The Tau cross is the cross shaped like the letter T — with no arm above the crossbar. It is the oldest and simplest of the cross shapes, and since the time of St. Francis of Assisi it has been the personal sign of the Franciscan family. Anyone may wear it; Franciscans wear it as a family badge.
What Is the Tau Cross?
Take a Latin cross and remove the upper arm: what remains is a T. That shape is the tau, named for the Greek letter (and the Hebrew letter tav, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet). In the ancient world the tau was already a mark of protection and completion — and it entered Christian symbolism through a verse of the prophet Ezekiel:
"The LORD said to him, 'Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'" (Ezekiel 9:4)
In the Latin Bible, the "mark" of Ezekiel 9:4 is written with the word tau. From that single verse, the T-shape became the sign of those who are marked for salvation — and a natural Christian emblem long before Francis.
St. Francis and the Tau
St. Francis of Assisi adopted the Tau as his personal seal. He signed his letters with it, painted it on the walls and doors of places he visited, and used it to bless. For Francis the tau was simultaneously the cross and the mark of Ezekiel: the shape of the Passion and the sign of those spared. The Franciscan tradition after him kept the sign — today it is the emblem of the Franciscan Order and of Franciscan third orders worldwide.
Who Wears a Tau Cross?
- Franciscans and Franciscan tertiaries — the Tau is their proper sign, worn as a pendant or embroidered on the habit.
- Pilgrims and travelers — the tau's ancient use as a mark of protection made it a natural travelers' cross.
- Anyone, in fact. There is no rule restricting the Tau cross to members of the order. Many Catholics wear it as a quiet, distinctive profession of faith — and because its simple form works with everyday clothing in a way a large crucifix often does not.
Tau Cross vs Crucifix: What Is the Difference?
They answer different needs. A crucifix carries the corpus of Christ and keeps the Passion visible. The Tau cross is a sign — closer in function to a cross necklace than to a crucifix. Both are Catholic; many people wear a Tau daily and keep a crucifix at home. The full distinction is explained in Cross vs Crucifix: What's the Difference?
How to Wear a Tau Cross
Traditionally the tau hangs from a simple cord or thong — the form of the letter is the point, and elaborate chains compete with it. A wooden tau on a brown thong is the classic Franciscan configuration. We carry an olive-wood Tau crucifix, 4 cm tall, with a brown thong and a silver-tone strap — small enough to wear under a shirt, visible when you want it to be. See it in the crosses and crucifixes collection, and for the painted cross of the same tradition read The San Damiano Cross: Meaning and History.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the Tau cross mean?
A: It is the sign of salvation from Ezekiel 9:4 — the mark placed on the foreheads of the faithful — and, since St. Francis, the emblem of the Franciscan family.
Q: Who can wear a Tau cross?
A: Any Christian may wear it. It is most associated with Franciscans and Franciscan tertiaries, for whom it is the proper sign of the order.
Q: Why did St. Francis wear a Tau cross?
A: He adopted it as his personal seal: it joined the shape of the cross with the prophetic mark of Ezekiel, and he used it to sign letters and bless places.
Q: Is the Tau cross Catholic?
A: Yes — it has been used in Christian symbolism since the early centuries and became a distinctly Catholic sign through St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan order.
Q: Is the Tau cross the same as a crucifix?
A: No. A crucifix carries the corpus of Christ; the Tau is a bare cross in the shape of a T. A small tau with the corpus is sometimes called a Tau crucifix.
Q: Where does the Tau cross come from?
A: From the Hebrew letter tav and the Greek tau, and from Ezekiel 9:4, where the mark of salvation is written as "tau." St. Francis of Assisi made it the best-known Franciscan emblem in the 13th century.
