Is there a Crucifix in your Church?

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I’ve been inside two new churches built within the last year in my area. Both have HUGE crucifixes right in the middle of the sanctuary. Much bigger than life size, I’d say at least 3 times life size. (Both were carved by the same artist, though the corpus varies slightly.) I guess they didn’t want any doubt that they were in conformity with the rules. 😉
 
My wife and I visited the local Catholic Church on our vacation in Branson, MO and it was very odd. This was the second week of Advent and no wreath. Also no crucifix in the church, only the Glorified Jesus which was behind you.

Didn’t fee much at all like a Catholic church, but it was all we had on our vacation. I never felt better when we got back, lol.
 
Our parish has 4 in the sanctuary alone. The big crucifix behind the altar, the processional cross, a small crucifix on the altar, and a wooden crucifix next to it. Then there’s the 4 ft San Damiano crucifix in the hall. No touchdown Jesus anywhere! 🙂
 
My current parish is the most beautiful church. We have actually a painting of the crucifixion behind the altar, Jesus looking up in sorrow, His eyes to heaven, with Mary and a few disciples at his feet praying. It’s quite beautifully painted. Above that, almost to the ceiling, is another painting of Jesus in a red robe surrounded by clouds and angels, his arms outstretched. Also very nice. The actual ceiling is painted with small pictures of the saints. There’s nothing at the back of the church though, except the confessionals. There’s a large Last Supper picture downstairs in the church hall, though. 🙂
 
stbruno said:
usccb.org/liturgy/livingstonesind.shtml
This is the document from the Catholic Bishops of the US regarding art and environment. Please check it out.
Click to expand...

I did and here’s what I found:

The Cross
§ 91 § The cross with the image of Christ crucified is a reminder of Christ’s paschal mystery. It draws us into the mystery of suffering and makes tangible our belief that our suffering when united with the passion and death of Christ leads to redemption. There should be a crucifix “positioned either on the altar or near it, and . . . clearly visible to the people gathered there.” Since a crucifix placed on the altar and large enough to be seen by the congregation might well obstruct the view of the action taking place on the altar, other alternatives may be more appropriate. The crucifix may be suspended over the altar or affixed to the sanctuary wall. A processional cross of sufficient size, placed in a stand visible to the people following the entrance procession is another option. If the processional cross is to be used for this purpose, the size and weight of the cross should not preclude its being carried in procession. If there is already a cross in the sanctuary, the processional cross is placed out of view of the congregation following the procession.

I’ll have to see if the processional cross my church uses is of sufficient size to be seen.

Mike
 
stbruno said:
usccb.org/liturgy/livingstonesind.shtml
This is the document from the Catholic Bishops of the US regarding art and environment. Please check it out.
Click to expand...

It should be noted that this document has no official authority in the Church. It was produced by a USCCB committee but never approved by a majority of the bishops or the Vatican. The document presents only guidelines, not rules.
 
The Mass is a sacrifice, the sacrifice needs to be shown; Calvary. The “crucifix” of the risen Lord is inappropriate for the Mass, because it does not represent the sacrifice. The Rubrics state that there must be a crucifix of the dieing Christ on or near the altar.
 
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larryo:
It should be noted that this document has no official authority in the Church. It was produced by a USCCB committee but never approved by a majority of the bishops or the Vatican. The document presents only guidelines, not rules.
Click to expand...
But the section in question is a direct quote from the GIRM.
 
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snowgarden:
We have the resurrected Christ, with the cross behind him, reaching his arms out to us like an invitation to come to Him. A saying “To serve Him is to reign” is on the marble around Him. I remember the Church was built in the late 60’s and our pastor was so proud of it.
Click to expand...
My comment is that this sort of art work does not conform to G.I.R.M.

Anyone knows a Catholic Church has to have a Crucifix.

The pastor who liked it is remanicent of Catholics who want to act like Protestants. Why, I will never know.
 
My Church has a life-size free-standing crucifix when you walk into the body of the Church, it’s actually right across from where you stand in line for Confesssion. Then we have a gold or brass Crucifix about two feet tall above the Tabernacle. Above the Altar is Jesus on the Cross in Stained Glass. There is also the procession cross that stays next to the pulpit during Mass. So you could say my church has 4 Crucifix’s.
 
Hey Mike - let me know if you have any ideas on how to get a crucifix in your church. We are building a new one and I’m fearful of what we’re going to end up with.

Can anyone tell me what a ‘touch-down’ Jesus crucifix is? I’ve heard this mentioned a few times but don’t think I’ve seen one.
 
I think a" touchdown Jesus" is the same as what is sometimes referred to as a" flying Jesus". My previous Parish built a new church and there was no Crucifix just a Jesus NOT on a cross but looked like he was hovering above the Altar. They only had the Processional Cross up at the Altar during Mass.
 
We have an unusual setup in that there is normally a “normal” corpus on the cross, but they can take it off and use the TD optional corpus rising from the cross durring Easter… (I guess it came as a set.). It is of course augmented by the processional crucifix.
 
The GIRM also says, in Chapter 5, Section 3
  1. Code: 
       There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations.
Click to expand...
Again, nothing about it being fixed, and nothing excluding others.
 
In the church behind the altar, there is an ornate Jerusalem cross similar to what is depicted here.

http://www.gospels.org/images/jcrosscc.jpg

As far as a crucifix, we have a processional crucifix that rests in front of the Jerusalem cross. I don’t like it personally, because the cross is so much bigger than the corpus.
 
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