Crusifixes in church

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CoolKid8900

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There isn’t any crucifixes in our church except for in a room that is being used as a closet . There was one in the office and then they painted and it never got put up, along with the picture of the pope and the bishop. I thought that there had to be a picture of the pope up somewhere.
Another thing is that they don’t use a processional cross during mass, the only carry up the lectionary. Can that happen? Its not because there isn’t any, I know that there is at least 4 processional crosses, and only one has Jesus on it. Every other church in the parish uses one, and they have bodies a body on it. It seems that someone doesn’t like seeing Jesus on the cross. What is this that is going on?
 
CoolKid8900 said:
There isn’t any crucifixes in our church except for in a room that is being used as a closet . There was one in the office and then they painted and it never got put up, along with the picture of the pope and the bishop. I thought that there had to be a picture of the pope up somewhere.
Another thing is that they don’t use a processional cross during mass, the only carry up the lectionary. Can that happen? Its not because there isn’t any, I know that there is at least 4 processional crosses, and only one has Jesus on it. Every other church in the parish uses one, and they have bodies a body on it. It seems that someone doesn’t like seeing Jesus on the cross. What is this that is going on?
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Hopefully, not rehanging the Crucifix was an oversight.
I don’t see how not carrying the processional cross could be an oversight though.

There are some who criticize the Catholic practice of crosses, crucifixes, statues, etc. Hopefully there wasn’t a decision made by someone to humor those folk.

Just send an email to the church and ask.
 
CoolKid8900 said:
There isn’t any crucifixes in our church except for in a room that is being used as a closet . There was one in the office and then they painted and it never got put up, along with the picture of the pope and the bishop. I thought that there had to be a picture of the pope up somewhere.
Another thing is that they don’t use a processional cross during mass, the only carry up the lectionary. Can that happen? Its not because there isn’t any, I know that there is at least 4 processional crosses, and only one has Jesus on it. Every other church in the parish uses one, and they have bodies a body on it. It seems that someone doesn’t like seeing Jesus on the cross. What is this that is going on?
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There is no requirement for a picture of the Pope.

The requirement for the crucifix is that it always be present near the altar during Mass. It must be a true crucifix (cross with corpus). There is no requirement that a processional cross be used either. The instructions for the entrance simply state what is to be sund and how the ministers are to reverence the altar.
 
CoolKid8900 said:
There isn’t any crucifixes in our church except for in a room that is being used as a closet . There was one in the office and then they painted and it never got put up, along with the picture of the pope and the bishop. I thought that there had to be a picture of the pope up somewhere.
Another thing is that they don’t use a processional cross during mass, the only carry up the lectionary. Can that happen? Its not because there isn’t any, I know that there is at least 4 processional crosses, and only one has Jesus on it. Every other church in the parish uses one, and they have bodies a body on it. It seems that someone doesn’t like seeing Jesus on the cross. What is this that is going on?
Click to expand...
My understanding is that there is always supposed to be a Main Crucifix with a Corpse of Christ on the Cross in every Catholic Church. Oddly though there doesn’t seem to be anything that I can find in Canon Law stating this. See here ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur127.htm
 
Here’s a reference that may give answers to your questions:

EWTN.com/library/CURIA/GIRM.HTM#5

Regarding a crucifix, GIRM states: 270. There is also to be a cross, clearly visible to the congregation, either on the altar or near it. I was surprised it doesn’t specify a corpus (body).
 
A crucifix is required in every Catholic church somewhere near the altar. This means a cross with a figure of the crucified Jesus, not just a plain cross. If I were you, I’d look around the next time you go to church, make sure there’s not one, and then voice your concern to the priest. He should place a crucifix near the altar if there is not one already. If he does not, please do write a letter to your bishop.
 
Corki said:
There is no requirement for a picture of the Pope.

The requirement for the crucifix is that it always be present near the altar during Mass. It must be a true crucifix (cross with corpus). There is no requirement that a processional cross be used either. The instructions for the entrance simply state what is to be sund and how the ministers are to reverence the altar.
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To the OP: please be sure that you are correct about there not being a crucifix near the altar in your parish church. If there really isn’t, politely ask your priest why.

Have you been a member of this parish long? If there is painting and remodeling being done, it may be that they are waiting for everything to be finished to rehang the crucifix. However something should be used for Mass in the meantime (ie, placing a processional cross in a stand near the altar).

Depending on what your priest says, you may want to write to the bishop. If crucifixes are placed correctly in other parishes in the diocese, hopefully its just that this parish is in transition from the painting.
 
PattiDay said:
Here’s a reference that may give answers to your questions:

EWTN.com/library/CURIA/GIRM.HTM#5

Regarding a crucifix, GIRM states: 270. There is also to be a cross, clearly visible to the congregation, either on the altar or near it. I was surprised it doesn’t specify a corpus (body).
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Actually, the GIRM does specify a crucifix and not just a cross. It’s just in a different part of the GIRM - the part “Things to be prepared”.
  1. The altar is to be covered with at least one white cloth. In addition,
    on or next to the altar are to be placed candlesticks with lighted candles: at
    least two in any celebration, or even four or six, especially for a Sunday
    Mass or a Holyday of Obligation, or if the Diocesan Bishop celebrates, then
    seven candlesticks with lighted candles. Likewise, on the altar or close to it,
    there is to be a cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified    .
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There are absolutely no crucifixes in the sanctuary, I know the church very well. I found a alter cross in the closet and i know that there is another one somewhere… so we do have some, its just not being used. Im going to asks someone about this.
 
babylonsfalling said:
Hopefully, not rehanging the Crucifix was an oversight.
I don’t see how not carrying the processional cross could be an oversight though.

There are some who criticize the Catholic practice of crosses, crucifixes, statues, etc. Hopefully there wasn’t a decision made by someone to humor those folk.

Just send an email to the church and ask.
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Someone found a nice statue of Saint Anne that was stuffed in a closet and we were sneaky and put it out and no one said anythin, we are thinking of doing the same with the pictures and that cross.
 
CoolKid8900 said:
Someone found a nice statue of Saint Anne that was stuffed in a closet and we were sneaky and put it out and no one said anythin, we are thinking of doing the same with the pictures and that cross.
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Don’t be sneaky with the crucifix. Just ask Father why one isn’t near the altar. Depending on his response, you should write your bishop.
 
I wouldn’t be sneaky about the alter crucifix, but we may put the one that was in the office back up because it doesn’t really matter, that better that it sitting in a closet. I’m going to ask the priest about it next week. We actually had the bishop to say mass this morning, he didn’t seem to notice or care that there was not a actual crucifix for the alter. I feel that the people in charge of this stuff don’t like traditional things, the only time that something traditional goes up it was donated by someone who died.
 
CoolKid8900 said:
I wouldn’t be sneaky about the alter crucifix, but we may put the one that was in the office back up because it doesn’t really matter, that better that it sitting in a closet. I’m going to ask the priest about it next week. We actually had the bishop to say mass this morning, he didn’t seem to notice or care that there was not a actual crucifix for the alter. I feel that the people in charge of this stuff don’t like traditional things, the only time that something traditional goes up it was donated by someone who died.
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The thing about it is, it’s not “traditional.” It’s the command of the Church. People…
 
I know that. but that’s what they think, its too bloody or something, even though it central to our faith that the Lord died on a cross.
 
Note also that the crucifix may be in icon crucifix (2D instead of 3D) such as the San Damiano Crucifix which is popularized by St. Francis of Assisi. As long as there is an image of the crucified Christ whether in 2D or 3D, its acceptable. Maybe there’s an icon crucifix but you’re not considering it a crucifix because its 2D?
 
centurionguard said:
My understanding is that there is always supposed to be a Main Crucifix with a Corpse of Christ on the Cross in every Catholic Church. Oddly though there doesn’t seem to be anything that I can find in Canon Law stating this. See here ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur127.htm
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It’s not in the CIC. It is in the guidelines for new construction, which is part of the enforceable codes of the church, and also in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
 
This is why I really like the church I currently attend on weekdays whenever I can: The entire redros is a huge crucifix. The wooden crucifix itself is easily fifteen feet high, with an approximately ten foot corpus of Jesus on it, in lifelike coloration. There are gold colored rays emanating in every direction around the entire crucifix. The redros itself is constructed of heavily veined midtone to dark green marble. The wrought iron communion rail topped with oak is still in place. I would describe the church’s overall style as vaguely Romanesque to Art Nouveau, it was constructed in the late 1800s. It is not extremely ornate, although there are traditional statues and stained glass windows. It has what I would describe as very “clean” lines, solid, substantial, everything necessary, and nothing superfluous.

The effect is incredibly dramatic, and leaves absolutely no question in your mind that this is indeed a Catholic church. You would have to literally be legally blind to miss it: Jesus, and His mission of salvation, is right there, in your face. You can’t mistake the purpose of the building.

If I can figure out how to reverently grab a picture of it, I will post it.
 
so does it count if there is a window with Jesus on the cross, like half was down the aisle on the side that isn’t the same side of the alter?
 
CoolKid8900 said:
so does it count if there is a window with Jesus on the cross, like half was down the aisle on the side that isn’t the same side of the alter?
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If there is a stained glass of Jesus on the cross at the back wall of the sanctuary, that would be acceptable. Its its in another location of the church and there are no other crucifixes in the area of the altar, then it is not acceptable.
 
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