Anyone Familiar with the Caravaca Cross?

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…aka “Cruz de Caravaca”
I have one that I bought while in Spain a few years ago, and, from what I’ve heard, it’s customary to give them away as gifts for good luck. I’m just curious if anyone has additional info or knowledge about these because there is very limited information about them online.

Picture:
deangelus.com/images/Cruz%20de%20Caravaca.jpg
 
According to the legend, a Priest was ordered by a Moorish King in Spain to celebrate a Mass so thathe could determine if Christianity was truly from God. The Priest started to celebrate the Mass but realized that there was no cross on the altar. He prayed that a cross would become available and at almost that instant two angels appeared, carrying a cross in and placed it upon the altar. Apparently at the same time a vison of the infant Jesus was seen where the Tabernacle was placed. The Moorish King converted on the spot.

The two angels explain the two angels at the bottom of the cross. It is a very common crucifix that is most prevelent in Spain and Latin American countries.
 
And why would an atar, presumably set up so Mass could be celebrated thereon, NOT have had a crucifix?
 
bpbasilphx said:
And why would an atar, presumably set up so Mass could be celebrated thereon, NOT have had a crucifix?
Click to expand...
Very good question. However, since I was not there, I cannot answer it. I can only report what the legend says. Hope that is enough for you. If not, I am truly sorry to have offended you.
 
Amongst the many documents that report this miracle, the most authoritative is that supplied by King Saint Ferdinand’s historian of the time, Father Gilles de Zamora. We know with certainty that a Christian priest, Don Gínes Pérez Chirinos de Cuenca, traveled amongst the Moors of the Kingdom of Murcia with the purpose of preaching the Gospel. He was captured, however, and brought to the presence of the Moorish King Zeyt-Abu-Zeyt who asked him some questions about certain aspects of the Christian faith. The king particularly wanted to deepen his under-standing of the Mass.

The priest went into detail explaining the importance of the Mass and the king, fascinated by the preaching of the priest, ordered him immediately to celebrate a Mass. Since the priest did not have the necessary equipment for the celebration, the king ordered some of his men to get them from the nearby country of Cuenca, in Christian territory. But still, the Cross, which needed to be present on the altar during a Mass, had been forgotten.

The priest began to celebrate the Mass but, at a certain point, realized the absence of the Cross. He became troubled and stopped. The king asked him why he was so disturbed and the priest told him that he needed a Cross. The king however immediately responded, “Wouldn’t that be it?” In fact, at that moment two angels were placing a Cross upon the altar. The priest was deeply moved and gave thanks to the Lord. He then continued with the glorious celebration.

The miracle continued. At the moment of the consecration, the Muslim king saw a beautiful Baby in the place of the Host Who gazed on him endearingly. After having witnessed the miraculous event, the king and his family converted to Christianity and were baptized. Zeyt-Abu-Zeyt took the name of Vincent and his wife took the name Elena. From that day, the 3rd of March 1231, the country is called Caravaca de la Cruz. Recently, in the jubilee year, the Holy See allowed Caravaca de la Cruz to be the fifth city in the world, after Santiago de Compostela, Santo Toribio de Liebana, Rome and Jerusalem, to celebrate the Perpetual Jubilee (one holy year every seven in perpetuum) in the Sanctuary where the Holy Cross is kept.

Source
 
MIKE46 said:
According to the legend, a Priest was ordered by a Moorish King in Spain to celebrate a Mass so thathe could determine if Christianity was truly from God. The Priest started to celebrate the Mass but realized that there was no cross on the altar. He prayed that a cross would become available and at almost that instant two angels appeared, carrying a cross in and placed it upon the altar. Apparently at the same time a vison of the infant Jesus was seen where the Tabernacle was placed. The Moorish King converted on the spot.

The two angels explain the two angels at the bottom of the cross. It is a very common crucifix that is most prevelent in Spain and Latin American countries.
Click to expand...
Thank you for relating this. 🙂 I learned something beautiful and new.
 
bpbasilphx said:
And why would an atar, presumably set up so Mass could be celebrated thereon, NOT have had a crucifix?
Click to expand...
The variation of the story I heard was that the priest was anxious because there was no crucifix, and he could not celebrate Mass as commanded. It was after prayer that two angels entered through the window transporting the crucifix through mid-air to the altar.
 
Thanks everyone… If anyone has additional information, please share!
 
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