Why is the crucifix on the Papal ferula bent?

[GPGT]

I’m curious about this. Pope Francis seems to have brought back the bent cross on his staff, as introduced by Pope Paul VI and also used by Pope John Paul II. I personally don’t find it to be a great depiction of our Lord. I’ve seen some Sedevacantist nuts describe it as deformed, rotting, distorted, and repulsive, and even had the gall to call it a sixth century Satanic symbol? At the very least it seems quite similar to the hideous Scorzelli Cross that was banned. Could anyone shed some light onto this?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Maybe because he (Pope Francis) likes it. And since he gets to make the decision, I guess, at least for me, it really doesn’t matter that much.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

I had to use google to find out what the Papal ferula is. Having done so, the bent one you describe seems to be the most dejected and mournful crucifix I’ve seen. I think it does an excellent job expressing the misery and distress Christ suffered on the cross for us.

 

[GPGT]

True statements.

 

[Elizium23]

http://www.traditionalcatholicmass.org/Lello Scorzelli-designer of broken cross.jpg

I had to use google to find out what the Papal ferula is. Having done so, the bent one you describe seems to be the most dejected and mournful crucifix I’ve seen. I think it does an excellent job expressing the misery and distress Christ suffered on the cross for us.

This. Also, which would you rather have, the Paul VI ferula or the brand new one, given by a donor with an extreme conflict of interest?

http://www.novusordowatch.org/_Media/francis-crozier.jpeg

 

[Stillsosola]

I dont think they are very attractive and historically acurate since bent wood would have cracked and broke by the weight of the crucified but it is very sad and mournful looking as far as it being a satanic symbol I cant find any evidence other than those awful anti catholic sites to back up that theory I would like to see somthing different but the Pope likes it so yeah

 

[opus101]

I think the crucifix in post #5 is JPII’s, and it was designed after a drawing by Saint John of the Cross. JPII had been a secular Carmelite, and wrote his dissertation on John of the Cross.

 

[Elizium23]

The ferula used by Blessed John Paul the Great was Paul VI’s ferula and it was designed by Lello Scorzelli in 1963. I can see no evidence that Scorzelli’s design was ever banned; however, some anti-Catholic sites make much of the condemnation of Albert Servaes’ Way of the Cross and draw a tenuous link to the Paul VI ferula.

 

[GPGT]

Ridiculous mistake but I mixed up Servaes and Scorzelli up in the original post. Servaes was the one banned.

 

[Reborn2013]

The ferula used by Blessed John Paul the Great was Paul VI’s ferula and it was designed by Lello Scorzelli in 1963. I can see no evidence that Scorzelli’s design was ever banned; however, some anti-Catholic sites make much of the condemnation of Albert Servaes’ Way of the Cross and draw a tenuous link to the Paul VI ferula.

John Paul “the Great?” while he certainly will become a saint, the great is not an adjective that we have applied to him, and as long as countless vIctims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests under JPII’s charge are around, we never will.

 

[Neofight]

John Paul “the Great?” while he certainly will become a saint, the great is not an adjective that we have applied to him, and as long as countless vIctims of sexual abuse at the hands of priests under JPII’s charge are around, we never will.

Speak for yourself, please.

 

[celticguitar]

I wasn’t there so I don’t know. But it seems to me that crucifixions that happened did not likely on milled wood. In fact, most homes of that time did not use milled wood. It would have more likely been log-like. Cedar or olive wood likely. Cedar, in smaller diameter would bend. Gravity would not allow a body to remain up as shown on a traditional crucifix. Crucified men were also naked, not wearing a loin cloth. I personally feel the crucifix used by our past 3 popes depicts a more realistic representation.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Since the Pope is both the Bishop of Rome and the Chief Shepherd of the Church, I’ve always wondered why he doesn’t use a conventional crozier instead of the ferula. I’m sure it’s an old tradition though.

 

[Padres1969]

Since the Pope is both the Bishop of Rome and the Chief Shepherd of the Church, I’ve always wondered why he doesn’t use a conventional crozier instead of the ferula. I’m sure it’s an old tradition though.

Actually as I understand it, the use of the ferula regularly, particularly liturgically, is a post Vatican II thing starting with Paul VI. There was sporadic usage of the ferula on solemn occasions starting with the late middle ages before it fell out of usage. It came back again after 1877 when the ferula of Pius IX was presented to him, but no where near the regularity that we see it today, and not typically in any liturgical manner. And earlier in history the pope would use a crosier but that ended with Innocent III in the late 12th century.

That may be why Paul VI, JPI, JPII and Francis have favored the Paul VI ferula so much. It, and the lightweight replicas that were made of it, have been more or less THE regular use ferula for the papacy, particularly being used in liturgical situations.

 

[Padres1969]

Since the Pope is both the Bishop of Rome and the Chief Shepherd of the Church, I’ve always wondered why he doesn’t use a conventional crozier instead of the ferula. I’m sure it’s an old tradition though.

Pope Innocent III was the pope that ended the use of the crosier by the pope. In his words, "The Roman Pontiff does not use the shepherd’s staff.” The reasoning is that a crosier is often given by the metropolitan archbishop, or by another bishop, to a newly elected bishop during his investiture. Since the pope does not receive investiture from another bishop and is invested with the pallium during his coronation or inauguration it wasn’t an appropriate item for a pope to use.

 

[asia53]

Ahem, this thread is over 2 years old. The main poster has been banned. Ohh, Mr Thomas is so not going be happy.

 

[Padres1969]

Ahem, this thread is over 2 years old. The main poster has been banned. Ohh, Mr Thomas is so not going be happy.

Oh jeez you’re right… who’s the wise guy bringing back old threads?