Defense of the Standard of the Cross

by St. Francis de Sales

After the first phase of the missionary work in Chablais, Francis de Sales set up the victorious emblem of the Holy Cross at Annemasse near Geneva [Cf. E.J. Lajeunie, p. 277]. Against the honour paid to it, a certain minister wrote a pamphlet, containing a burning venomous invective. Bishop Claude de Granier appointed Francis de Sales with the task of answering to it [Cf. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God, p. 46]. Francis replied to him under the title, Defense of the Standard of the Cross. Later it has been reprinted under the title Pantology or Treasury of the Cross. The work is divided into four books:

On the Honour and Power of the Cross
On the Honour and Power of the Reproductions of the Cross
On the Honour and Power of the Sign of the Cross
On the Sort of Honour due to the Cross.

In the first book [1-5] SFS, with references drawn from Holy Scripture propounds devotion to the Holy Cross; he then proceeds to develop the same theme with reference to the teachings of the Fathers of the Church [6-7]. He recalls that the holy cross has always served as a memorial of the Lord’s Passion and as a remedy against all types of evil, and, as a means of honouring Jesus. [8-10]

The first four chapters of the second book deal with the miraculous and salvific value of the Cross over the ages. Chapters 5 and 9-10, and 12 serve to refute the malicious remarks made by la Faye, de Beze and Minitius Felix against the veneration of the Cross as practised by Catholics. SFS reaffirms the value of the Christian devotion to the Holy Cross [ch.6-8 and 11] Chapter 13 refutes the erroneous interpretation of the salvific value of the brazen serpent in the desert and continues in Cf. 14 to deal with the punishment meted out to those who dishonour the true Cross of Christ.

The third book begins with a presentation of the tradition of the early church which considered the Sign of the Cross as a witness to the Christian faith professed by the individual, and as an invocation and prayer. The three chapters that follow justify this act and practice.

The fourth book contains an authentic presentation of the meaning and value of devotion to the Holy Cross. This is no longer a refutation of false allegations, but an invitation to sincerely honour the Cross which is a true symbol of our salvation more meritorious than any other. The final chapter refutes the allegation that veneration of the Cross runs counter to the Commandments of the God that prohibit the worship of idols and images.

According to St. Jane de Chantal, St. Francis de Sales wrote a treatise called The defense of the Cross, which was written to refute the untruths and blasphemies put forward in a pamphlet by a minister of Geneva. After the death of Saint Francis, a number of Bishops wanted to read and own this book [Cf. Elisabeth Stopp, pp.50, 131].

The Defence of the Standard of the Cross is a continuation of the “Controversies” and in fact, it is presented as a ‘complement’ to the ‘Controversies’ providing specific illustrations of the general arguments contained therein [cf. Controversies, preface, p. 12]. But Defense of the Standard of the Cross is the first book of SFS that was published; thus it would be wrong to compare this work with his later publications that were the outcome of experience and maturity.

Table of Contents

Letter dedicating the Work to the Duke of Savoy

Preface

Introductory Note

Historical Background to this Work of SFS
Salient features of the ‘Defence of the Standard of the Cross’
The Theological Content of the Book
Relationship of Volume 2 with the other works of SFS
Note on the present edition of “The Defence of the Standard of the Holy Cross”

Book One: Virtue of the True Cross and Honour that is due to it.

The name and the ‘Cross’
Honour due to the Cross: first proof
Honour due to the Cross even if not so ordained: second proof
Honour due to the Cross: third proof drawn from Sacred Scriptures
Honour due to the Cross: fourth proof drawn from other references in Sacred Scriptures
Honour due to the Cross: fifth proof drawn from the fact that the Holy Cross was excavated and preserved
Honour due to the Cross: sixth proof drawn from the finding of the Cross
Honour due to the Cross: seventh proof drawn from the fact that it depicts the Passion of Our Lord
Honour due to the Cross: eighth proof drawn from Tradition
Honour due to the Cross: tenth proof drawn from Tradition

Book Two: Honour and Virtue of the Image of the Cross.

The manner in which the Cross is depicted
The long tradition of depicting the Cross
The long tradition of depicting the Crucifix
The apparition of the Cross to Constantine the Great and on other occasions
The great devotion our ancestors had towards the Cross and the manner in which the crucifix bore witness to their faith
The Cross may and should be treated as a sacred object
The Cross has been utilized in the administration of Sacraments and to lead devotional processions
The Cross was revered since ancient times
The Cross is honoured and invoked en the Church
The Titles given and Respect attributed by the Church to the Cross
The Image of the Cross has great virtue
The testimony of Arnobe on the fact that the Cross was always sought after
The Cross of Christ compared with the Brazen serpent in the desert
Punishment reserved of those who dishonour the cross

Book Three: Honour and Virtue of the Sign of the Cross

Definition of the Sign of the Cross
The Sign of the Cross is a public proclamation of the Christian faith
The frequent use if the Sign of the Cross on different occasions in the early Church
Ceremonies that utilize the sign of the Cross to useful effect
The Sign of the Cross have been legitimately and rightly used to bless other objects
The Sign of the Cross is utilized in acts of consecration and in conferring sacramental blessing
The reasons for marking the forehead of the baptized with the Sign of the Cross and its use on other occasions
Another reason for the same drawn from the prophet Ezekiel
Another reason for the same: rejection of the Anti-Christ
The power of the Sign of the Cross to drive away the devil and its evil action
The power of the Sign of the on other occasions

Book Four: On the quality of the Honour that is due to the Cross

Accusation of the Protestants against the Catholics
The honour that is due to the Cross, the reasons for honouring the one who merits to be honoured
The significance of the act of adoration
The one who adores and the one who is adored
The difference between adoration rendered to God and adoration offered to creatures
The difference which lies in the act of the Will
The first difference: according to the nature of the one adored
Other differences: according to the manner in which one adores?
The source of the differences
Solution offered to one problem
The manner in which the Cross should be honoured
Other ways in which the Cross may be honoured
Veneration of the Cross in no way goes against the First Commandment of the Decalogue
The Confession of Calvin on the use of Images
Reflections on the text attributed to Josue, and general conclusion to present book.

APPENDICES :

I.The Posters: The Thesis on the Cross

The First Poster
The Second Poster
Thesis on the Cross

II.Letter of the Roussin [owner of the Bookstore] to SFS

III.Preliminary documents of the First Edition

IV.List of books on the … that SFS was permitted to utilize

Click here to read (French)