notice the letters IHS on the cross, crucifix, stained glass window, tabernacle, altar, etc. within Catholic churches.

What does IHS stand for?

The IHS monogram is a shortened form of the Greek word for Jesus: ΙΗΣΟΥΣ. (Σ or "sigma" = "S") It is sometimes called the Christogram as the first three letters of Jesus' name.

This symbol grew in popularity during the Middle Ages when devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus was on the rise. St. Ignatius of Loyola even adopted it to use in artwork representing the Society of Jesus.

So, the next time you see the letters IHS, think of Jesus.

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[willycuevas]

Iesus
Hominum
Salvator

Which means:
Jesus is the Saviour of Humankind

[tales_of_the_cosmos]

Definitely learnt from what you said, but that was not the origin of the symbol IHS. You see, the early Christian Church was persecuted in the Roman Empire. The first emperor to recognise Christianity as a legitimate religion was the the emperor Constantine. And why? Legend has it that before the emperor fought a certain battle he was almost sure to lose, when no one betting on a draw, not to talk of a win, the emperor has a vision of a cross drawn with blood, and a sign saying "In hoc signo vinces", meaning, "In this sign, you shall be victorious". The emperor ordered all shields to be painted with a red Cross, and subsequently pulled off an almost impossible win. As a direct consequence of this, Christianity became legal, and the sign very popular amongst Christians, for it was the sign the Lord gave to the Emperor.

Your take is interesting, and I dare not challenge its veracity or legitimacy. However, the sign IHS definitely was a common thing several centuries before the Middle Ages. Thank you so much for sharing.

[spyninja_edits]

This explains nothing makes zero sense the first three letters because it still doesn’t clarify it’s for Jesus. Why not us his whole name? Weird and confusing.


1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

[donaldtennant]

Why are the Iota and Eta in greek but the Sigma in english? Something doesn't make sense here.

[AFoxologist]

Why only the first three letters? Why not the whole name?

[CarloRegadasGuitar]

I thought it was common knowledge that it's Isis Horus Set, surrounded by the black sun..

[lakshmangouda]

It is always safe to view Christian imagery/symbols as sacred. The truth is that no one might give a satisfactory explanation but that doesn't mean there isn't one.

[holayou]

The fact that no one can give a straight answer about this makes me more inclined to believe the Jesuit and Isis Horus and Seth theory. Specially considering all the pagan undertones, and other not so subtle tones of the catholic church. I am no bashing catholics cause I was raised as one myself and most catholics I know are honest and very loving people, but it is pretty obvious that the INSTITUTION is saturated with paganism

[dereklords]

this doesn't seem right, besides being one of the ridiculous answers to this question you come across. Here's another one, which actually makes sens: In the Middle Ages, IHS was widely used by the Franciscans, and in the Catholic Reformation (the period of Catholic reform that began in 1543 with the Council of Trent), the Jesuits interpreted IHS as Iēsum Habēmus Socium (“We have Jesus as our Companion”).

[bearnurse]

That's where the exclamation "Jesus H Christ!" Comes from

[Ueddyyytube]

Incorrect, IHS stand for Isis, horus, and Set, why would anyone would write just The first 3 letters of jesus? Why not the whole name JESUS

[nicsmada]

🤔 I'M NOT BUYING IT. COMMON SENSE TELLS ME THAT'S JUST STUPID. 🤦‍♂️ & I'M SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE FOR THE "SUN" I MEAN... ( SON ) OFTEN PICTURED WITH IT. 🙅‍♂️

[skinkwondoe]

Or JESuits. Dont get it twisted. J wasnt evented til the 1500s

[thelivingword]

Why only first 3 letters?...could write full name..

[markcoetzer]

Because it's a Jesuit thing, it actually stands for Isis Horus and Seb/t?. Other catholics say it stands for "In His Service", but that's english and not latin like all their other enscryptions, the dagon hat the pope wears is a pretty obvious giveaway that he promotes another jesus, it's a babylonian cult.


Micah and the Levite

Jdg 17:1  And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 

Jdg 17:2  And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son. 

Jdg 17:3  And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. 

Jdg 17:4  Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. 

Jdg 17:5  And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 

Jdg 17:6  In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

Jdg 17:7  And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there. 

Jdg 17:8  And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 

Jdg 17:9  And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place. 

Jdg 17:10  And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in. 

Jdg 17:11  And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. 

Jdg 17:12  And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah. 

Jdg 17:13  Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest. 


Contrast this with the words of The Lord Jesus Christ Himself:
Mat 23:9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 
or from the Apostle Paul:
1Ti 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 

1Ti 2:6  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 


See how the pope denies the very Lord he says he represents by going against The Lord's very word?


Dagon = Fish Head god:
The Philistines and the Ark

1Sa 5:1  And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. 

1Sa 5:2  When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. 

1Sa 5:3  And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. 

1Sa 5:4  And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. 

1Sa 5:5  Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. 

1Sa 5:6  But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 

1Sa 5:7  And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 

1Sa 5:8  They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. 

1Sa 5:9  And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts. 

1Sa 5:10  Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. 

1Sa 5:11  So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 

1Sa 5:12  And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven. 


Don't get caught up in the whole first three letters of the greek, it's a lie, it means isis horus and set or seb whatever.

[IHSGoldenVegetables]

The fact that my YT name is IHSGoldenVegetables lol

[thestranger]

ISIS HORUS SET. Is what I always understood...hmmm

[craigime]

so did other denominations use it? or was it just a catholic thing?

[Paccy-by]

wrists, the palms of his hands open, the other crosses his feet, one above the other; the first points with forefinger of the right hand to the center of the palm of the left, the other with the forefinger of the left hand points to the center of the palm of the right; the first then with his right hand makes a circle around his head, touching it; the other then with the forefinger of his left hand touches the left side of his body just below his heart; then the first with his right hand draws it across the throat of the other, and the latter then with his right hand makes the motion of cutting with a dagger down the stomach and abdomen of the first. 

The first then says Iustum; the other answers Necar; the first then says Reges. The other answers Impios. The first will then present a small piece of paper folded in a peculiar manner, four times, which the other will cut longitudinally and on opening the name JESU will be found written upon the head and arms of a cross three times. You will then give and receive with him the following questions and answers.

[BodyRebuildCoach]

So it doesn’t mean Isis Horus Set??? Makes no sense that it would mean Jesus??