XIX 



THE VINE 



The principal of the allegorical fruits is the vine. 

 It is one of the most ancient emblems of Christ, 

 and is founded upon His own words, ' I am the 

 vine, ye are the branches.' 



It is seen in the Catacombs, on early Christian 

 sarcophagi, and in the early mosaics, always as 

 the emblem of Christ or of His Church. A 

 fruiting vine very beautifully expresses a per- 

 fect life rich with the fruits of the spirit, and even 

 were the analogy not suggested by Christ's own 

 words, it is possible that Christians would have 

 seen in the tree whence comes the sacramental 

 wine, emblem of the holy blood, a likeness to 

 Him who shed that blood. 



Where the cross, the sacred monogram or 



the figure of Christ Himself is introduced, the 



vine takes a secondary place as emblem of the 



Christian Church, and taken in this sense the 



symbolism admits of some compHcation, twelve 



235 



