In the book The Age of Faith, historian Will Durant describes how this came about, saying: “As the number of worshiped saints multiplied, a need arose for identifying and remembering them; pictures of them and of Mary were produced in great number; and in the case of Christ not only His imagined form but His cross became objects of reverence ​ — even, for simple minds, magic talismans.
Ajaloolane Will Durant räägib raamatus „The Age of Faith ”, kuidas see juhtus:„ Kui pühakute arv suurenes, kasvas ka vajadus neid tunda ja meeles pidada; nii neist kui Maarjast valmistati suurel hulgal pilte; ning austama ei hakatud mitte ainult arvatavat kujutlust Kristusest, vaid ka Tema risti, millest sai lihtsameelsete jaoks koguni maagiline talisman.