Origin of the term "Crossing the Tiber"

[sablouwho]

I notice that many CAF posters say “Tiber Swim Team, class of __” in their signature line

I assume that this makes reference to the term “crossing the Tiber”, and that this refers to a river in Rome, and crossing it refers to a conversion to the CC…

Sorry to be so dense, but does “crossing the Tiber” refer to converting from Protestantism to Catholicism specifically? Or does it refer to anyone who converts (as an adult) to the CC?

Anyone know the origin of this term? I googled it and only came up with blogs and books that use the phrase in the title, but didn’t come up with a definition.

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

 

[mjs1987]

I think it is simply a technical way of saying someone has joined the Roman church. The Tiber is long associated with Rome as the Thames is with London. That is why a convert to the protestant church is said to cross the river Thames. Im not sure of the origins though but it is used because the Tiber is so closely associated with Rome, simple as that.

 

[anjoh66]

I notice that many CAF posters say “Tiber Swim Team, class of __” in their signature line

I assume that this makes reference to the term “crossing the Tiber”, and that this refers to a river in Rome, and crossing it refers to a conversion to the CC…

Sorry to be so dense, but does “crossing the Tiber” refer to converting from Protestantism to Catholicism specifically? Or does it refer to anyone who converts (as an adult) to the CC?

Anyone know the origin of this term? I googled it and only came up with blogs and books that use the phrase in the title, but didn’t come up with a definition.

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

I dont know the origin, but it refers to anyone who join the catholic church, converts from other christian denominations as well as other religions and atheists alike.

 

[Linda_Marie]

It applies to anyone, no matter what background, who converts to the Catholic Church.

I think it is a variant of the term ‘crossing the Rubicon’, another river in Italy. The Rubicon was the boundary past which no Roman gereral could cross in command of his legions. Caesar did this and marched on Rome. Once committed, he could not turn back.

It’s general use these days means making an irrevocable commitment from which there is no turning back. Thus, those of us who have crossed the Tiber, have made an irrevocable commitment to the Church.

answers.com/topic/rubicon
answers.com/topic/point-of-no-return
ancienthistory.about.com/b/2009/01/10/the-rubicon.htm

 

[aspirant]

I assume that this makes reference to the term “crossing the Tiber”, and that this refers to a river in Rome, and crossing it refers to a conversion to the CC.

You got it.

Or does it refer to anyone who converts (as an adult) to the CC?

It can refer to anyone.

Anyone know the origin of this term?

I don’t know where the phrase was first used, but it’s based on the geography of Rome. St. Peter’s Basilica & Vatican City are located on the opposite (west) side of the Tiber River from classical Rome (on the east) with its famous seven hills, Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Imperial Palace, Circus Maximus, and whatnot.

I would guess part of the idea in the language is that a Gentile crosses from paganism (represented by classical Rome) to Christianity (represented by St. Peter’s) through the waters of baptism (represented by the Tiber). Of course, not everyone who now “crosses the Tiber” was a pagan before doing so. Some are Christians, some are Jews. But I do think it’s a possible dimension of the metaphor.