Covering up the Crucifix with flowers?

[arkenbergcn]

Does anyone know if there are any rules that would allow the main Crucifix (over the tabernacle) to be covered up (keeping the cross shape) during Easter with flower decorations? This is something that was done by our decorator and I think it is sacrilegious! Yes, the flowers are pretty, but they do not compare with the beauty of the crucifix. I just can’t understand why any catholic would ever do such a thing especially during Easter. I have spoken to my priest via e-mail and he said it was an oversight, but yet the flowers still remain. This is just crazy. What is happening to my Catholic faith?

 

[Spirithound]

No, there are no rules which specifically allow this.

Also, there is a requirement for a crucifix to be in the sanctuary during Mass.

 

[TheMc]

Does anyone know if there are any rules that would allow the main Crucifix (over the tabernacle) to be covered up (keeping the cross shape) during Easter with flower decorations? This is something that was done by our decorator and I think it is sacrilegious! Yes, the flowers are pretty, but they do not compare with the beauty of the crucifix. I just can’t understand why any catholic would ever do such a thing especially during Easter. I have spoken to my priest via e-mail and he said it was an oversight, but yet the flowers still remain. This is just crazy. What is happening to my Catholic faith?

Is there another crucifix in the sanctuary during Mass? There is a requirement for there to be one during Mass.

Anyways, it sounds like they are trying to protestantism the place. We glory in the cross, no wimper away from it.

 

[arkenbergcn]

There is another small crucifx - it’s the one which is carried in at the beggining of Mass. It is set off the side and is barely visible. Unfortunately, my church is starting to feel very protestant these days, but people don’t seem to mind or they don’t know enough to care.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Is there another crucifix in the sanctuary during Mass? There is a requirement for there to be one during Mass.

Anyways, it sounds like they are trying to protestantism the place. We glory in the cross, no wimper away from it.

It’s one thing to criticize an over-eager, possibly misguided decorator. To say that person has a Protestant agenda (“to protestantism the place” - whatever form of speech that’s supposed to be) really seems a bridge too far.

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Isn’t everything covered up, statues, crucifixes, etc., the last two weeks of Lent?

 

[arkenbergcn]

This was done at the beggining of Easter and as of today the Crucifix was still covered. In my opinion the decorator did this thinking that it made the Church pretty for Easter. I am sure it was done with good intentions. I am just a little dissapointed that this sort of thing has happened and that no one else (especially our priest) did not have a problem with it. Our church is far from being protestant, but covering up a crucifix is definately not a Catholic Easter tradition. In the end it really shows a complete lack of reverence for our Lord and that Catholics have become ignorant to this kind of abuse. I pray for the day when this sort of thing does not happen anymore.

 

[Alix1912]

It’s one thing to criticize an over-eager, possibly misguided decorator. To say that person has a Protestant agenda (“to protestantism the place” - whatever form of speech that’s supposed to be) really seems a bridge too far.

Agreed. Not to mention, just because someone is protestant doesn’t mean they “wimper” away from the cross. I love how whenever something isn’t exactly to a particular parrishoner’s wish with the sanctuary or the worship service in a Catholic Service they immediatly complain that it is too protestant.

 

[TheMc]

Just because someone is protestant doesn’t mean they “wimper” away from the cross. I love how whenever something isn’t exactly to a particular parrishoner’s wish with the sanctuary or the worship service in a Catholic Service they immediatly complain that it is too protestant.

How many protestant “sanctuaries” have crucifixes? I haven’t seen one yet.

 

[Cat]

How many protestant “sanctuaries” have crucifixes? I haven’t seen one yet.

Here you go: gloriadeirockford.org/

A lot of our older Lutheran churches do not have websites, but I’ve been in these buildings and I’m pretty certain that many of them have crucifixes. They are not necessarily front and center, but they are in the church sanctuary (nave).

 

[TheMc]

Here you go: gloriadeirockford.org/

A lot of our older Lutheran churches do not have websites, but I’ve been in these buildings and I’m pretty certain that many of them have crucifixes. They are not necessarily front and center, but they are in the church sanctuary (nave).

Interesting. I’ve never seen a non-catholic church with a crucifix in it.

 

[Alix1912]

Interesting. I’ve never seen a non-catholic church with a crucifix in it.

Most Lutheran Churches in Germany have crucifixes, some even have relics as well. In fact the Altar of the Holy Blood is in a Lutheran Church.

My childhood Lutheran Church’s new processional cross has Christ on it…I’m not sure it’s technically a crucifix though because I think it’s a risen Christ.

My point was that anytime someone who is Catholic doesn’t like the music, or decorations in their church rather than just saying I don;t like the music they played today, or the way they have decorated they say it’s to protestant. Also just because my Lutheran Church has no crucifix, doesn’t mean we wimper away from the cross or what it stands for. That remark was extremely insulting and rude.

 

[TheMc]

Most Lutheran Churches in Germany have crucifixes, some even have relics as well. In fact the Altar of the Holy Blood is in a Lutheran Church.

My childhood Lutheran Church’s new processional cross has Christ on it…I’m not sure it’s technically a crucifix though because I think it’s a risen Christ.

My point was that anytime someone who is Catholic doesn’t like the music, or decorations in their church rather than just saying I don;t like the music they played today, or the way they have decorated they say it’s to protestant. Also just because my Lutheran Church has no crucifix, doesn’t mean we wimper away from the cross or what it stands for. That remark was extremely insulting and rude.

Interesting. I’ve never seen that. I guess it’s just the ones around here. My apologies.

 

[Cat]

Interesting. I’ve never seen that. I guess it’s just the ones around here. My apologies.

The crucifix is actually becoming more common in Protestant churches, and even making its way into evangelical Protestant culture. I haven’t seen it in evangelical Protestant churches yet, but I’ve seen evangelical Protestants wearing or carrying crucifixes.

In recent years, the “emergent” church movement has resulted in a lot of “Catholic” traditional items and traditions being used in evangelical church services. In fact, the anti-Catholic evangelical leaders and radio hosts are denouncing this trend as a “slippery slope back to Rome!” Boy, I sure hope so!

 

[TheMc]

The crucifix is actually becoming more common in Protestant churches, and even making its way into evangelical Protestant culture. I haven’t seen it in evangelical Protestant churches yet, but I’ve seen evangelical Protestants wearing or carrying crucifixes.

In recent years, the “emergent” church movement has resulted in a lot of “Catholic” traditional items and traditions being used in evangelical church services. In fact, the anti-Catholic evangelical leaders and radio hosts are denouncing this trend as a “slippery slope back to Rome!” Boy, I sure hope so!

Cool! This one slippery slope I’ll stand for!