Placement of Processional Cross?

[Daprato]

At my parish we have a wonderful large crucifix with corpus hanging on the wall behind the altar, above the credence table. Because of this, the “liturgy director” (layperson) demands that we put the processional crucifix at the bottom of a stairwell leading to the sacristy citing:

GIRM 122 “…The cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified and perhaps carried in procession may be placed next to the altar to serve as the altar cross, in which case it ought to be the only cross used; otherwise it is put away in a dignified place…”

I take exception to her reasoning for two reasons. First, the bottom of a stairwell is not a “dignified place” – the processional crucifix is still clearly visible to the faithful and it appears as if someone has tried to “hide” it when it is placed there.

Second, it doesn’t appear the processional crucifix needs to be put away in a dignified place unless there is already a crucifix on the altar. Does the crucifix hanging on the wall demand the processional crucifix be hidden or would this only be true if a crucifix was actually sitting on the altar? The GIRM is not specific:

GIRM 308. 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.

 

[benedictgal]

At my parish we have a wonderful large crucifix with corpus hanging on the wall behind the altar, above the credence table. Because of this, the “liturgy director” (layperson) demands that we put the processional crucifix at the bottom of a stairwell leading to the sacristy citing:

GIRM 122 “…The cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified and perhaps carried in procession may be placed next to the altar to serve as the altar cross, in which case it ought to be the only cross used; otherwise it is put away in a dignified place…”

I take exception to her reasoning for two reasons. First, the bottom of a stairwell is not a “dignified place” – the processional crucifix is still clearly visible to the faithful and it appears as if someone has tried to “hide” it when it is placed there.

Second, it doesn’t appear the processional crucifix needs to be put away in a dignified place unless there is already a crucifix on the altar. Does the crucifix hanging on the wall demand the processional crucifix be hidden or would this only be true if a crucifix was actually sitting on the altar? The GIRM is not specific:

GIRM 308. 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.

At my old parish, we would bring in the processional cross and replace it on its holder in the sacristy. In my new parish, it is placed on a stand next to where the choir sits (we don’t have a choir loft).

A good rule of thumb is to see how it’s done during Papal Masses. Having seen quite a few of them (on TV) now that Benedict is pope, I believe that the processional cross is placed at a dignified location away from the altar. There is already a crucifix to the left of the altar. When he celebrates Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the crucifix is next to the Altar of the Confession (the altar at which the Pope celebrates Mass). However, the processional cross is not on display.

 

[jpoii]

There is only to be one crucifix in the sanctuary during mass. In most places, that I am familiar with it is the procession crucifix is the only one in the church and they place it near the alter during mass. Others churches that have a crucifix in the sanctuary the cross bearer will take it off to a side chapel or if there is a wall behind the alter they tend to put it there. The large crucifix hanging on the wall or from the roof can be used for the one that is supposed to be near since germ does not specify exactly how close it is to be so long as it is close and visible.

 

[Daprato]

At my old parish, we would bring in the processional cross and replace it on its holder in the sacristy. In my new parish, it is placed on a stand next to where the choir sits (we don’t have a choir loft).

A good rule of thumb is to see how it’s done during Papal Masses. Having seen quite a few of them (on TV) now that Benedict is pope, **I believe that the processional cross is placed at a dignified location away from the altar. ** There is already a crucifix to the left of the altar. When he celebrates Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the crucifix is next to the Altar of the Confession (the altar at which the Pope celebrates Mass). However, the processional cross is not on display.

That sounds like a real good rule of thumb and that’s what we do here but it gets some people very upset. Anyone happen to notice what they do at the daily televised EWTN Mass?

 

[John_Lilburne]

I find the liturgical books confusing on this point.

It seems that there should be a cross in a central place in the body of the church. From the Book of Blessings:
“1238 … the blessing of the principal cross that occupies a central place in the body of the church where the worshipping community assembles.”

The Ceremonial of Bishops has: “129 It is preferable that the processional cross be placed near the altar and serve as the altar cross; otherwise it is put away.”

So it sounds as though there should be two crosses for a cathedral. A central principal cross for when assembling. A different altar cross to be carried in procession. But there is nothing specific saying this. It only mentions one cross to be incensed, for example.

Where should the altar cross go? In most parts of the GIRM it seems to be near the altar. For example:
“122. … The cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified and perhaps carried in procession may be placed next to the altar to serve as the altar cross, …”.
“188. … Upon reaching the altar, the acolyte places the cross upright near the altar so that it may serve as the altar cross; otherwise, he puts it in a worthy place.”
Other parts of the GIRM say it can be on the altar:
“308. 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.”
But this part of the GIRM seems to say that there does not need to be a cross either on or near the altar:
“277. … The cross, if situated on or near the altar, is incensed by the priest before he incenses the altar; otherwise, he incenses it when he passes in front of it.”

So the argument can be made that there are to be two crosses: a principal central cross and an altar cross. The argument can also be made that there is to be only one cross used and only one cross incensed.

References:
Ceremonial of Bishops, Liturgical Press, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1818-9, page 52, n. 129.
Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 455.
2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html