Lets just say even the Catholics and even historians and scholars are not quite clear as to its origins or meaning, so I doubt anyone can come up with a clear answer. (Maybe the Jesuits have a clue since you find it on their buildings, insignias, clothing) While some evidence of pagan orgins are claimed (see below: ) here are some answers from Catholic sites and others...

Response to IHS For Chris

Dear H. S.:
the answer is as simple as this:
Iesus = latin for JESUS
Hominum = latin for OF MEN
Salvator = latin for SAVIOR So IHS= Jesus Savior of men
Iesus Hominum Salvator....
Latin for "Jesus Saviour of Man..."


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"..In His Service.."

"In Hoc Signo,"

"...they are the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek: iota-eta-sigma..."

"...I.H.S. This triad of initials stands for the in hoc signo of the alleged vision of Constantine, of which, save Eusebius, its author, no one ever knew. I.H.S. is interpreted Jesus Hominum Salvator, and In hoc signo. It is, however, well known that the Greek IHS was one of the most ancient names of Bacchus....In hoc signo Victor ens, or the Labarum T (the tau and the resh) is a very old signum, placed on the foreheads of those who were just initiated. Kenealy translates it as meaning "he who is initiated into the Naronic Secret, or the 600, shall be Victor" but it is simply "through this sign hast thou conquered"; i.e., through the light of Initiation..."


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"...originated in Rome with the early Christians, and was popularized in the fifteenth century by Franciscan disciple Bernardine of Sienna, who promoted it as a symbol of peace....

Solar and Lunar symbolism have been in continual use by the Church and are most likely continuances of Roman ceremonial symbolism. There is, however, good evidence that the initials were used to represent Bacchus, the god of wine, who early Christians identified with Jesus.

The IHS emblem today most commonly represents the communion wafer, and is closely asociated with the Jesuit Order. The solar rays often depicted surrounding the emblem represent the monstrance (Ostensorium),* a decorated vessel used to display the Communion Host. The solar symbolism is probably ancient in origin, and probably borrowed from Roman ritual implements...."



http://altreligion.about.com/library.../bldefsihs.htm

http://forums.catholic.com/showthrea...=155845&page=4

http://www.samandra.freeserve.co.uk/ihs.htm

Anyone have a clue on the origins of "IHS".....?

According to my understanding IHS used on cruxifixes, and the wafer is another one of those things where paganism and Christianity have been mixed up. In this case IHS is indicative of the false trinity used in Egypt of Isis Horus Set. Horus being the sun god, Isis the goddess and Set being the 'son of the virgin'.

This trinity was a variation of the Babylonian trinity of Semiramis, Nimrod and Tammuz. Nimrod's Name was changed to Baal, and then Horus, Semiramis became Venus, and then Isis, and Tammuz became Set.Of course throughout history these three have changed names more times than a chameleon However it still comes back to these three, and the false system of worship that was set up in ancient babylon, by Nimrod and Semiramis.

Debbie.

There is no direct evidence of that however, it may be a traditional triumvirate of the gods which the Romans picked up from the Greeks or maybe that the Greek IHS was one of the most ancient names of Bacchus. But the trail does not lead anywhere from there in the historical records, everything from there seems to be mearly speculative unless someone has something I havent come across...

If you can find it try to read the book called the two babylons, by Rev Alexander Hislop ( http://www.biblebelievers.com/babylon/00index.htm ), it is an old book, he himself being passed off the scene many years ago, but contains a wealth of informatiion from his own research.

The evidence is out there you just have to look hard enough for it, I have heard confirming information from other sources than this book as well, so I know what he says to be accurate.

I am reading it and I am also looking at a book that refutes his contentions...

see:
The Two Babylons: A Case Study in Poor Research Methodolgy by Ralph Woodrow.

Will do, also on about a half hour or hour this morning I have found numerous websites that all back up his position.

Ok, so could any of you tell me why this is important?

This issue needs a more in-depth study as just a quick superficial skim of the online sites is not enough, as this is hidden deep down in some historical record but it may have gaps over how it spread from one civilization to another....

I wasn't suggesting my research consisted only of a few websites richard! Just that the websites I was going to were backing up all my other research.

I always thought IHS stood for In His Service.

It seems like I am learning something new here.