Crosses in Liturgy

  • Thread starter Thread starter SentLarry
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SentLarry

Guest
How do we figure out how many crosses can be in a liturgy at once?

And, Where do we find documentation to support that?
 
40.png
dantheman:
and there should be only one./QUOTE]

I might be paranoid, but I’m wondering if there is something else behind this question. Many parishes have one large fixed crucifix mounted on the wall behind the main altar or suspended under a baldachino or equivalent, and this would be the “one” cross. However, older churches often have small fixed crosses incorporated throughout the sanctuary–in the balustrade of the communion rail, on each side altar, in decorative filigree, etc. I do not think the requirement of “one” cross means that scorched earth renovation is necessary to remove each and every other cross. I love the Benedictines, but I am regularly in battle with many of my monastic friends over so-called “redundancy of symbolism,” by which they argue that communion rails, side altars and decorative works with small crosses must be torn out. I have seen Baroque chapels and churches renovated to the appearance of an abandoned barn all because of “redundancy of symbolism.”

I am not completely inflexible–I do think that “redundancy of symbolism” means that a processional cross should not be placed under or next to the main cross as I often see, and it certainly means that there should not be a small “celebrant’s cross” on the altar.
Click to expand...
 
Keeping to “crosses in liturgy”, I would say there is the alter cross as described already. There is also the processional cross used at Mass.

While not exactly “in liturgy”, tabernacles ususally have a cross at the top, and stations of the cross have a cross as part of the design.
 
If there is an altar cross or another larger cross in the sanctuary. The processional cross should be placed out of sight after the procession.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top