Marcus Peter, Catholic World Report
... The Lord of hosts is never a mascot for bloodlust. ...
Oh really?
... Reviewing,
I say, all these considerations, [Constantine] judged it to be folly indeed to
join in the idle worship of those who were no gods, and, after such
convincing evidence, to err from the truth; and therefore felt it
incumbent on him to honor his father's God alone.
Accordingly
he called on him with earnest prayer and supplications that he would
reveal to him who he was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him
in his present difficulties. And while he was thus praying with fervent
entreaty, a most marvelous sign appeared to him from heaven, the account
of which it might have been hard to believe had it been related by any
other person. But since the victorious emperor himself long afterwards
declared it to the writer of this history, when he was honored with his
acquaintance and society, and confirmed his statement by an oath, who
could hesitate to accredit the relation, especially since the testimony
of after time has established its truth?
He said that about noon, when
the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the
trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing
the inscription, Conquer By This [τούτῳ νίκα]. At this sight he himself was struck
with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this
expedition, and witnessed the miracle.
... then in his sleep the Christ
of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the
heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had
seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements
with his enemies. ... And this representation I myself have had an opportunity of seeing.
Now it was made in the following manner. A long spear, overlaid with
gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid
over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious
stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour's name, two letters indicating the name of Christ
by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X
in its centre: and these letters the emperor was in the habit of
wearing on his helmet at a later period. ...
The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard
against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others
similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.
-- Eusebius, Life of Constantine, 1.27ff.
