Crucified Jesus vs. Risen Jesus on the Cross

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Our church has a Risen Jesus on the cross above the altar. When I asked our pastor if we are required to display a crucifix instead, he insisted that the Risen Jesus on the cross is a crucifix. What is the proper definition of crucifix? Can a “crucifix” contain a Risen Jesus, or must it have a Crucified Jesus?
 
A Crucifix, by definition, has the crucified body of Jesus on the Cross.

from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, (The book the Bishops wrote to elaborate upon the Missal) no. 308
  1. Likewise, either on the altar or near it, there is to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, a cross clearly visible to the assembled people. It is desirable that such a cross should remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations, so as to call to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord.
 
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I believe in our old church we also had the Risen Jesus. Our new church has the San Damiano cross. (I believe that is the correct name.)
 
I’ve seen both.

Generally behind the altar on the wall, a cross with the risen Christ.

However, at the altar itself, the Crucifix with the figure of Christ crucified on it.

Jim
 
The GIRM calls for a crucifix during Mass, but I believe the processional cross would suffice.
  1. Likewise, either on the altar or near it, there is to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, a cross clearly visible to the assembled people. It is desirable that such a cross should remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations, so as to call to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord.
 
kburkot said:
Our church has a Risen Jesus on the cross above the altar. When I asked our pastor if we are required to display a crucifix instead, he insisted that the Risen Jesus on the cross is a crucifix. What is the proper definition of crucifix? Can a “crucifix” contain a Risen Jesus, or must it have a Crucified Jesus?
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By definition, a crucifix has an image of Christ crucified.

There is no prohibition against an image of the Resurrection, but there is a strict obligation (a “must”) to have at least one Crucifix somewhere on or near the altar, and clearly visible.
 
That’s one of my beefs in our parish. The cross on the sanctuary wall is has a Risen Christ. There is a crucifix on the altar but nobody but the celebrant sees it because it’s tiny and reclining.

Now we come to the processional cross. When it was purchased, to replace the dilapidated one we’d been using, it was purchased with a Risen Christ. When the reaction of a few members of the liturgy team was a sputturing “But, but, but we NEED a CRUCIFIX!!” the group who had bought it ordered a Crucified Christ upper section. But because they spent money on it, and the person who ordered it is also the person who sets up the church for Mass, the Risen Christ makes His appearance for at least the Easter season, leaving us without a visible crucifix during that time.
 
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I do love a cross with a risen Jesus… The Resurrection was, after all, the most impressive and important thing Jesus did for us.
 
Our Church has the Risen Christ above the altar and I prefer it. When we have Mass, the altar servers carry in a processional cross with the Crucified Jesus and put it in front of and beside the altar where it’s prominent and can be seen by everyone during the Mass.
 
I am not criticizing the Risen Christ type of Crosses, but I do see why the Church recommends the Crucified Christ.
Christ suffered and expired Crucified on the Cross. He was buried. He resurrected from the tomb. This is what the NT says and also the Creed (Apostolic and Nicaenian). The resurrected Christ on the Cross does not have much ground since He did not resurrect on the Cross or off the Cross.
The only way I can understand the Risen Christ Cross is as a welcoming of Christ to join Him on the Cross. So I see it more near the entrance of the Church, He welcomes us to His Cross. But on the altar I find that even some of the depictions are quite disturbing (like very realistic) the Crucified Christ is more fitted.
 
Our church has a crucified Christ on the cross with stained glass behind it. Our pastor has pointed to it during homilies to remind us that we need to go through the cross (Both that of Jesus and also our own personal sufferings) in order to go to heaven (the light shining behind our crucifix).(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
godisgood77 said:
I do love a cross with a risen Jesus… The Resurrection was, after all, the most impressive and important thing Jesus did for us.
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Jesus rose from the tomb. He did not rise from the cross. I don’t like the Risen Jesus on the cross. It completely misrepresents the death and Resurrection in my opinion.
 
Christ was indeed risen following his death on the cross, so as long as the risen Christ is depicted as nailed to the cross, with the wounds of the nails and lance, there should be no argument, because the risen and glorified body of Christ does not deny the crucifixtion…800 years of Franciscan thought is not counter to Curch theology.
 
kburkot said:
Our church has a Risen Jesus on the cross above the altar.
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So, you put the risen Jesus back on the cross?

Do you not believe the Bible’s teaching that Christ rose, ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father?
 
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no arguement… what?

I simply posted the relevant passage from the GIRM concerning the placement of a crucifix in a Catholic church.
 
I have not seen this persons church, but in most cases Christ is placed in a way showing his triumph over the Cross… jusxaposing the Cross and the risen Christ is a way to show how death had no victory over Jesus.
 
Maximilian75 said:
I have not seen this persons church, but in most cases Christ is placed in a way showing his triumph over the Cross… jusxaposing the Cross and the risen Christ is a way to show how death had no victory over Jesus.
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So, the “risen Christ on the cross” is not actually Christ on the cross?

Wouldn’t the best way to show that death had no victory over Jesus be to affirm the Biblical teaching that Jesus rose, ascended to Heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father?
 
Understood…GIRM like Canon Law cannot always be reduced to the black and white text…there are many gray areas that do not constitute willful or intentional or real violation…same even goes for Scriptural interpretation…Saint Augustine once said (paraphrased) that even if one misinterprets scripture, as long as it was with all due charity, and not with malice, no harm is done.
 
no it is… something like this, probably

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

and we do affirm that. From the Creed, recited at every Mass-

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
 
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