Portrayals of Catholics in Manga

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Hello, I am new to the boards. I am a Protestant who is doing research on portrayals of Christians in manga. Many of those portrayals incorporate highly imaginative interpretations of Catholics and the Catholic faith, turning Christianity into a kind of magical faith. Unlike the darkly ironic and skeptical portrayals of Christians often seen in American comics, most manga portray Christianity without ill-will, even if such portrayals render the faith unrecognizable.

Manga artists often play rather loosely with traditional Catholic imagery because of their limited knowledge of Catholicism. Being a Protestant, I, too, have a rather limited knowledge. I have a fair number of questions that may seem terribly basic to life-long Catholics, but I would greatly appreciate any help board members could give.

My first question is related to a manga by Sumiko Amakawa called Cross. In one image on the first page of the first volume, a young priest holds a crucifix on a long pole. I was wondering 1. Is there a name for this kind of crucifix? 2. What position would a priest need to hold in order to carry such an object?
 
Welcome

Your questions are welcomed

I am afraid I cannot help you as I am not understanding what you are asking???

Is there anyway that you can provide a picture or a link to a picture.

Others may understand and I am curious about the the answer.
 
Thank you. I will post a picture later. I can scan the image in question from home.

Or not. . 😦
 
I did a Google search of Pope and crucifix and it came up with images that are similar to that in the manga, at least size-wise, so maybe it is just a crucifix, though I generally picture a crucifix as not having such a long end.
 
It sounds like you’re talking about a processional cross? Google images of a processional cross to see what I’m talking about.

Anyways, a priest would not carry a processional cross in the first place. A processional cross is for the altar server to carry during the procession into the church for Mass.

Also, there aren’t really special “positions” in the priesthood, unless you count monsignor or bishop as “special positions.” But neither have anything to do with some special privilege to handle any sort of holy object.

As a Catholic, I also am rather amused by how they portray Christians in manga. The Japanese seem rather mystified by our religion, like it’s some kind of secret cult.
 
Maltee said:
It sounds like you’re talking about a processional cross? Google images of a processional cross to see what I’m talking about.

Anyways, a priest would not carry a processional cross in the first place. A processional cross is for the altar server to carry during the procession into the church for Mass.

Also, there aren’t really special “positions” in the priesthood, unless you count monsignor or bishop as “special positions.” But neither have anything to do with some special privilege to handle any sort of holy object.

As a Catholic, I also am rather amused by how they portray Christians in manga. The Japanese seem rather mystified by our religion, like it’s some kind of secret cult.
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That’s it. Thanks. I also appreciate your patience.

Is the crucifix the Pope often holds called something else?
 
Ijiwaru_Sensei said:
I did a Google search of Pope and crucifix and it came up with images that are similar to that in the manga, at least size-wise, so maybe it is just a crucifix, though I generally picture a crucifix as not having such a long end.
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I just saw this post. If you are specifically talking about the staff-like cross that the pope carries, that is called the ferula or just simply “the papal cross” or “papal staff.” It is similar in role to a bishop’s crozier, which is shaped like a shepherd’s staff. The pastoral staff is a sign of their special positions in the church as “shepherds” of God’s flock.

A priest does not have a special kind of pastoral staff - that is only for bishops, abbots of monasteries, and the pope. I hope this answers your question.

Again, it’s different from a processional cross which is held by the altar server during Mass.
 
That is exactly what I was look for. Thank you.

So this particular manga can’t get past the first page before including something to make Catholics shake their heads and confuse us poor hapless Protestants. 😉
 
As others have said, there is the processional cross (in fact, usually if not always a crucifix) carried by an alter server for the processions to and from the alter just before and just after mass, and left standing near the alter during mass. Also the Pope uses something similar instead of a crosier. I don’t know of a circumstance in which an ordinary priest would be likely to carry one.

I must say I sort of like when the popular culture portrays Catholicism as the great adversary of the powers of darkness, even though such portrayals are rarely accurate. Exorcism movies are an example. There seems to be a recognition even in the popular culture that the Catholic Church is really the authority on these subjects. And of course the richness of traditional Catholic imagery is no doubt an influence.

That said these things can also cross the line from unrealistic to blasphemous. Was this cross being used as a weapon or as a sort of wizard’s staff? In such a case I would not approve at all.
 
It actually was being used as an establishing image for the first story in the series and stands apart from the actual narrative. The priest is simply holding the processional cross. at a 35 degree angle while striking a bit of a pose; his left hand is placed palm down over the top of the cross while his right hand holds the base. The priest also wears a thick long chain around his neck that has a crucifix attached.

The processional cross itself is very ornate and highly stylized. Instead of a crossbeam, the figure of Christ has his arms outstretched in front of what appears to be angel wings. A snake like pattern curls around the handle from the feet of the Christ figure to the priest’s right hand.
 
I will eventually post a picture once my trial period is finished.
 
Dear Ijiwaru,

As long as you’re here, I would like to invite you to join the Catholic Church. As a Protestant Christian, you already believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, so why not consider if the one Church He personally founded is not the rightful spiritual home for yourself and for all of mankind?

My best regards to you and wishes for a happy Christmas season.
 
Maltee said:
As a Catholic, I also am rather amused by how they portray Christians in manga. The Japanese seem rather mystified by our religion, like it’s some kind of secret cult.
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That wasn,t always the case.
 
Ijiwaru_Sensei said:
It actually was being used as an establishing image for the first story in the series and stands apart from the actual narrative. The priest is simply holding the processional cross. at a 35 degree angle while striking a bit of a pose; his left hand is placed palm down over the top of the cross while his right hand holds the base. The priest also wears a thick long chain around his neck that has a crucifix attached.

The processional cross itself is very ornate and highly stylized. Instead of a crossbeam, the figure of Christ has his arms outstretched in front of what appears to be angel wings. A snake like pattern curls around the handle from the feet of the Christ figure to the priest’s right hand.
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Sounds pretty blasphemous to me.

:mad:
 
fkjuliano said:
Dear Ijiwaru,

As long as you’re here, I would like to invite you to join the Catholic Church. As a Protestant Christian, you already believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, so why not consider if the one Church He personally founded is not the rightful spiritual home for yourself and for all of mankind?

My best regards to you and wishes for a happy Christmas season.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the kind invitation. However, my joining, or not joining, the Catholic Church is a whole other discussion, one that would be better for me to have after I’ve learned a bit more.
 
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