My personal opinion is that a risen Christ Crucifix is not appropriate anywhere. Christ did NOT rise from the cross but from the grave. It bothers me even to see Crosses with other figures or pictures in place of the body of Christ. Except those of historic nature, like Peter being crucified upside down.On another thread, somebody asked if risen Christ crucifixes were acceptable on the altar in a church. On another note, at most Catholic wakes, there is usually a crucifix in the casket. Sometimes the crucifix is a traditional one, but I have also seen risen Christ crucifixes in caskets at wakes. Is this an acceptable practice?
I don’t think there are any Church rules on this.On another thread, somebody asked if risen Christ crucifixes were acceptable on the altar in a church. On another note, at most Catholic wakes, there is usually a crucifix in the casket. Sometimes the crucifix is a traditional one, but I have also seen risen Christ crucifixes in caskets at wakes. Is this an acceptable practice?
doesn’t matter, whatever the family prefers, as this is not liturgy (although a liturgy of the Word may be done as part of the wake). I have no idea what the crucifixion of Peter has to do with this thread.On another thread, somebody asked if risen Christ crucifixes were acceptable on the altar in a church. On another note, at most Catholic wakes, there is usually a crucifix in the casket. Sometimes the crucifix is a traditional one, but I have also seen risen Christ crucifixes in caskets at wakes. Is this an acceptable practice?
I dont think that’s the one I was talking about…but I did an image search and I think those are kind of weird too…just my opinion though:shrug: .<<I find those ‘risen Christ crucifixes’ really weird and annoying. Christ dressed in robes with his hands raised on the cross. >>
I think the kind of crucifix showing the corpus in mass vestments and crowned is properly called a Christus Rex.
A Catholic funeral is most certainly a Liturgy, it is the Rite of Christian Burial. The post above says it. A Crucifix by definition depicts Christ crucified, not risen.doesn’t matter, whatever the family prefers, as this is not liturgy (although a liturgy of the Word may be done as part of the wake). I have no idea what the crucifixion of Peter has to do with this thread.
yes a funeral is liturgy, but the wake at the funeral home is not, where the body is on view with a crucifix, rosary or such in the casket.A Catholic funeral is most certainly a Liturgy, it is the Rite of Christian Burial. The post above says it. A Crucifix by definition depicts Christ crucified, not risen.
My family has always chosen a regular crucifix. I have seen the risen Christ ones, though. I do not care for them myself, but I was trying to find out if there were any rules about them. As for a symbol of the Resurrection at a funeral, the Easter candle is the symbol of the Resurrection.I would suppose that the family would be able to choose if there were a choice to be given, however I would NEVER choose this for any family member of mine, or for myself. I don’t know any Catholic funeral director in my area that even offer these. When 1st seeing these I thought they were a novelty. The more I look at these now, the more they repell me. Just my personal opinion. In my parish, we have a traditional crucifix on the main altar but on one of the side altars, we have a huge (and gorgeous) picture of the “Risen Christ.” That says it much better IMHO.
I don’t believe anyone is saying that a Catholic funeral is not a liturgy; I believe the issue has to do with the design of a crucifix to be placed inside the casket. I had always thought this was a matter of personal and family choice, similar to the common practice of placing family photographs in with the deceased. Since you seem to hold that this issue is governed by Liturgical regulations, could you cite the Canon, GIRM paragraph, or section of the Order of Christian Funerals that you believe governs this? Since family photographs would not be allowed in a Liturgy, are you saying that they are also not allowed in the casket, since “a Catholic funeral is most certainly a Liturgy?”A Catholic funeral is most certainly a Liturgy, it is the Rite of Christian Burial. The post above says it. A Crucifix by definition depicts Christ crucified, not risen.
You are misreading my posts. I do not hold that the type of “cross” that may be placed inside the casket “is governed by Liturgical regulations”, I do not know off the top of my head if it is or is not specified. However if the documents say a “Crucifix” then it is speaking of a cross with a corpus of Christ crucified.I don’t believe anyone is saying that a Catholic funeral is not a liturgy; I believe the issue has to do with the design of a crucifix to be placed inside the casket. I had always thought this was a matter of personal and family choice, similar to the common practice of placing family photographs in with the deceased. Since you seem to hold that this issue is governed by Liturgical regulations, could you cite the Canon, GIRM paragraph, or section of the Order of Christian Funerals that you believe governs this? Since family photographs would not be allowed in a Liturgy, are you saying that they are also not allowed in the casket, since “a Catholic funeral is most certainly a Liturgy?”
this type of thing should always be respected, esp when there is no liturgical reason to insist on something else. I dislike the tone here that sounds very much like “I don’t like crosses with a Risen Christ, so they should be forbidden in circumstances where the Church is silent”, because that is just the type of officious meddling that hurts people and families so badly.So, while the “Risen Christ” cross may not be a part of tradition (I would, however, never deny the family the right to use it on a casket at a wake), the “Christus Rex” cross is part of our tradition. .
I do know what a Christus Rex cross looks like. There is a picture on the first page of my Baronius Press 1962 Missal. That was not what I was referring to as a risen Christ crucifix.The earlier mentioned “Christus Rex” crucifix is a bit different from the normal risen Christ crucifix. While, I have rarely seen “Risen Christ” crosses in older churches, the Christus Rex seems to be more common, but usually in the sacristy.
The “Christus Rex” usually is shown wearing a crown and vested in a Chasuble and stole for mass. In older churches he also usually shown wearing a maniple and I have even seen one with a dalmatic under the chasuble (so in that case Christ is vested as bishop would be at solemn mass).
A “Christus Rex” cross was hanging in the small sacristy of the church I formally attended (it was built in the 1920s) and there is also one in the sacristy of the Cathedral I currently attend (renovated in the 1950s).
So, while the “Risen Christ” cross may not be a part of tradition (I would, however, never deny the family the right to use it on a casket at a wake), the “Christus Rex” cross is part of our tradition. Its common place in Sacristy’s makes sense, as the priest vesting would look upon Christ vested as well. A great reminder of the supreme importance of the mass.
I believe the Christus Rex cross still has Christ’s hands in a crucifixion form. The Risen Christ Cross has Christ coming up off the Cross as thought He was responding to the guards challenge to “Save yourself and come down off that cross.” Christ died on the cross, He did not rise from it. He rose three days later according to the Scriptures.I do know what a Christus Rex cross looks like. There is a picture on the first page of my Baronius Press 1962 Missal. That was not what I was referring to as a risen Christ crucifix.