Removal of crucifix during Easter

[VietCatholic83]

Do any of your parishes remove the crucifix from the sanctuary during the Easter season? My parish has the habit of replacing it with a plain cross adorned with white flowers and such. The explanation I received was that it’s because “Jesus is Risen and Easter is a happy time so we temporarily remove the image of the dying Christ”. To me this demonstrates a GRAVE misunderstanding of the theology of the Mass and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. If anything, the image of the crucified Lord should take on an even greater significance during Easter. I guess on the bright side, they only do this until Pentecost and then things return to “normal.” I feel bad for those churches with full-time “resurrectifixes” or whatever they’re called. I can’t help but feel that my parish is actively trying to push Jesus out the door! First they moved the tabernacle into a little side closet they call a chapel, they orient the pews so we’re sitting in a circle, and then for Easter they hid the image of Christ. sigh*

 

[YADA]

Do any of your parishes remove the crucifix from the sanctuary during the Easter season? My parish has the habit of replacing it with a plain cross adorned with white flowers and such. The explanation I received was that it’s because “Jesus is Risen and Easter is a happy time so we temporarily remove the image of the dying Christ”. To me this demonstrates a GRAVE misunderstanding of the theology of the Mass and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. If anything, the image of the crucified Lord should take on an even greater significance during Easter. I guess on the bright side, they only do this until Pentecost and then things return to “normal.” I feel bad for those churches with full-time “resurrectifixes” or whatever they’re called. I can’t help but feel that my parish is actively trying to push Jesus out the door! First they moved the tabernacle into a little side closet they call a chapel, they orient the pews so we’re sitting in a circle, and then for Easter they hid the image of Christ. sigh*

I am assuming that you re speaking only of the main crucifx and that if it is covered there is a Crucifix used during Mass like a Processional Crucifix or some smaller one is placed in the Sactuary … Because as I understand it there must be a crucifix [one] present during Mass …

Most Churches have a large Crucifix above the Altar so if a Crucifix is used in procession and not just a cross it is placed to the side out of the sanctuary after the procession …

If the main or large Crucifix is covered or removed then you could use the processional Cricifix for Mass. Thus, if your parish decides to cover [we did this a couple of years back - we did not take it down but draped infront of it a white drapery] the Crucifix it must provide a substitute during Mass - either placed before Mass or PRocessed in and left in the sanctuary until Mass is completed

We typically do not process in a Cruciix but that year we did. It was nice … using the Crucifix in procession - recognizing the resurrection in the Church’s environment during te Easter Season while still having the sacrificial meaning of the Mass acknowledged by a Crucifix during Mass.

The cathedral here does not have a main large altar crucifix mounted - they always use one that is processed it … I have seen some churches that utilize a smaller pole mounted crucifx instead of the large wall mounted type that is common in catholic churches …

Often times [at least in the past] the Crucifix has been draped in Purple during Lent [you still need a Crucifix in the Sanctuary for Mass] or in Red on Good Friday … when we venerate the Cross … My parish rarely does that but I visit other parishes where they do … Some parishes shroud the statues during lent [used to be very common] but my parish does not …

 

[VietCatholic83]

There is no crucifix present anywhere on or near the altar during Easter. The only thing that comes close in the entire church is the image of the 12th station of the Cross which hangs on the wall. The crucifix which usually stands behind and to the side of our altar is replaced by the floral cross that I originally mentioned.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Do any of your parishes remove the crucifix from the sanctuary during the Easter season? My parish has the habit of replacing it with a plain cross adorned with white flowers and such. The explanation I received was that it’s because “Jesus is Risen and Easter is a happy time so we temporarily remove the image of the dying Christ”. To me this demonstrates a GRAVE misunderstanding of the theology of the Mass and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. If anything, the image of the crucified Lord should take on an even greater significance during Easter. I guess on the bright side, they only do this until Pentecost and then things return to “normal.” I feel bad for those churches with full-time “resurrectifixes” or whatever they’re called. I can’t help but feel that my parish is actively trying to push Jesus out the door! First they moved the tabernacle into a little side closet they call a chapel, they orient the pews so we’re sitting in a circle, and then for Easter they hid the image of Christ. sigh*

Only the Protestantized ones.

What do they do about the requirement of a CRUCIFIX on or near the altar during the celebration of the Mass? Let me guess they just ignore that instruction.

 

[Tietjen]

There is no crucifix present anywhere on or near the altar during Easter. The only thing that comes close in the entire church is the image of the 12th station of the Cross which hangs on the wall. The crucifix which usually stands behind and to the side of our altar is replaced by the floral cross that I originally mentioned.

You should probably speak to your parish Priest and find out how it is he can do this. Regardless of his answer (unless his answer is to ensure that a Crucifix is present during every Mass) I’d then go to the Bishop. God bless, and I hope that you can see this matter resolved quickly. I truly hate hearing stories about parishes becoming more Protestant than Catholic.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I note that many who display the plain cross, without a corpus, claim it represents the Risen Jesus. However the cross is always plain - no nail holes, no blood - it is unused.

The plain unmarked cross is not the cross of Jesus but the cross that is waiting there for you.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I note that many who display the plain cross, without a corpus, claim it represents the Risen Jesus. However the cross is always plain - no nail holes, no blood - it is unused.

The plain unmarked cross is not the cross of Jesus but the cross that is waiting there for you./QUOT

I agree the plain cross does not represent the Risen Lord. Jesus did not rise from the Cross. He was taken down from it. The empty tomb is the symbol of the Resurrection. the Cross is more properly seen as the altar on which Christ was sacrificed.

 

[dixibehr]

It’s standard practice in the Byzantine tradition to remove the corpus from the large crucifix that stands behind the Altar.

 

[VietCatholic83]

It’s standard practice in the Byzantine tradition to remove the corpus from the large crucifix that stands behind the Altar.

I was not aware of this tradition. But I believe in the western Church there is an item in the General Instruction that requires the image of the Crucified Lord either on or near the altar during Holy Mass. Anyone know the GIRM citation?

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I was not aware of this tradition. But I believe in the western Church there is an item in the General Instruction that requires the image of the Crucified Lord either on or near the altar during Holy Mass. Anyone know the GIRM citation?

I’ve recently seen an expert opinion stating that, but don’t remember where. I think it was to the GIRM says Crucifix, not Cross, and that the difference is that a *Crucifix *has a Corpus.

 

[proud2Bpapist]

The GIRM directions on crucifixes appears to be thus:
**No 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.
**
Side story of liturgical shenanigans: my high school was near a parish that featured a large crucifixion painting over the altar. At Easter time they switched it our for a risen Christ painting that unfortunately made Jesus look like he was in a disco pose - one arm pointed upward, looking to the side. The artist surely meant to create an image of devotion and love, but it just made me crack up.

 

[VietCatholic83]

The GIRM directions on crucifixes appears to be thus:
**No 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.
**
Side story of liturgical shenanigans: my high school was near a parish that featured a large crucifixion painting over the altar. At Easter time they switched it our for a risen Christ painting that unfortunately made Jesus look like he was in a disco pose - one arm pointed upward, looking to the side. The artist surely meant to create an image of devotion and love, but it just made me crack up.

I guess the GIRM is pretty straight forward there!

I also know of another parish that replaces the crucifix with a painting depicting the Risen Lord standing outside the tomb holding a staff with one of those white pointed pennants flying at the top.