THE MYSTIC CROSS
Our Symbol and its Meaning
THE LAMB ON THE BOOK WITH SEVEN SEALS
In "To Set
People Free", a booklet describing
the ministry of The Centre, Rev Mario Schoenmaker wrote this about
the then newly chosen symbol of the church:
The mystic cross is intended to communicate, in a more profound way than our name, the essential purpose of The Centre, its principles and ideals. It is, therefore, the archetype of the church containing within itself, in symbolic form, the foundation of The Centre's unique vision of the Christian religion. Meditation upon the symbol brings the individual members to a greater awareness of the real significance and ministry of The Centre, and its deep mystical symbolism conveys the glorious ideals with which it aligns itself.
Our
symbol, the mystic cross, is the embodiment of the path of
self-transformation.
It
is not a crucifix or calvary cross. It does not represent suffering but victory
and spiritual beauty. The vertical column represents the world of spirit,
infinity and eternity, and the horizontal column the world of matter, time and
space. We are beings who belong to both dimensions; we are on the cross until we
enter into the victory that Christ won.
The
end of each of the four arms of the cross is divided into three, a reminder that
we are a trinity of body, soul and spirit. Together, the twelve divisions
represent the twelve aspects of our nature which we have to develop and use in a
balanced and harmonious way. These twelve aspects, which we call mind or soul
faculties, appear in the Bible as the twelve disciples. They appear in the
heavens as the twelve signs of the zodiac. They are the twelve natures available
to the human being, which must all be called into the company and service of
Christ.
Our
first step on the path of transformation is taken when we acknowledge that
Christ is within us and that our destiny is to become Christed beings. This is
depicted in the ancient Greek symbol PX at the foot of the cross. When we commit
ourselves wholeheartedly to living this new life in Christ, we begin the journey
up the cross.
THE LAMB ON THE BOOK WITH SEVEN SEALS
The sealed book represents our body. It is sealed with seven seals which are our potential powers, as yet dormant and unfulfilled. Esoteric tradition speaks of them as the seven spiritual centres which on the physical level are linked with the glands of the endocrine system. Only when these centres are fully opened will we transform our physical bodies.
The lamb seated on the book represents the Christ within us who is the guardian of the seven seals. It is only through his power that the book can be opened and we can understand and express our true nature and place within creation. Historically this power was given at Golgotha, yet each individual must come to know and accept this for themselves. This is the central symbol of the cross and the central work to be done.
The
alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the ancient Greek alphabet.
Placed on the horizontal bar of the cross (which represents the dimension of
time and space), they symbolise that it is within the span of our earthly life
that this work must be carried out, so that we may live not only in the
dimension of time and space but also in eternity.
The
rose represents the perfected, fully realised human being. It is the result of
the process of moving from acknowledgement of the supremacy of Christ within,
through the opening of the spiritual centres, to the point where the real self
is revealed like a rose.