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I Corinthians
1:23-24 "But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock,
and unto the Gentiles foolishness: But unto them that are called, both Jews
and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God."
Every Catholic home should have a Cruficix hanging over the bed in each bedroom,
and, most importantly, at least one in a common area, such as the Dining
Room, Living Room, or Family Room. In addition, generally speaking, Catholics
should wear Crucifixes -- not empty Crosses (aside from stylized ones of
significance) -- around their necks. Why Crucifixes instead of empty Crosses?
Because, as did Paul, we preach Christ crucified, and know that we get to
the Resurrection through the Cross, that we are called to pick up
our own crosses and carry them, offering up
our sufferings in imitation of Him.
Crucifixes may be gotten at any Catholic gift shop and are the perfect gift
for a newlywed couple as one can't have too many of them. You'll find Crucifixes
to be worn around the neck, some to be hung on walls, some on stands to be
placed on tables, etc. 1
You will see on some Crucifixes a skull and crossbones at the foot of the
Cross. Aside from symbolizing victory over death, this skull more specifically
represents the skull of Adam, said in Jewish and Christian tradition to have
been buried at Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. The Blood of Christ,
the New Adam, redeems man, as symbolized by the skull of the First Adam.
I Corinthians 15:22, 45: "And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall
be made alive...The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last
Adam into a quickening spirit."
You also might see a representation of the titulus crucis -- the plaque
marked with "I.N.R.I." which stands for "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum," the
Latin initials for "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." This inscription
was written in Latin, Hebrew, and Greek and placed at the top of Jesus' Cross
according to Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38 and John 19:19.
Crucifixes should be blessed by a priest and treated with great veneration.
Kissing a Crucifix is an indulgenced act.
There are a few Crucifixes and Crosses that stand out and should be mentioned
individually. The first of these is the San Damiano
Crucifix.
San Damiano Crucifix
The San Damiano
Crucifix was written by an 11th or 12th c. Umbrian artist, and it came to
adorn the chapel of San Damiano in Assisi, Italy. It was before this Crucifix
that Saint Francis of Assisi was converted and received word from the Lord
to repair His Church. The Poor Clares, an Order of nuns founded by Clare
of Assisi, a good friend of St. Francis, took the Crucifix with them to San
Giorgio in 1257, and it now resides at San Giorgio's Chapel in the Basilica
of St Clare of Assisi. Now, look at the Crucifix more closely:
This Crucifix is
full of the Gospel events of His Passion. At the top, we see Our Lord ascending
into Heaven, toward the hand of His Father.
The Blessed Virgin and John, who was appointed to be her caretaker, stand
to Christ's right (our left). To Christ's left (our right) are the Magdalen,
Mary Cleophas (mother of James), and the Centurion whose words we speak
at Mass, "Dómine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum
dic verbo, et sanábitur ánima mea" (Lord, I am not worthy that
Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall
be healed). The little boy behind the Centurion is the Centurion's son whom
Jesus healed.
Also present are two other Roman soldiers, Longinus, who pierced Jesus' side
with a lance, and Stephen, who gave Him vinegar to drink (some say this second
figure is that of Pilate).
Beside His right leg is Adam, biting into the apple, and above Adam is the
rooster as a symbol of Peter's denial.
At the very bottom, under His feet, are 6 unkown Saints.
The transverse arm of the Cross is actually a tomb -- the empty tomb -- and
at either end are Peter and John running toward it, being met by the two
groups of two angels who let them know "He is not here."
The Pardon Crucifix
I have to mention
this Crucifix because it is so lovely and is relevant to one of my favorite
Popes, Pope St. Pius X, who granted these
indulgences (not in the new Enchiridion):
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Whoever carries
on his person the Pardon Crucifix, may thereby gain an indulgence.
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For devoutly kissing
the Crucifix, an indulgence is gained.
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Whoever says one
of the following invocations before this crucifix may gain each time an
indulgence: "Our Father who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us." "I beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to
pray to the Lord our God for me."
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Whoever, habitually
devout to this Crucifix, will fulfill the necessary conditions of Confession
and Holy Communion, may gain a Plenary Indulgence on the following feasts:
On the feasts of the Five Wounds of our Lord, the Invention of the Holy Cross,
the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Immaculate Conception, and the Seven
Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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Whoever at the
moment of death, fortified with the Sacraments of the Church, or contrite
of heart, in the supposition of being unable to receive them, will kiss this
Crucifix and ask pardon of God for his sins, and pardon his neighbour, will
gain a Plenary Indulgence.
On the back of
the Crucifix, on the transverse arms, are the words, "Father, forgive them."
On the long part of the Cross are the words, "Behold this heart which has
so loved men." The Sacred Heart is shown where the
two arms of the Cross meet.
Caravaca Cross or Crucifix
(a.k.a. "Cara Vaca" and "Cuernavaca")
This Cross takes its name from Caravaca (now known as Caravaca de la Cruz),
Spain, a town in the province of Murcia where, in A.D. 1231, a priest was
imprisoned by the Moors. Out of curiosity, his captors' King, Abu Zeid, asked
him to say Mass, but as the priest began, he realized he didn't have the
necessary Crucifix. As his captors grew angry, the Patriarch of Jerusalem's
pectoral cross was transported to the priest through an open window, borne
by two angels. Seeing this, King Abu Zeid converted to the true religion.
The "Caravaca Cross," then, is the two-armed Lorraine Cross that is used
by Archbishops and Patriarchs. Some representations are Crucifixes, such
as the one above, and may show the angels that carried the Cross, one on
each side. The words "Caravaca" may appear on the second arm of the Cross
such that "Cara" is on one side, and "vaca" on the other. This is a very
popular Crucifix in Spain and Mexico.
Dagmar Cross
The name of this
Cross, which is pronounced "dowmer," is derived from the name of the Queen
who wore it -- Queen Dagmar of Denmark. She was born around A.D. 1189 in
Bohemia, and became the wife of the Danish king, Valdemar II ("Valdemar the
Victorious"), who reigned from A.D. 1202-1241.
When her grave was opened in 1690, this Cross was found around her neck.
Though Dagmar was a 13th century personality, the Cross is believed to date
to around A.D. 1000. At the center of the Cross is the figure of Christ,
and the four arms depict, starting at the top and moving clockwise, St. John
Chrysostom, St. John the Evangelist, St. Basil, and Our Lady. The backside
of the Cross is a Crucifix.
It is especially prized by the Danish people (because of Dagmar's birthplace,
the Cross was adopted by Lutherans as a symbol, too, sadly. It is, though,
in fact, a Catholic Cross originally, and now.).
Read also about the St. Benedict Medal
for information on the Crucifixes with the St. Benedict Medal embedded --
a most powerful sacramental. See, too, see the page on
Christian Symbols for the shapes of other types
of Crucifixes and Crosses.
Footnote:
1 Note on getting wearable Crucifixes: don't waste
your time getting pewter ones, even though they are so inexpensive. They
bend, break, turn black, etc.; get silver, gold, wood, etc.
To clean a tarnished silver Crucifix, apply toothpaste to it and clean it
away with a sponge. If it is badly tarnished, make a paste of baking soda
and water and leave it on the Crucifix for a while. Then rub away with a
wet sponge. Another method is as follows: Put a sheet of aluminum foil in
the bottom of a pan and add 2-3 inches of extremely hot water, some baking
soda, and some salt. Add Crucifix so it sits on the foil, and let it sit
for a few minutes. Remove Crucifix, rinse, dry, and buff with a soft cloth.
Don't use this method with jeweled crucifixes.
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