How important to Catholics is the Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross for the forgiveness of sin? I would say it is of the utmost importance to Catholics. Reminders of his death on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins are everywhere in Catholicism. Crosses and crucifixes (crosses with an image of Jesus Christ) are common features in and outside Catholic buildings and homes. Just about everything Catholics do (prayers, blessings, anointings, etc.) incorporates a pattern of the Cross. When Catholics pray, they typically begin and/or end by crossing themselves, tracing a cross pattern with their hand over their body while invoking the name of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Catholics sometimes do this while holding their thumb and fingers themselves in the form of a cross. Upon entering a Catholic church, Catholics typically cross themselves with holy water while invoking the name of the Trinity, to remind themselves of their own baptism when they obtained forgiveness of their sins through Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross. Each Mass begins with everyone crossing themselves while invoking the name of the Trinity and, at the final blessing at the conclusion of the Mass, a bishop, priest or deacon blesses the congregation, moving his hand up and down and side to side over them in the pattern of the Cross, while invoking the name of the Trinity.
As another poster has mentioned often a large crucifix is prominently displayed in Catholic churches. I just wanted to add that even the churches buildings themselves are often purposely constructed with a floor plan in the shape of a cross.
The Stations of the Cross and the Rosary are probably two of the most popular Catholic prayer-meditations. The Stations of the Cross includes fourteen prayer-meditations on Jesus Christ’s pre-crucifixion sufferings, and his crucifixion, death and burial. Sometimes a fifteenth prayer-meditation on Jesus Christ’s resurrection is also included. The Stations of the Cross are especially popular among Catholics during the pre-Easter season of Lent. Catholic churches typically have depictions of each of the fourteen stations of the Cross placed at intervals along their interior walls so that, by pausing briefly to pray and meditate before each representation in succession, Catholics can, in a sense, walk the *Via Dolorosa *with Jesus Christ to Calvary. Each of the fourteen prayer-mediations typically begins with this prayer:
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The Rosary includes fifteen or twenty prayer-meditations (also called mysteries) on various events in the earthly and heavenly life of Jesus Christ, including his death on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins. Rosary beads, often used to help keep track of the various prayers and meditations, typically have a small crucifix attached to it. Catholics typically cross themselves with this small crucifix while invoking the name of the Trinity at the beginning and end of the Rosary. Each prayer-mediation of the Rosary typically ends with the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us your sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy.
One of the typical concluding prayers of the Rosary is:
O God, Whose only-begotten Son, by His Life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech You, that, meditating upon these Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thanks!