[daniel-cussen]

The reason the crucifix is the symbol of Christianity is related to what you're talking about, but the idea is that the normalization is to remind us we are not to fear torture. In particular, that we can be like Jesus and sell people out, even if under torture or the threat of torture, because we really do have free will. After all, Jesus could have cooperated with his denouncers and sold out the apostles, but instead he kept his silence and resolve and was tortured to death on the cross.

Supposedly the patron saint of the tortured is Epipodius (just looked it up), but in my faith I actually believe there is no patron saint of the tortured. If you're tortured that's a cut above every other predicament and the only saint for you is the patron saint of all patron saints, Jesus, because he was the original Christian to get tortured for his faith.