To wear the Crucifix

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MorEphrem said:
The idea of wearing these items are not that they are fashion statements or items of evangelization but that they direct our minds and hearts constantly towards prayer during the course of every day.
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Of course a crucifix ought not to a fashion statement, and such sacramentals can direct our minds and hearts towards God during the day, but I would disagree with the idea that wearing a crucifix should not be used for evangelism. In my experience a cross around the neck can open new doors to evangelism, opportunities which would not have come about otherwise.

I teach at a secular junior and senior high school for boys (although they have no qualms about getting the students to worship at shinto shrines on school field trips) and do not have the freedom to openly evangelize my students. But students always notice the crucifix which is just visible when I have an open collar shirt, and some who apparently have an interest in such things ask me about it, and ask if I am a Christian, which allows me to engage in an excellent conversation initiated by student. I was able to invite one such student to Mass at my church within a week after he graduated from our school. He had never been to a Christian church in his life!

A lot of young people in Japan wear crucifixes and crosses and even rosaries as fashion statements, but to wear a humble wood crucifix where it is just barely visible tells people that it might be something other than just an accessory. And then they know who to turn to if they have questions about God.
 
I always heard it was forbidden to wear a crucifix around the neck, so I guess I was taught incorrectly. But this mistake has been with me for years and I usually wear a plain Greek cross of silver.

I do own a couple of crucifixes, but wear them rarely, Besides I like the Greek cross with 5 semi-precious stones.

Can anyone afford a 14t gold crucifix anymore? I get a catalog with them in it and they start at $800 and go way up.

I think I would feel pretentious wearing gold.

Thoughts?
 
Russ_of_Tokyo said:
Of course a crucifix ought not to a fashion statement, and such sacramentals can direct our minds and hearts towards God during the day, but I would disagree with the idea that wearing a crucifix should not be used for evangelism. In my experience a cross around the neck can open new doors to evangelism, opportunities which would not have come about otherwise.

I teach at a secular junior and senior high school for boys (although they have no qualms about getting the students to worship at shinto shrines on school field trips) and do not have the freedom to openly evangelize my students. But students always notice the crucifix which is just visible when I have an open collar shirt, and some who apparently have an interest in such things ask me about it, and ask if I am a Christian, which allows me to engage in an excellent conversation initiated by student. I was able to invite one such student to Mass at my church within a week after he graduated from our school. He had never been to a Christian church in his life!

A lot of young people in Japan wear crucifixes and crosses and even rosaries as fashion statements, but to wear a humble wood crucifix where it is just barely visible tells people that it might be something other than just an accessory. And then they know who to turn to if they have questions about God.
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Amen…we need more Catholics who understand their faith. Especially in humility to wear the Crucifix. The world needs to know us better.
 
catholic-rcia said:
The world today needs this. Yes its hard for so many reasons. But is not hard are calling? Could you imagine all Catholics doing this together? I think its time.
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I think you’re absolutely correct, and this is a very good idea. Consider me as having joined in on this. 👍
 
I’m not the accessory-wearing type, so I never used a crucifix or anything of the sort, and if I did, I’d keep it under the shirt, just to remind myself of Who made made me who I am, and not explicitly show to the rest of the crowd. People don’t need to see that we’re Christians by our crucifixes, they need to start seeing Christ in us as we’re acting like He did, not having Him around our necks…

It’s my plain opinion… I simply can’t find very humbling to publicly wear things like that. And on the argument that we’re showing who died for us, I’ll simply give the explanation above.
 
I started wearing a small cheap crucifix under my clothes, but visible when i wear shirts, partly because I realised I was afraid to do so, because I was afraid to be visibly Catholic. So it reminds me to take up my cross, to pray and trust in Christ, but also not to be ashamed or hide away.

But another reason has to do with why I am open about being a woman online these days: when we all hide away and pretend not to be, it creates the impression that we are rare, that we are alone. Wearing a crucifix is a quiet way to say “we’re here, and visible” without being disruptive.
 
Wearing a crucifix is fine but we are called to be holy. Holiness is a decrease in sin and an increase in virtue.

Wearing a crucifix will send a message to the world, sure. Piety is good but holiness is what get’s us to heaven.

-Tim-
 
ServantPD said:
I’m not the accessory-wearing type, so I never used a crucifix or anything of the sort, and if I did, I’d keep it under the shirt, just to remind myself of Who made made me who I am, and not explicitly show to the rest of the crowd. People don’t need to see that we’re Christians by our crucifixes, they need to start seeing Christ in us as we’re acting like He did, not having Him around our necks…

It’s my plain opinion… I simply can’t find very humbling to publicly wear things like that. And on the argument that we’re showing who died for us, I’ll simply give the explanation above.
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This.

I agree completely. Even though I fall miserably short most of the time, I want the cross that people see to be the one showing through my actions.
 
Going back to my story, I have been teaching at the same school for ten years, hoping that people would see Christ in me by my actions alone, and only started wearing a crucifix (where it is barely visible in my open collar) for the last two years. Students and co-workers who noticed were surprised to discover I was a Christian. I guess before that they figured I was just a nice guy – if I was lucky enough to get even that much credit – but had no idea it was related to anything religious.

At an earlier job, I tried to be a model of holiness and love in front of my co-workers. After about a year, I happened to be reading a book about angels at lunch break and the guy who worked at the desk next to me commented, “I had no idea you were into that stuff.”

I don’t wear a crucifix at home because I don’t like to wear things around my neck. I only wear it when I’m outside of the home for the specific purpose of sending a clear message. There are lots of nice guys out here. Which ones do people seek out when they have questions about God?
 
TimothyH said:
Wearing a crucifix is fine but we are called to be holy. Holiness is a decrease in sin and an increase in virtue.

Wearing a crucifix will send a message to the world, sure. Piety is good but holiness is what get’s us to heaven.

-Tim-
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This.
 
I used to wear my cross on the outside of my shirt. Then one day the clasp on the chain came undone and I lost the cross. It was my Confirmation gift from my grandmother, my sponsor. It was a small miracle that the chain itself got caught on my collar and was noticed by a friend. The cross has been replaced and now I wear it on the inside, so if anything did happen, it would fall inside my shirt. I also wear a very worn Miraculous Medal.

In terms of announcing my faith to the world, I wear my vintage Catholic school jacket nearly always (I am usually cold, even during summer.) and have IHS christograms as my screen saver and taped on my desk. No one other than a Catholic co-worker as commented on them yet. They are more a personal devotion since most non-Catholics wouldn’t even know what it is.
 
Several years ago in a small group discussion at church (when I was still a Protestant) a young guy told us that the first thing he did when he started his new job was to bring a big Bible and plop it down on his desk where everyone could see.

Then he asked the rest of us what WE did at work. I bristled at this and viewed it as “throwing down the gauntlet” by some proud young zealot who didn’t have a clue, and I let him know I did not approve.

When I read my own comments above, I feel I might have placed myself in his role, and others might feel as I did at that time. Please understand that I am actually a bit shy and reluctant to display my faith in overt ways (hence my nearly ten years of doing nothing of the sort at my school).

Being a former Protestant, I am also very reluctant to make the sign of the cross in public – outside of a Christian gathering – but I’m working on it.

So I felt VERY self conscious the first time I wore a crucifix which was only partially visible, but now I feel it is very useful as a silent witness, communicating things I am not permitted to say with words at work. Also, it reminds me that I must act in a Christian manner at all times because I’m “marked”. It ain’t easy at first, but I would encourage others to try it.
 
Wearing a crucifix shouldn’t be about bragging to others about ones faith etc. it should be a personal message to God of ones undying love for him and how much you need him close to you in your life.
 
In today’s anti-Christian, politically-correct atmosphere, Christians who wear crucifixes can be ridiculed, attacked, lose their jobs and even killed in some cultures. We see it all the time in the news along with lawsuits which follow the firings.

Of course in a Christian environment such as inside a Church on Sunday with other Christians, the dynamics are completely different, and some people might be guilty of showing off and wearing things they would not dare wear at work.

I think there is no one answer as to what wearing a crucifix should or should not be. Silent witness? Evangelistic tool? Personal reminder? I think it depends on the individual.

Last year a Cardinal made the news by encouraging all Catholics to wear a crucifix in public.
 
Russ_of_Tokyo said:
In today’s anti-Christian, politically-correct atmosphere, Christians who wear crucifixes can be ridiculed, attacked, lose their jobs and even killed in some cultures. We see it all the time in the news along with lawsuits which follow the firings.
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Even though I’m not a proper supporter of wearing the crucifix (as explained in my previous post), that’s no excuse not to use it. I’d see that rather as an encouragement, as you’re being pretty much being subject of persecution by anti-Christians. You can expose the lack of morality they have on everyone when you’re having these attacks, and you’re being attacked for being a disciple of Jesus. Being persecuted and possibly martyred is part of the Christian experience, and you should be happy, as the first One that got persecuted and killed (Jesus), later resurrected in His glory, and basically promised us the same would happen to us if we underwent the same life as a witness to the truth…
John 15:18-25 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’** If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’**
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👍
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I personally wear a small cross under my shirt, more focused on the graces it holds as a sacramental than as a bit of witness.

When I see someone wearing a huge, elaborate cross outside their clothes, I can’t help but think that it really only works on a bishop 😉 humor, not an attack on your person


Venerable Archbishop Sheen, Servant of God, Pray for Us!
 
having a cross necklace reminds me of christs death on the cross and him returing from the dead as well.
 
L_Marshall said:
When I see someone wearing a huge, elaborate cross outside their clothes, I can’t help but think that it really only works on a bishop
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I agree. Large crosses are the latest fashion statement in Japan, and I see them on mannequins at the mall and on lots of girls here (fashion rosaries are also everywhere but they usually have the wrong configuration of beads).

Last night I saw a guy on a TV quiz show who was wearing a large elaborate cross on a chain than hung out from the collar of his black shirt. I said jokingly, “I didn’t know he was a bishop…”

At least the culture is not hostile to Christian symbolism…
 
I wear a San Damiano crucifix, as well as two scapulars and a Miraculous Medal. I always wear them under my shirt. These are more a personal devotion, not something I really share with people to attract attention.

I have no problem in explaining what I am wearing if someone asks me; that usually means they are interested. I share the cord rosaries I make with people at work; even though they aren’t Catholic they are mystified by the rosaries I make and think they are incredibly beautiful. They are even more baffled that making cord rosaries is a hobby of mine. It is all about planting seeds, very very slowly. There are still some “genuine” people left in the world who have an interest in Catholicism even if they know nothing about the Catholic faith or even Christianity.

Still, I am amused by the fact that wearing a crucifix in public is something to be shunned, mocked for, or even liable to get you fired from your job. To me, this is discrimination. If people can wear incredibly inappropriate clothing in public then why shouldn’t I (or other people) be allowed to wear something appropriate and barely visible? Then again, it’s all good to suffer for Christ, so I’m not complaining.

Nope, I’m not going to stop wearing my crucifix, scapulars, or medals. There is truly something wrong with people in the world if they are bothered by “jewelry.”
 
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