People seem to have different opinions on the importance of only one cross. Sometimes this appears in the liturgical books.
For example, in the earlier edition of the Roman Missal for the U.S.A. it has for the Good Friday ceremony:
"19. Only one cross should be used for the veneration. If the number of people makes it impossible for everyone to venerate the cross individually, the priest may take the cross, after some of the faithful have venerated it, and stand in the center in front of the altar. In a few words he invites the people to venerate the cross and then holds it up briefly for them to worship in silence.
In the United States, if pastoral reasons suggest that there be individual veneration even though the number of people is very large, a second or third cross may be used."
(Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 158.)
I don’t know what the current Roman Missal for the USA has. But the example shows that one group of people thought it was important to say “only one cross” and another group that it was important to reverse this, in the USA.
Here are some arguments for only one crucifix being allowed in the sanctuary.
A. 2002 GIRM: “122. … The cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified and perhaps carried in procession may be placed next to the altar to serve as the altar cross, in which case it ought to be the only cross used; otherwise it is put away in a dignified place.”
B. 2002 GIRM: “308. There is also to 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.” (My bold text.)
C. Some statistics:
“cross” appears 52 times in the GIRM,
“crosses” is never used in the GIRM
“the cross” is used 35 times in the GIRM.
D. 1968 Instruction Pontificalis ritus: “20. Only a single cross is to be carried in a procession, to increase the dignity of the cross and its veneration. If an archbishop is present, the cross will be the archiepiscopal cross, to be carried at the head of the procession, with the image of Christ crucified facing forward. The recommended practice is to stand the processional cross near the altar so that it serves as the altar cross. If this is not done, the processional cross is put away.” (From Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 1394).
E. The 1977 liturgical book “Dedication of a Church and Altar” has in chapter 2 (The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, page 366):
"REQUISITES FOR THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH
…
B.
In the sacristy or in the sanctuary or in the body of the church to be dedicated, as each situation requires: …
-- altar cross, unless there is already a cross in the sanctuary or the cross that is carried in the entrance procession is to be placed near the altar;"
I am not aware of an official document explicitly permitting an altar cross and a large central cross. But arguments permitting two sanctuary crucifixes could be based on the following parts of the liturgical books.
A. Book of Blessings: “1238 The order presented in this chapter is meant for only two situations:
1 the solemn blessing of a cross erected in a public place, separate from a church;
2 the blessing of the principal cross that occupies a central place in the body of the church where the worshiping community assembles.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 455).
Why does it refer to a “principal cross” rather than use the term the “altar cross”? In Latin, it has:
“b) cum benedicenda est Crux principalis quae emineat in aula ecclesiae, ubi communitas fidelium congregatur.” (De Benedictionibus, Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1993, ISBN 880118994, page 365.) In the Roman Missal it refers to “crux altaris” in GIRM 122.
B. The GIRM has in 277: “The cross, if situated on or near the altar, is incensed by the priest before he incenses the altar; otherwise, he incenses it when he passes in front of it.” Sometimes “the cross” is incensed before the altar. Sometimes it is incensed when passing in front of it. There seems to be two instructions, for more than one cross.
The GIRM has in 117: “… Also on or close to the altar, there is to be a cross with a figure of Christ crucified. …”. So if there is one cross on or close to the altar there should only be one instruction for incensing it, before he incenses the altar. But there is a second instruction, suggesting there is a second crucifix.
My interpretation is that there should only be one crucifix in the sanctuary, on or near the altar.
Other threads discussing this issue include these five:
- forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=197435
- forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=333545
- forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=506602
- forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=236270
- forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=243994
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