Emblem of the Society of Jesus Christogram Bone China Mug

A striking and historically precise depiction of the Emblem of the Society of Jesus, the official symbol of the Jesuit Order founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. According to Italian Wikipedia, the emblem consists of a radiant, flaming sun‑disk bearing the monogram IHS, the ancient Christogram formed from the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ). The central H is surmounted by a cross, while beneath the letters appear three nails arranged diagonally — a reference to the Passion of Christ. Walks in Rome explains that this emblem appears prominently on the façade of the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the mother church of the Jesuits, where the IHS is framed by sculpted angels and symbolizes the light of Christ shining upon the world. Wikimedia Commons notes that the design of the emblem is traditionally attributed to Ignatius of Loyola himself, dating to 1541, and has been used ever since as the universal seal of the Society of Jesus. The emblem expresses the Jesuit mission: to proclaim Christ and work “for the greater glory of God” (Ad maiorem Dei gloriam). Ideal for sacred art, educational materials, Jesuit heritage designs, and theological publications.