Good Shepherd Parish 

Good Shepherd Parish has designed a new logo!

The new logo design involves the Chi Rho, which looks like a “P” with an “X” superimposed over it. It is a Christogram. As Catholics, we see the Chi Rho often and recognize it as a symbol representing, “Christ”. The letters X (chi) and P (rho) are the first two letters of “Christ” in Greek.

A fascinating story involving the first Christian emperor, Constantine, explains the prevalence of the Chi Rho in Christianity. According to the historian Eusebius, the

Emperor and his army had an astounding vision prior to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, in which Constantine faced the usurper emperor Maxentius. Constantine, who was not yet a Christian, and his troops saw a cross of light emblazoned in the sky above the sun, with the words, “By this sign, you shall conquer” in Latin, In hoc

signo vinces. Constantine was not sure what to make of this vision, but that night, he had a dream in which Jesus instructed him to make a likeness of the symbol and use it as a defense against his enemies.

Thereafter, the Emperor made a battle standard composed of a cross, shaped by a crossbeam added to a long spear and crowned with the Chi Rho. Constantine won the Battle of the Milvian Bridge and soon after converted to Christianity. He continued to use the Chi Rho as his battle symbol and on other official items such as coins. Its use quickly spread throughout the empire, and it is now one of our faith’s most common symbols. (as found at www.catholiccompany.com)