Altar Crucifix Placement

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When a Crucifix is displayed above the tabernacle in the apse and a Crucifix is also placed on the altar does the corpus face the congregation in both cases or does the corpus on the altar face the communicate celebrating Mass? Does the priest have to face the corpus when celebrating Mass and not the back of the corpus?

I am looking for references that clearly state the Church’s rubrics on this.
 
jbonne19 said:
When a Crucifix is displayed above the tabernacle in the apse and a Crucifix is also placed on the altar does the corpus face the congregation in both cases or does the corpus on the altar face the communicate celebrating Mass? Does the priest have to face the corpus when celebrating Mass and not the back of the corpus?

I am looking for references that clearly state the Church’s rubrics on this.
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To clarify, you are talking about a freestanding altar with the Mass said versus populum, and thus the use of the so-called Benedictine altar arrangement, correct?
 
jbonne19 said:
When a Crucifix is displayed above the tabernacle in the apse and a Crucifix is also placed on the altar does the corpus face the congregation in both cases or does the corpus on the altar face the communicate celebrating Mass? Does the priest have to face the corpus when celebrating Mass and not the back of the corpus?

I am looking for references that clearly state the Church’s rubrics on this.
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No, the presider does not have to face the corpus of a crucifix when offering the Eucharist.
 
As Father Don has mentioned, it doesn’t have to be that way, however, usually when I see it, the corpus is facing the priest.

However, if you watch EWTN, the corpus is usually (if not always) facing the pews

God Bless
 
phil19034 said:
As Father Don has mentioned, it doesn’t have to be that way, however, usually when I see it, the corpus is facing the priest.

However, if you watch EWTN, the corpus is usually (if not always) facing the pews

God Bless
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I may be mistaken, but i believe that the Crucifix in question actually has a Corpus on both sides.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
No, the presider does not have to face the corpus of a crucifix when offering the Eucharist.
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Though it has become popular in some quarters to employ the so called “Benedictine” arrangement, which includes the placement of a small crucifix on the altar. This is the practice at our local cathedral. The presider “faces the people” but he is also facing the small crucifix on the altar.
 
phil19034 said:
As Father Don has mentioned, it doesn’t have to be that way, however, usually when I see it, the corpus is facing the priest.

However, if you watch EWTN, the corpus is usually (if not always) facing the pews

God Bless
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“Don” is his title. Secular priests are addressed as “Don” rather than as Father in some cultures. Think of Don Bosco.
 
Pulvis said:
I may be mistaken, but i believe that the Crucifix in question actually has a Corpus on both sides.
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🤷

I know the one in my Parish’s chapel only has the Corpus on one side, and it typically faces the priest.
 
The General Instruction on the Roman Missal requires that there be “a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations”.

So, there is no requirement for an additional crucifix on the altar (small or otherwise) but Benedict XVI (in his writings as Cardinal Ratzinger) was in favour of having a crucifix at the centre of the altar this is something which became a feature of his liturgy like so:



You might say that if it’s good enough for him…
 
InThePew said:
The General Instruction on the Roman Missal requires that there be “a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations”.

So, there is no requirement for an additional crucifix on the altar (small or otherwise) but Benedict XVI (in his writings as Cardinal Ratzinger) was in favour of having a crucifix at the centre of the altar this is something which became a feature of his liturgy like so:

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/details/img/BXVI-croce3.jpg

You might say that if it’s good enough for him…
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This is my understanding as well. Our pastor, following the example of Benedict XVI, placed a small crucifix on the altar which he faces (altar crucifix does not face the people). Many priests have followed this practice as well but it my understanding that this practice is not a requirement when a crucifix is already present near the altar.
 
zab said:
Our pastor, following the example of Benedict XVI, placed a small crucifix on the altar which he faces (altar crucifix does not face the people). Many priests have followed this practice as well but it my understanding that this practice is not a requirement when a crucifix is already present near the altar.
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You are correct.
 
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