Catholic Christians: Why is Jesus usually depicted on the Cross in your religious art and jewelry?
What is the significance of this? Do "post-Easter" crosses have a place in your religious art and Jewelry too?
To Whom It May Concern: If you really want to completely lose my respect, post something anti-Catholic.
The significance is nearly as old as the faith itself — it is a constant reminder of what Jesus suffered for us. It was also a teaching tool to show converts (who were not literate, or where language barriers existed) in the form of paintings and sculpture — again, the horrible death Jesus suffered for us. It’s also a unifying symbol; a way to recognize a brother or sister in Christ on sight.
"Post Easter" crosses (I am assuming you mean the Risen Christ, or a plain cross) can also be worn, kept in the house, etc — but it really is the Crucifix that reminds us of His sacrifice.
Actually Priscilla, I read last year something from the Vatican about those Risen Christ crosses, and how they shouldn’t be used. It’ll be an easy internet search if you are interested.
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December 10 2009 03:23 pm | Catholic
Alice in R&S Land on 10 Dec 2009 at 8:54 pm #
>>What is the significance of this?<<
"we preach Christ crucified" — 1Cor. 1:23
>>Do "post-Easter" crosses have a place in your religious art and Jewelry too?<<
Eh. Not prohibited, but they don’t make sense to me. Jesus rose from the tomb, not the cross.
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Catholic
Gastounet on 10 Dec 2009 at 9:43 pm #
It’s more dramatic than to depict him having a picinic with his lover John dear….
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John the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7,20)
TattoomomKC on 10 Dec 2009 at 10:15 pm #
The significance is nearly as old as the faith itself — it is a constant reminder of what Jesus suffered for us. It was also a teaching tool to show converts (who were not literate, or where language barriers existed) in the form of paintings and sculpture — again, the horrible death Jesus suffered for us. It’s also a unifying symbol; a way to recognize a brother or sister in Christ on sight.
"Post Easter" crosses (I am assuming you mean the Risen Christ, or a plain cross) can also be worn, kept in the house, etc — but it really is the Crucifix that reminds us of His sacrifice.
Actually Priscilla, I read last year something from the Vatican about those Risen Christ crosses, and how they shouldn’t be used. It’ll be an easy internet search if you are interested.
References :
Catholic — I’ve missed you girl! Hope all is well.
Daver on 10 Dec 2009 at 10:56 pm #
1Cor.1:23 – Preach Christ Crucifed.
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Melting Media on 10 Dec 2009 at 11:27 pm #
Reading Paul Theroux’s excellent "The Old Patagonian Express" years ago, I recall Theroux tackled this as he traveled through Latin America by rail. The poorer the area, the more graphic the violent death on the cross was depicted in cathedrals. Asking a variety of people about this, including priests, Theroux concludes the the way to attract and keep adherents is to portray Jesus as suffering far more than they. The cross art varies culture to culture, from Rome to the Philippines.
While in cities like Lima and Buenos Aires, Theroux saw much milder displays. But in remote Peru, where the population is mostly poverty-stricken Incas, the horrific cross scenes were in every Catholic church Theroux visited.
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OPsaltis on 10 Dec 2009 at 11:43 pm #
If the scene depicts the crucifixion, it’s useful to have the Crucified One in the scene.
Roman Catholic doctrine (and much of Protestant doctrine) emphasizes the satisfaction of God’s wrath at our sinfulness by Jesus’ death on the cross. So Jesus is shown on the cross, to indicate that the debt of sin has been paid by an innocent one (the sacrificed lamb of Jewish Old Testament worship
Orthodox Christian neckwear only rarely depicts Jesus on the cross, which we also wear as a reminder of Christ’s triumph over sin and death. In the church, the icon of Christ is on the cross most of the year. At Easter, the icon of Jesus is removed from the cross, which then stands gloriously empty at a prominent place in the church until the Ascension is celebrated. It’s quite symbolic.
/Orthodox Christian
(Orthodox are Catholic, too, just not Roman Catholic).
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your real father on 10 Dec 2009 at 11:49 pm #
The crucifix reminds us of why he died, whereas the plain cross doesn’t to the same extent. The regular cross is much more prominant in Protestant religions, but for Catholics we always use the crucifix. Not that we don’t use a regular cross, but I’ve never seen one used behind the alter.
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