Why Do We Pray to the Saints? What are the Parts of the Mass? When I Leave Early? What is a Catholic Annulment? What is the Anointing of the Sick? What is Holy Week? What is Catholic Education? Why is it Important to Safekeep the Covenant of Marriage? What are the Proper Postures During Mass? Why All the "Bells and Smells"? What is Priestly Ordination? What is the Difference Between Doctrine and Dogma? Do Angels Really Exist? What is Planned Parenthood Planning Anyway? What is the Holy Year of Mercy?
How Do Catholics Practice Lent? What is the Chair of St. What is Freemasonry? Christianity was outlawed at the time in the Roman Empire and criticized by some as a religion for fools. But for Christians, the cross had deep meaning. In the early fourth century, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity. Believers said a miraculous healing took place when a sick woman was touched with one piece, proof that it was a section of the actual cross of Christ.
One section of what was believed to be the true cross was kept and venerated on Good Friday in Jerusalem from the mid-fourth century until its conquest by a Muslim caliph in the seventh century. Numerous Christian churches were constructed in the Roman Empire during the fourth and fifth centuries.
With imperial financial support, these large buildings were decorated with intricate mosaics depicting figures from the scriptures, especially of Christ and the apostles. From the sixth century through the early Middle Ages, artistic representations of the Crucifixion became more common. Sometimes Christ was depicted on the cross alone, perhaps between the other two criminals crucified with him. When you walk through the doors of the church, the crucifix is one of the first things to grab your attention: The open arms of our Savior gladly welcomes and receives us into His Presence.
There is a growing trend in many churches not to have any type of religious Christian symbol visible on the interior or exterior of the church, especially the cross. So why is the crucifix a cross which holds an image of the crucified or suffering Jesus so important in our Catholic tradition?
Why not a simple plain cross, as is the custom in other Christian traditions? The Church requires that a crucifix be visible during the celebration of Mass to remind us of the sacrifice of Jesus on the altar of the cross, which is made present for us each time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
Initially this was done in a veiled way, using symbolic figures to represent Jesus on the cross. Initially the Greek letters tau T and rho P were interposed, and created an abstract image that looks like someone on the cross.
However, once Christianity was legalized, artists were able to be more realistic and open, and Christians freely depicted Jesus on the cross. One of the inspirations behind this artistic expression comes from St. In the end, the crucifix reminds us that there is no resurrection without the cross, and that we are called to pick up our own crosses and follow after Jesus.
He has shown us the example of true Christian living and we are to imitate him and his great love for all humanity, willing to do anything, even if that means giving up our lives for another person.
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