What's so terrible about a corpus-less cross?

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I’m not talking about liturgical use, mind you, but just in-general use, i.e. Christian art, jewelry, etc…

Over and over I hear Catholics saying how you shouldn’t take Jesus off the cross like Protestants do, but to me, this is just an inversion of the same backwards logic that Protestants use against Catholics when criticizing the crucifix.

Just a moment ago, I was looking at a picture of the Pope, and lo and behold, Benedict is wearing a big fat gold cross with no corpus. He is wearing this big fat gold cross is most of his pictures. Does that mean the Pope is being un-Catholic?

Both the cross and the crucifix are the domain of Christianity and therefore the Catholic Church. Granted, we should not be ashamed of our crucifixes, but we shouldn’t have to avoid using the plain cross for fear of apparently conceding to a vocal minority of Protestants who criticize the crucifix.

Tell me where I’m wrong?
 
Often in monasteries the cross over the cell door for one is simply a cross, not a crucifix, and this is to remind the monastics that they are now crucified with Christ. Certainly in monasteries, convents and other places Catholic including our Churches we very often see crosses rather than crucifixes. I have never heard personally Catholics that object to the cross in favour of a crucifix. …Blessings - Barb:)
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/8/8_2_64v.gif
 
What if you know Christ died on the cross but you are also thinking " He has risen!"
 
Dear Blackbog. Nothing at all “terrible” about a corpus-less cross… in my humble opinion (Catholic, since 1959). In fact… I had two corpus-less crosses (necklaces) blessed, just today at Christmas Mass! Along with 2 crucifixes. 🙂

I think it’s just that most Catholics have a very special place in their hearts… for the Crucified Jesus… and His image, on the crucifix. We see them from childhood. We pray the Stations of the Cross. We venerate the crucifix during Lent… and so on. The crucifix is a constant (more detailed) reminder for everyone (Catholic and non-Catholic, alike)… of the great sacrifice Our dear Lord made for us all.

Hope this sheds a little bit of light on the topic. God bless! 🙂
 
Blackbog said:
I’m not talking about liturgical use, mind you, but just in-general use, i.e. Christian art, jewelry, etc…

Over and over I hear Catholics saying how you shouldn’t take Jesus off the cross like Protestants do, but to me, this is just an inversion of the same backwards logic that Protestants use against Catholics when criticizing the crucifix.
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I have been a Catholic for longer than most people here because I am an old church lady, and I never heard any Catholic criticize anyone who wears or displays a cross with no corpus. Don’t know who you have been listening to. It is required that a crucifix be prominently displayed during Mass, but otherwise, for personal use, it is a personal choice. We venerate the bare wooden cross on Good Friday in our churches.
 
In my opinion, and coming from a Protestant background, I see nothing wrong with a corpus-less cross. In fact, I have one in my bedroom with the names of God on it. 🙂 That said, I do prefer crucifixes as a Catholic. 😉 👍
 
I think it’s great that, in your experiences, no one’s really shown hostility to the plain cross. My experience has been somewhat different. For one, you can look up threads on the subject in these forums and others (I can pull up examples, if need be). In another instance, a priest at my parish wrote a letter in the weekly bulletin one week about how the plain cross is a Protestant symbol, as if Protestants have somehow claimed dominion over the bare cross.
 
The plain cross is not exculsively Protestant. Carmelites mount a plain cross in their cells. My RCIA all wear a plain cross for lent. But note that it is a plain cross; no nail holes, no blood. It has never been used. It is our cross that is waiting for us. It is the cross that Jesus invites us to pick up and follow Him.
 
There is nothing wrong with a corpus-less cross, but if you’re talking of liturgy, the crucifix is required. For other purposes, it’s up to the person.
 
Outside of this forum, I’ve only heard one person imply that a bare cross was a Protestant symbol. For personal use it’s acceptable to use (I personally wear a Canterbury Cross).
 
Nothing at all. Who told you so? We have corpus-less crosses atop (almost all) our churches… and schools, and hospitals etc.
 
There is nothing wrong with a corpus-less cross. The only reason I have a slight distaste for them is because they seem (to me at least) to have become predominantly a secular fashion symbol, and many times are more a fashion statement than a faith statement.
 
IMHO, a cross is best for jewelry, since I think it inappropriate to use the crucified body of Christ for frivolous purposes.

A bare cross is good. A crucifix is good. But what I cannot abide and distresses me beyond words, is a cross with Jesus unattached in front of it :mad: . Without the crucifixion there can be no resurrection, and to me showing Jesus unattached to the cross is a bad mix of symbols that suggests that we can skip the suffering part.
 
The Crucifix is a Sacramental, and has graces associated with it. I’m not sure about a plain cross.
 
DonnaG said:
What if you know Christ died on the cross but you are also thinking " He has risen!"
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Hi Donna…the cross I wear is slightly curved outwards on the ends similar to a Celtic Cross on a silver background and impressed into it is a plain black cross. The curved silver part is a reminder to me of the Cross as Glory and also symbolic of the resurrection, while the black plain impress is a reminder that the cross is also suffering. One could pick out a cross that somehow holds particular symbolism in its design…Blessings and Joy this Christmas Season…Barb
 
Coming from a Protestant background I have lots of corpus-less crosses and of course now that I’m Catholic I have lots of crucifixes. I do like my crucifixes because I love being Catholic and well, people are going to notice that and I love talking about my faith so its a good conversation starter as well as a reminder to myself of my faith. I do have a wonderful corpus-less cross that my father (a UMC minister) got me for Christmas. It is from the Bradford Exchange and is a lighted cross with images from the life of Jesus, such as his birth, baptism, crucifixion, miracles, etc. It is beautiful and I will treasure it. So I see nothing wrong with corpus-less crosses. And I agree they are not just a Protestant thing just as crucifixes are not just a Catholic thing. One of the UMC churches my dad preaches at has a crucifix on the wall.
 
What I find terrible is that some Catholics do dislike crucifixes, that’s when I take exception. :eek:

:blessyou:
 
You know, I was raised Protestant, and I bought a crucifix on my own when I was around 10 years old. One day I was at the dentist, and the technician saw it and asked if I was Catholic. I was such a little brat as a kid, and I replied, “No, and you know Christ didn’t just die for Catholics!” groan She must’ve thought I was a fruit cake. Thing is, even as a Protestant, I loved loved loved that crucifix. I wouldn’t take it off… and I am still wearing it today after 30 years. I’ve been given so many beautiful fancy crosses, but this crucifix is right where it belongs: right over my heart.

In Him,
Shy
 
I have 2 crucifixes and one cross in my home. I wear a plain crucifix occasionally.
I’ve never understood why Protestants oppose the crucifix. Jesus was God and could have done anything He wanted. He could have just passed into death and then resurrected; that itself should be a big enough miracle to convice everyone He is the Son of God.
The fact that He chose to suffer a terrible, debilitating death to free us from our sins speaks volumes of His love for us.
 
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