What Is Your View Concerning Current Day Crucifixion?

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Hello:

In some countries, Catholics voluntarily have themselves crucified on Good Friday; they actually have themselves nailed to a cross as a means by which to express their reverence for Christ dying on the cross for us.

Personally, I have reservations about the practice.

Self mutilation comes to mind, which would be sinful. In addition, from my point of view a voluntary crucifixion demeans what Jesus was willing to do for us - it seems blasphemous to me.

Even Saint Peter felt unworthy to be crucified in such a manner. The story is told that he felt so unworthy, that he asked that he be crucified upside down.

Being that Catholics are entering the Lenten season and that Good Friday will soon be approaching, I was just wondering how you might feel about the issue, and what your respective viewpoint might be…

Thank you in advance for responding to this post.
 
I don’t favor it myself and it goes without saying that I won’t encourage it. However, I will respect that there are certain things others believe in.

After all, our faith does have a lot of teachings which (if you think about it) directs us to do things which plain human reason won’t accept. For example, “Drink My body… eat My flesh” (some would see as cannibalism), “if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out” (mutilation). People who do not intentionally crucify themselves, receive stigmata (and these are accepted by the Church).

Similarly, pro-Life is something which to many perfectly logical thinkers doesn’t make sense–in the face of poverty, etc. Yet, we just have to accept that God’s wisdom goes beyond our mere human logic and sensibilities. He can even make us walk on water!

God be with you.
 
RastaPasta said:
Hello:

In some countries, Catholics voluntarily have themselves crucified on Good Friday; they actually have themselves nailed to a cross as a means by which to express their reverence for Christ dying on the cross for us.

Personally, I have reservations about the practice.

Self mutilation comes to mind, which would be sinful. In addition, from my point of view a voluntary crucifixion demeans what Jesus was willing to do for us - it seems blasphemous to me.

Even Saint Peter felt unworthy to be crucified in such a manner. The story is told that he felt so unworthy, that he asked that he be crucified upside down.

Being that Catholics are entering the Lenten season and that Good Friday will soon be approaching, I was just wondering how you might feel about the issue, and what your respective viewpoint might be…

Thank you in advance for responding to this post.
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Say what? :eek:

I have never heard of this practice before. Do you have any source for further information you could point me to?
 
triumphguy said:
There’s videos on youtube.
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So I’m confused. Are these people just pretending to do this (like a Living Stations of the Cross)? Or are they actually getting nailed to crosses? Wouldn’t that, um, kill them? :confused:
 
Joe_5859 said:
So I’m confused. Are these people just pretending to do this (like a Living Stations of the Cross)? Or are they actually getting nailed to crosses? Wouldn’t that, um, kill them? :confused:
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They are actually being nailed. And no, they would not die, at least not immediately. Their feet are on the ground. Crucifixion kills by stretching the body so as to prevent breathing. If you are not hanging by your hands, you would live.

It still is a very bad idea. At least, it would destroy the nerves in your hands, and you need your hands to live life fully. We are not called to disable our bodies in memory of HIM.

ICXC NIKA
 
I read this part in the above link,

**Church leaders reject such practices. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the real expression of Christian faith during Lent is through repentance and self-renewal, not flagellation or crucifixion.

Bishop Rolando Tirona of the Prelature of Infanta said flagellation and cross nailings were expressions of superstitious beliefs, and were usually done out of need for money or to encourage tourism**

Was glad to see the Church doesn’t approve.
 
Graubo3 said:
In the Philippines. Google.

Peace, Graubo
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It is also done by the New Mexico penetentes, though it is getting rarer.

It happened during the serval decades the Spanish were expelled from N.M., when there were no preists, as a folk religion.

The penetentes have their own chapels called Moradas. They are highly secretive, some say dangerous to outsiders.

I have seen the Moradas in Northern N.M. many tiimes, but I don’t approach.
 
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