****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Features:This Luther Rose Cross, the offical seal of Luther in his lifetime and the symbol of Lutheranism is of great quality. The metal is precesion cut and will not weaken in the inner parts of the rose near the edge. The metal has a shimmer and geometric shape fo it that is pleasing.The size as some have opined, is snaller than the picture would have you believe. Hence why you should always read lroduct description and details before you buy. I personally like the size, even though I am beoad chested. If I wanted s pectoral cross I would have gotten one. This is just the right size to be seen but not be mistaken for being a pastor or priest.History and Meaning:The History of the Luthersn Rose and its symbolism is described by Martin Luther himself:“ In a July 8, 1530 letter to Lazarus Spengler, Luther interprets his seal:Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology. The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. "For one who believes from the heart will be justified" (Romans 10:10). Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17) but by faith in the crucified. Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12). Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed. And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal. This is my compendium theologiae [summary of theology]. I have wanted to show it to you in good friendship, hoping for your appreciation. May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter. Amen.” (The Luther Rose, Wikipedia)Final Thoughts:I had the priviledge of going to Wittenberg, Germany and visting Castle Church, Marrin Luther’s Church, and the restored door where he nailed the 95 Thesis to the door and started The Reformation (even though Jan Hus, Waldo/Waldensians, and others were proto-reformers, they were not able to get the Reformation kindled, Luther had the Gutenberg Press and the favor & protection of nobility, Fredrick the Wise). I lost my souvenier Luther Rose cross from the Gift Shop of Castle Church and so I endeavored ro gwt another from their online store. Well it turns out they so not have an online store, so I went searching for a replacement for my Luther Rose Cross and found this one here. I actually like this one by Terra Sancta (Terra means Earth in Latin, Sancta means sanctify as in Spiritus Sancti). I am so happy to have my Lutheran Rose Cross restored! And at such a great price too!P.S. if you are even in Germania, make sure to program your GPS with Castle Church, Wittenburg, Germany. There is another Wittenburg in the North of Germany that is not the right location (it looks like Boston, brick everywhere).
