Giles Fraser writes: “For some, the cross is a symbol of human salvation and has nothing to do with politics. This is both theologically mistaken and politically naive.” As it happens, there is no Big Book of Really True Symbolic Meanings – no one gets to decide the meanings of symbols for other people. Different people interpret symbolism differently, and different contexts give rise to different meanings, as well. Fraser appears to have gotten his history wrong. The use of the Cross in connection with Christianity is attested to much earlier than the conversion of Constantine, and not as a… Read more »
Chris Smith
12 years ago
I would be curious as to when the crucifix as symbol became an “essential” element on all altars in Latin Rite Churches and some Anglican churches? After Vatican II this “symbol” was moved to another place and the bare “table” without this symbol became common place until John Paul II’s “reform of the reform” returned the Church of Rome to Trent. In this discussion, the “symbol” of the cross is easily understand as a symbol of torture like a hangman’s rope would be the same kind of symbol. Wearing it should be fine in most cases but perhaps the time… Read more »
Bill Dilworth
12 years ago
From the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia: “It is probable that the custom of placing a crucifix on the altar did not commence long before the sixth century. Benedict XIV (De Sacrificio Missae, P. I, 19) holds that this custom comes down from the time of the Apostles. However, the earliest documentary evidence of placing a cross on the altar is canon III of the Council of Tours, held in 567: “Ut corpus Domini in Altari, non in armario, sed sub crucis titulo componatur”. “
Bill Dilworth
12 years ago
As far as Anglican altars are concerned, Elizabeth I famously kept a crucifix in her private chapel in the face of Puritan criticism. I believe that they are allowed under the Ornaments Rubric, but whether they were ever used anywhere between the time of Elizabeth and the 19th century, I don’t know. I have read that most English parish churches didn’t have altar crucifixes, but Great Roods, set above the rood screen between the nave and chancel, were very common. When they were destroyed in the 16th and 17th centuries, in some places the parishioners retaliated by painting large crosses… Read more »
Chris Smith
12 years ago
Thank you Bill Dillworth for your valuable information on the earliest uses of the crucifix on altars. I can always depend on knowledgable people like you at the Thinking Anglicans website to shed light on questions such as this. For some reason in North America, the disappearance of small crucifixes from the altars of Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches happened slowly after the close of Vatican II. The positions of these crucifixes has been moved to the wall behind the sermon lecterns area of the churches, but off the actual altars. Presently, the reappearance of these crucifixes on many altars… Read more »
Isn’t there a purple passage by Tertullian on the use of the cross in Christian practice (On the Soldiers Crown iii)? WELL before the battle of the Milvian Bridge?
c.r.seitz
12 years ago
Would that not have to do with the change toward celebrating facing the congregation?
Bill Dilworth
12 years ago
CR Seitz, The edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal issued in 1975 specified that ““there should be a cross, easily seen by the congregation, either on the altar or near it” (no. 270). Churches removed the crosses, it would seem, because of concern over being able to see the priest, but the removal was not ordered. I think that the current thinking higher up is that concern about sight lines is misplaced, and there’s encouragement of something called a Benedictine arrangement – altar crucifix and six candlesticks – intended to be used whatever direction the priest faces.… Read more »
c.r.seitz
12 years ago
“Churches removed the crosses, it would seem, because of concern over being able to see the priest” — yes, so my conjecture.
Bill Dilworth
12 years ago
Right, but my point was that it was an ad hoc approach, not one required by the Church or even the logistics of celebrations facing the people.
Giles Fraser writes: “For some, the cross is a symbol of human salvation and has nothing to do with politics. This is both theologically mistaken and politically naive.” As it happens, there is no Big Book of Really True Symbolic Meanings – no one gets to decide the meanings of symbols for other people. Different people interpret symbolism differently, and different contexts give rise to different meanings, as well. Fraser appears to have gotten his history wrong. The use of the Cross in connection with Christianity is attested to much earlier than the conversion of Constantine, and not as a… Read more »
I would be curious as to when the crucifix as symbol became an “essential” element on all altars in Latin Rite Churches and some Anglican churches? After Vatican II this “symbol” was moved to another place and the bare “table” without this symbol became common place until John Paul II’s “reform of the reform” returned the Church of Rome to Trent. In this discussion, the “symbol” of the cross is easily understand as a symbol of torture like a hangman’s rope would be the same kind of symbol. Wearing it should be fine in most cases but perhaps the time… Read more »
From the 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia: “It is probable that the custom of placing a crucifix on the altar did not commence long before the sixth century. Benedict XIV (De Sacrificio Missae, P. I, 19) holds that this custom comes down from the time of the Apostles. However, the earliest documentary evidence of placing a cross on the altar is canon III of the Council of Tours, held in 567: “Ut corpus Domini in Altari, non in armario, sed sub crucis titulo componatur”. “
As far as Anglican altars are concerned, Elizabeth I famously kept a crucifix in her private chapel in the face of Puritan criticism. I believe that they are allowed under the Ornaments Rubric, but whether they were ever used anywhere between the time of Elizabeth and the 19th century, I don’t know. I have read that most English parish churches didn’t have altar crucifixes, but Great Roods, set above the rood screen between the nave and chancel, were very common. When they were destroyed in the 16th and 17th centuries, in some places the parishioners retaliated by painting large crosses… Read more »
Thank you Bill Dillworth for your valuable information on the earliest uses of the crucifix on altars. I can always depend on knowledgable people like you at the Thinking Anglicans website to shed light on questions such as this. For some reason in North America, the disappearance of small crucifixes from the altars of Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches happened slowly after the close of Vatican II. The positions of these crucifixes has been moved to the wall behind the sermon lecterns area of the churches, but off the actual altars. Presently, the reappearance of these crucifixes on many altars… Read more »
Isn’t there a purple passage by Tertullian on the use of the cross in Christian practice (On the Soldiers Crown iii)? WELL before the battle of the Milvian Bridge?
Would that not have to do with the change toward celebrating facing the congregation?
CR Seitz, The edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal issued in 1975 specified that ““there should be a cross, easily seen by the congregation, either on the altar or near it” (no. 270). Churches removed the crosses, it would seem, because of concern over being able to see the priest, but the removal was not ordered. I think that the current thinking higher up is that concern about sight lines is misplaced, and there’s encouragement of something called a Benedictine arrangement – altar crucifix and six candlesticks – intended to be used whatever direction the priest faces.… Read more »
“Churches removed the crosses, it would seem, because of concern over being able to see the priest” — yes, so my conjecture.
Right, but my point was that it was an ad hoc approach, not one required by the Church or even the logistics of celebrations facing the people.