Corpus CHristi without Cross?

[babydoc]

Recently my parish has been undergoing some renovations. Now the life size Christ figure is suspended from the ceiling in the sanctuary by a thick cable but without the cross. My daughter asked my “Why Jesus was being lynched”. I was reminded of the Jehovah witnesses who maintain Jesus was executed on a 'torture stick". Whatever the reason, it is very disturbing to me and other faithful laity.

Am I off base? I have written a charitable letter to the pastor, who seems to think it is liturgically all right, from what other parishioners have told me.

I asked an Apologist but have not received a reply. I know they have a lot of questions to sort through.

Thoughts??

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I am very familar with your Diocese. My guess is that it is a more modern representation that someone thought was better, so as not to make the space to “churchy”.
While very sad, it is also true of much of the “renovation” that has taken place in Rochester.

Recently my parish has been undergoing some renovations. Now the life size Christ figure is suspended from the ceiling in the sanctuary by a thick cable but without the cross. My daughter asked my “Why Jesus was being lynched”. I was reminded of the Jehovah witnesses who maintain Jesus was executed on a 'torture stick". Whatever the reason, it is very disturbing to me and other faithful laity.

Am I off base? I have written a charitable letter to the pastor, who seems to think it is liturgically all right, from what other parishioners have told me.

I asked an Apologist but have not received a reply. I know they have a lot of questions to sort through.

Thoughts??

 

[dailey]

There is a HUGE Catholic church that was recently built near my house. I was excited to attend mass and see the inside…and was shocked at what I saw. The foyer was very large with lots of couches, a book store, and lots of people standing around chatting.

The inside of the church has the same Christ figure suspended in the air. I had never seen anything like it…it was weird. The priest was very modern and interacted with parishoners. I could not WAIT to go back to my traditional parish…never again will I stray.

 

[JeffersonD]

I was talking to one of my priest friends about this very thing. He’s a relatively new priest going on his third year of ordination. He calls all modern churches spaceships because they lack things that make a church a church.

 

[Batfink]

Is it supposed to be a representation of the crucifixion but without a cross? This would be worrying.

Or is it a representation of the Risen Christ? This is perfectly legitimate. It is obviously a different emphasis from a crucifix, but still a reasonable piece of devotional art for a church to display.

In the second case, there should also be a crucifix present for Mass and preferably permanently. GIRM 308:

“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, in answer to your question. If this is indeed a representation of Christ in some other form than at the crucifixion, then as long as there is also a crucifix on or near the altar (at the very least during the celebration of Mass) then it is ok.

In answer to Dailey, I have been to plenty of churches with such an arrangement (as I describe above rather than couches and a book shop) and found good, orthodox clergy and parishioners. The statue of the Risen Christ may be favoured by some Modernists, but it can also used by faithful Catholics, the presence of such a statue in itself, if the rest of the church looked ‘standard’, wouldn’t concern me.

 

[Sheepdog77]

More changes are on the way, of this I am certain. Stay vigilant, if something happens that you aren’t altogether comfortable with or sure of then ask questions. There is a voice, at this very moment in our history, crying out in the wilderness. Our personal state in grace and in union with Christ has never been more important than it is about to be. This post is in no way meant to be argumentative nor was it meant to open any debates. I’m just saying it is okay to have legitimate questions concerning your faith and to ask those questions of the men in whose hands you’ve placed your eternal soul.

Veritas Semper Serviam

 

[puzzleannie]

Recently my parish has been undergoing some renovations. Now the life size Christ figure is suspended from the ceiling in the sanctuary by a thick cable but without the cross. My daughter asked my “Why Jesus was being lynched”. I was reminded of the Jehovah witnesses who maintain Jesus was executed on a 'torture stick". Whatever the reason, it is very disturbing to me and other faithful laity.

Am I off base? I have written a charitable letter to the pastor, who seems to think it is liturgically all right, from what other parishioners have told me.

I asked an Apologist but have not received a reply. I know they have a lot of questions to sort through.

Thoughts??

yes I know the church, I too was shocked the first time I saw it
(or at least I know of another church that has this in another Texas diocese)
if this were my diocese I would ask the bishop about it, he will probably refer you to the priest in charge of liturgy and worship. YOu did the right thing by simply asking the priest first. I know there have been other complaints but don’t know if anyone has formally approached the bishop. Technically if the processional cross is a real crucifix that suffices, but I still find the image disturbing but have no church document to back up my reaction.

the church in my current parish of residence has a risen Christ figure above the altar, sans cross, but the processional cross is a proper crucifix.

 

[laszlo]

Technically if the processional cross is a real crucifix that suffices, but I still find the image disturbing but have no church document to back up my reaction.
.

The GIRM says that the cross shall be part of the furnishing of the altar.

V. Altar Furnishings

1. There is also to be a cross, clearly visible to the congregation, either on the altar or near it.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/GIRM.HTM

 

[babydoc]

The hanging Jesus is not a RIsen Christ, but a suffering Christ. He is just off the crucifix and hanging by a cable to his back,

I am not trying to be argumentative, I am just very disturbed by the suffering Christ without the cross. Maybe that is the liturgical goal??

 

[laszlo]

The hanging Jesus is not a RIsen Christ, but a suffering Christ. He is just off the crucifix and hanging by a cable to his back,

I am not trying to be argumentative, I am just very disturbed by the suffering Christ without the cross. Maybe that is the liturgical goal??

I believe the goal is simple a social engineering to kill the meaning of the symbols. This is behind the rising Christ on the cross, and this is behind Christ w/o cross. Anything just to tell with tell : The past is over, new word order will run the world.

We are praying and waiting for the ‘You won, Galilaeae’.