Why is the crucifix the symbol of Catholicism

[Dalex58]

I am doing research on the crucifix and it would be very useful if you can answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think that Catholics use the crucifix rather than the cross as a key symbol of Catholicism? Which do you prefer?
2. When Jesus was crucified but rose from the dead, his resurrection is a core Catholic belief, doesn’t that make a bare cross better as it shows that he has risen?
3. What is your thought or opinion on the resurrection of Jesus, and does it play an important role in your life? If so, how?
4. In addition to the crucifix, there are other symbols in Catholicism such as the Sacred Heart, Fish, the Dove, Scared Lamb and Crossed Keys, why aren’t one of these symbols used to represent Catholicism? Do you prefer one these symbols over the crucifix?
5. How important is it for Catholics and you to attend or be involved in Good Friday and Easter?
6. Which Catholic event is more important or significant, Good Friday or Easter?
7. Are there other Catholic events and celebrations that are more important than both Good Friday and Easter?

 

[GioG12]

1 Corinthians 1:22-23

“For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,”

 

[Minks]

Lol! Nice try, but we won’t do your homework or take-home test for you!

However, we can discuss with you some of the salient points. The Last Supper, Passion (be sure that you know what that is), Crucifixion, Resurrection, etc, were foretold in The Old Testament. Do you know where and how—all the details?

All of the events in the life of Christ, as depicted in the twenty rosary mysteries, were crucial (check out that word origin!) in fulfilling God’s promises to mankind; they were absolutely essential! Focusing upon all of the gory truth of Christ’s trial, scourging, crowning with thorns, and crucifixion is nasty business. We could avoid feeling sad, guilty, or sorry if we’d forget the bruised and sliced corpus of Christ, and exhibit only a couple of pieces of wood. The latter, of course, would be much less sadistic and more refined—according to the people who rewrote Christ’s instructions in the 1500s.

Here’s a good little exercise for gaining a greater, and quicker, understanding of the magnitude of the love of God and His Only Son—for us. Search several sites for the rosary on the Internet. Read them while picturing how you’d show the scenes if you were a movie director; be sure that you include the site that uses Scripture for meditation.

Visit our perpetual rosary threads (one, with 10,000 posts, is now closed, but offers great reading and praying) on the Spirituality Forum—simply wonderful pictures for contemplation. Zoom in on them for greater effect. Better, yet: pray some prayers with us on the current Perpetual Rosary thread!

Then, as a little test, back your body against a wall with your arms outstretched, keeping the backs of your hands flat against the wall, and time how long you can hack that position. No cheating! Try it on tiptoes, too.

You see, Catholicism is about getting to heaven. Christ showed us the way, step by step, and thought by thought, throughout His life. Our big lesson is to pick up our individual crosses and persevere. How can Mother Church best motivate us to follow Christ’s path?

Are you more moved to pick up your cross(es) when you see a couple of blank pieces of wood? Or when you see a battered Christ yearning to be with His Father in heaven?

 

[Irishmom2]

Lol! Nice try, but we won’t do your homework or take-home test for you!

That was my first thought as well. They sound like questions a teacher asked.

 

[Polak]

Yep. They just joined the forum to ask the questions. Cunning, I’ll give them that.

 

[Irishmom2]

Oh, it’s been done plenty of times. Most people call them on it, but some people answer them.

 

[BartholomewB]

1. Why do you think that Catholics use the crucifix rather than the cross as a key symbol of Catholicism? Which do you prefer?

Certain Protestants argue that the cross is a more “correct” symbol than the crucifix, because Christ’s sacrifice was a once-for-all event that happened in the past. It’s all over and done with. The same reasoning leads them to reject the Holy Mass as a sacrifice.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sorry, I only answer questions for people who have a genuine interest in learning about the Catholic faith. Not for people doing school assignments.

How about you do “research” in the normal manner by looking up whatever online sources your teacher approves, and by going to the library, rather than by asking strangers to do your homework for you. “Strangers on the Internet” aren’t reliable sources anyway.

Besides, you state that your religion is “Catholic”. How is it that you don’t already know all these answers?

 

[Irishmom2]

@Dalex58, these questions appear to be opinion questions. What is your opinion? That’s all that matters to whoever asked the question, not the opinions of random people on the internet.

 

[Vico]

…

The Crucifix represents the saving sacrifice of Christ. A bare cross is worn from baptism as a symbol of putting on Christ. The Crucifix better represents the resurrection of Christ due to the body, for death preceeds resurrection. The resurrection of Christ is the model for our resurrection to life eternal. Sunday and Easter emphasize the resurrection which is the most important.

1 Cor 15

16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

 

[Polak]

Oh, it’s been done plenty of times. Most people call them on it, but some people answer them.

I must admit I really don’t like that type of thing.

I don’t want to go down too hard on the OP, because we don’t know for sure what his or her true intentions are, but it looks like one of the behaviours on internet forums that really irks me.

Someone needs some help, so they sign up for a forum where people might have some knowledge on the topic they need help with. They start a thread on the topic they need help with in their first post (I always think your first post in a forum you have just joined should be introductory) and receive the help they needed. Once they get what they wanted they then never say another word in the forum again, and in some cases, don’t even thank the people who took the time to answer them, even sometimes doing the research themselves out of their own kindness.

As you said, most people call it out, but some people so answer, as we’re seeing in this thread, probably because they haven’t seen the first few replies where people called it out. At least they are only answering one of the questions.

They do look like homework questions. Of course it’s also possible the OP is doing some kind of paper he or she needs some opinions from Catholics for, because they also look like the type of questions you might see in a survey. If that is the case though, the OP should be more honest about what exactly they are doing, and not just say they are ‘doing research on the crucifix’. If they are really doing research, it’s also possible they have joined a number of other Catholic forums and posted the same question in each of them too.

 

[Mrchatsworth]

How does a bare cross show resurrection? Every person crucified ever has a bare cross at the end. And then there is a bare cross at the beginning. It is what he did ON that Cross that defines Christianity. The Son of God died for our sins. Others too have risen. (Lazarus) (the little girl) No one else died for your sins.

 

[OurLadyofSorrows]

Homework? for 10

But seriously what is the intention of your research, are you thinking of becoming Catholic?

Do you understand who Jesus is, and His ministry on earth and why He underwent His passion ?

 

[Hodos]

Why do you think that Catholics use the crucifix rather than the cross as a key symbol of Catholicism? Which do you prefer?

I prefer the crucifix. “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

When Jesus was crucified but rose from the dead, his resurrection is a core Catholic belief, doesn’t that make a bare cross better as it shows that he has risen?

Lazarus was resurrected. Yet he wasn’t the Savior. It was Christ’s obedience unto death that saved us. You cannot understand the meaning of the resurrection without the cross. The resurrection was God’s sign, that Jesus death was sufficient for our salvation.

What is your thought or opinion on the resurrection of Jesus, and does it play an important role in your life? If so, how?

Of course, it provides the tangible knowledge that Christ has redeemed me the power of sin, death, and the devil.

In addition to the crucifix, there are other symbols in Catholicism such as the Sacred Heart, Fish, the Dove, Scared Lamb and Crossed Keys, why aren’t one of these symbols used to represent Catholicism? Do you prefer one these symbols over the crucifix?

They all are, it depends on what you are trying to emphasize. In fact, at one point, the crucifix wasn’t the preferred symbol, the Chi Rho, Alpha and Omega, and the fish symbols were more prevalent in the early Christian Church. Personally, I like the crucifix (cross with the corpus) as the main symbol of Christianity. When the Romans looked at crucifixion, it was symbol of horror, terror, and derision. Jesus took the worst the devil could give and defeated it. Therefore, I find the crucifix, with the corpus upon it, a much more potent symbol of hope. Christ as overcome even the sting of death.

How important is it for Catholics and you to attend or be involved in Good Friday and Easter?

It is the high point of the year for me. The celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are the high points of our gospel proclamation.

Which Catholic event is more important or significant, Good Friday or Easter?

We don’t really separate the two. In fact, on Good Friday, the benediction is not pronounced, nor on Easter vigil on Saturday, until the end of the Easter service on Sunday. It is considered one celebration.

Are there other Catholic events and celebrations that are more important than both Good Friday and Easter?

Nope. But certainly we have other events in the liturgical season that are as meaningful such as Christmas and Pentecost, All Saints and All Souls Day, etc. All of these are meant to remind us of the continuing work of salvation.

 

[Shasta-Rose]

Dalex58:

Which Catholic event is more important or significant, Good Friday or Easter?

We don’t really separate the two. In fact, on Good Friday, the benediction is not pronounced, nor on Easter vigil on Saturday, until the end of the Easter service on Sunday. It is considered one celebration.

Right. The three days before Easter are called the Triduum. It is actually a separate season of the Church. It’s not part of Lent, but it isn’t yet Easter. The Triduum and Easter are one celebration.

 

[phil19034]

I am doing research on the crucifix and it would be very useful if you can answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think that Catholics use the crucifix rather than the cross as a key symbol of Catholicism? Which do you prefer?

• First, it’s not just Catholics. The Eastern Orthodox and Oriential Orthodox do the same thing. The plain cross didn’t become popular until after the Protestant revolt.
• Second, we prefer the crucifix because while the Resurrection was extremely important, the crucifiction is a vivid example of how much Jesus loves us.

1. When Jesus was crucified but rose from the dead, his resurrection is a core Catholic belief, doesn’t that make a bare cross better as it shows that he has risen?

• While the Resurrection is extremely important, His Passion is a vivid example of how much Jesus loves us.

1. What is your thought or opinion on the resurrection of Jesus, and does it play an important role in your life? If so, how?

• Sure, it is important and plays an important role in my life. But so does His ministry, His Passion, etc. To me, everything about Jesus is important.

1. In addition to the crucifix, there are other symbols in Catholicism such as the Sacred Heart, Fish, the Dove, Scared Lamb and Crossed Keys, why aren’t one of these symbols used to represent Catholicism? Do you prefer one these symbols over the crucifix?

• I really don’t know what this question means. They are all used in Catholic sacred art, but Crucifix seems to be what’s used the most because it is the one most recognized by non-Catholics.

1. How important is it for Catholics and you to attend or be involved in Good Friday and Easter?

• Extremely

1. Which Catholic event is more important or significant, Good Friday or Easter?

• This question needs to be revised a little. To Catholics, the 3 holiest days of the year is the Holy Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) are really just one liturgical day.
• Easter Sunday is the 2nd Holiest Day, when you consider the Holy Triduum as one liturgical day.

1. Are there other Catholic events and celebrations that are more important than both Good Friday and Easter?

• No