Crucifix at the Altar

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Couldn’t vote because the option is not available on the ballot.

There is NO crucifix, or even cross, hanging either behind or nearby the altar.

There is, however a pole with a crucifix at the top that is processed before the priest for Mass up to the side of the ambo. At the end of Mass, it is processed before the priest on the way back to the door of the church that separates the church “proper” from the narthex where it stays until the next Mass to be processed up to the side of the altar for that Mass.

This fulfills the GIRM’s requirement that there be a CRUCIFIX present at every Mass.

The only problem I have with this is that the crucifix at the top of the pole is so skinny – and made of the same dark wood, both the cross and the corpus – that it is barely distinguishable from the pole, itself.

Plus, the seating in the church is so arranged that it’s possible that the angle of your sight can block your ability to even tell where that pole is if there is anyone standing at the ambo.

I just don’t understand why so many churches seem to want to hide the fact that Jesus died that terrible death for me.

Isn’t that the main point? He could have redeemed me any other way He wanted, of course. He’s God.

Bums me out, too, when “Christians” who are not Catholic but who own a “Christian” bookstore that offers jewelry refuse to have for sale necklaces that have a crucifix on them “because that’s so Catholic that of course we wouldn’t have that here!”

Sigh. Still haven’t found a necklace that has a little empty tomb on it to put across the idea of His resurrection – instead of an empty cross which is only one of many instruments of a tortuous death.

Has anybody here seen any necklaces with an empty tomb on it?
 
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INRI:
Yes, we have a crucifix. The church where I went as a kid had a “Touchdown Jesus”. For those people still confused by the term, here’s a picture:
catholicfamilygifts.com/ProductImages/cross-crucifix/79-02407.jpg
Not to be confused with the following, which may be more indicative of the type of homily you may receive at a parish with a “Touchdown Jesus”. http://www.gwindi.net/images/cl691850b.jpg
Click to expand...
I love this! Thank you for making me laugh!:rotfl: :whacky:
 
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INRI:
Yes, we have a crucifix. The church where I went as a kid had a “Touchdown Jesus”. For those people still confused by the term, here’s a picture:
catholicfamilygifts.com/ProductImages/cross-crucifix/79-02407.jpg
Not to be confused with the following, which may be more indicative of the type of homily you may receive at a parish with a “Touchdown Jesus”. http://www.gwindi.net/images/cl691850b.jpg
Click to expand...
Do I get thrown off these forums if I say I want a “Buddy Chirst” for my desk?
 
“Touchdown Jesus”? Aka, "Ressurexafix?"This may be kind of impious, but when I read that, I dropped on the floor laughing until my sides hurt.:rotfl: 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 😃 :rotfl:

Prester John
 
I attend two churches. The one I really liek ahs a touchdown Jeus (love that term) but without the crucifix. Personally. I think it’s more appropriate to look at a traditional crucifix during mass; particularly during the Eucharistic prayer, but I can appreciate that some people find it more inspirational to think of Jesus as Resurrected. Like Teresa of Avila said, different strokes for different folks, except, of course, she said something more elegant about how we should embrace the passages of the Bible that inspire us most to live a better life, and they will not be the same for everyone.

The Church I really don’t like but attend during inclement weather (because it’s the only Catholic church in my county) has an empty cross. Always makes me think “Protestant.” Of course the priest’s homilies do much to encourage that image too.
 
Here’s one for ya…this is our local parish. I love being able to view both the crucifix & the tabernacle below during the entire mass. 🙂 M

 
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jlw:
Do you have a crucifix above the altar at your parish?? I know this may be a silly question, but some parishes…
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Crusifix all the way. Another smaller crusifix in the “side chapel”. My pastor told me that one of his goals when he came to our parish was to make the church more Catholic.👍
 
Although I do not have a picture of it, Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in Plymouth, PA crucifix has an interesting effect due to its location and the lighting.

It is far enough from the wall that the lights create the illusion of three crucifixes (two of them being shadows). I think I noticed due to the Gospel reading was from Luke and concerned the two thieves being crucified with Jesus.

I found the effect slightly eerie.

PF
 
In our parish, our old building used to have a ‘touchdown’ Jesus, but our new building has a beautiful, larger-than-life crucifix:

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

Which is just above the Tabernacle:

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And this is the view from the foyer:

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Our parish church has the most beautiful, hand-carved crucifix with a life-sized corpus on it. It is very unique - it used to be in the chapel of the major seminary until the archdiocese closed it and sold the property.
Every Sunday my daughter and I go behind the altar and pray he Prayer beneath the Crucifix. There is a large knot on Jesus’ right thigh. I think it just makes it special.
We attended one church a few times that had what I call a “Superman Jesus” mounted behind the altar. Jesue is on one side of the crossbar with His arms raised and his cloak flowing behind Him. Not conducive to prayer or veneration.
 
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MonicaPA:
Here’s one for ya…this is our local parish. I love being able to view both the crucifix & the tabernacle below during the entire mass. 🙂 M

http://www.sthyacinthchurch.org/images/Sanctuary029-adj.lg.jpg
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Monica, I love your Church. It proves that “modern” doesn’t have to equal ugly. All of the furnishishings seem modest too, in terms of cost. Who says that you can’t have beauty or liturgically correct furnishings if you don’t have millions to spend. Wish I had a parish like this near me.
 
We have a large italian mosaic of the risen Christ/Sacred Heart behind the altar (the name of our Parish is Sacred Heart). It was done during a renovation back in the 70’s I think - long before I moved to town.
http://home.catholicweb.com/sacredheartnpohio/images//Mosiac.jpg
From old photos I have seen of the pre-renovation church, I would have preferred the old high altar, but the mosic is pretty.

We have a rather large crucifix that stands next to the altar except during processional/recessional.
 
We have a Risen Christ without a cross. It’s an absolutely beautiful wooden sculpture, but from what I’ve heard I’m pretty sure a crucifix would be, at the very least, more correct in that place.
 
The old altar is still in place in my parish–it’s made of some kind of marble, and in the center there is a crucifix with a statue of Our Lady on one side and another of St. John on the other.
 
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