By Bob Sullivan
Catholics have a lot of things in common with non-Catholic Christians, but the crucifix is not one of them. While there are some non-Catholic Christians who appreciate and employ the crucifix in their faith, most do not. In fact, when you see a crucifix, you can be pretty sure that you are in a Catholic church, building, or home.
While non-Catholic Christians are perfectly comfortable with crosses, some find crucifixes downright disturbing. Such Christians usually voice their disdain, and wonder why a cross is not sufficient, or they ask why we need the corpse of Christ on the cross. As Catholics, we are frequently reminded that there is nothing truly comfortable about the Christian faith. Satisfaction, pleasure, and joy are parts of the faith, but when we grow comfortable with some part of our faith, it is usually a sign of spiritual stagnation or regression.
As evidence of this, the culture is slowly turning the cross into nothing more than a component of art. Some modern Christian churches do not even have a cross, much less an altar. Therefore, the true questions are these: What is the cross without Christ, and what is a Christian church without a cross?
The Catholic faith incorporates a lot of beauty in its practice and expression. We have many beautiful churches across the world which are considered masterpieces of architectural design, and some of which are considered true wonders. Inside our churches you commonly find ornate high altars, intricate stained glass, and replicas of famous works of sacred art, such as sculptures, paintings and mosaics by Michelangelo, Donatello, Bernini, Fra Angelico, and Caravaggio. If you visit Catholic churches in Europe, you can find the originals of these works of art.
In the Catholic Church, we also find an extensive body of musical masterpieces by composers such as Antonin Dvořák, Mozart, Brahms, and Haydn.
The Mass itself can truly be a work of art when it is celebrated faithfully and reverently.
What does the architectural, visual art, and musical art have to do with the crucifix? All of the beauty in the Catholic faith is intended to draw our hearts and minds to the beauty of the ultimate, unqualified, and infinite love of Jesus Christ, which is perfectly shown through His Passion. The pinnacle of the Passion is Christ’s crucifixion.
In the days before widespread literacy, stained-glass, sculptures, paintings, mosaics, orchestras, and architecture were the things which drew hearts and minds toward the beautiful, the good, and the truth of the Gospel. I think they still are. In other words, what we see and hear in our Catholic faith is merely a taste for the true goal of our faith: the truth, beauty, and goodness of God. All of this is shown perfectly on the crucifix.
For some people, visual and audible beauty are not intriguing or attractive. If you read about many of the Protestant leaders, you will find that many of them seemed largely unmoved by art, architecture, and the musical style of their day. In fact, many Catholic churches, monasteries, and convents, were ransacked and/or burned to the ground by those who protested against the Catholic faith. The Protestant churches which sprung up afterward were increasingly austere. Some denominations took this to the extreme, such as the Puritans and the Mennonites. If you walk into many non-Catholic Christian churches today, you will see something similar to a lecture hall or an auditorium, devoid of noticeable Christian symbols.
Modern trends aside, sacred art is supposed to nourish faith and devotion in God. This is why the crucifix is at the center of all art in the Catholic faith, and at the center of each crucifix: Jesus Christ showing us the ultimate act of love. While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
While the cross is a powerful symbol, and one appropriate for all Christians, the crucifix, which includes the cross, reminds us of the fact that we should not, and cannot, separate the cross from Christ, as many are doing today, intentionally or unintentionally. For Christians, the depiction of the cross of Christ, especially the crucifix, is a symbol of Christ’s triumph over evil. In fact, the crucifix remains such a pure symbol of Christ, that it remains a central part of exorcisms. The spontaneous reaction to the crucifix by those who revere it and those who disdain it (especially demons), serves as proof of the power of the crucifix. Few if any exorcists would choose to undertake an exorcism with a cross instead of a crucifix.
In a day and age where many people wear a cross as nothing more than a piece of jewelry or possibly as a sentimental reminder of their parents’ faith, and when many homes display artistic renditions of crosses as home décor, it is even more important to reject modern trends.
For many, Catholics included, the cross is sufficient as a symbol and expression of their Christian faith. However, if your faith is in Christ and the sacrifice He made, no symbol surpasses the crucifix in its clarity and power.
This is my Catholic answer when asked why we have Christ’s body on our crosses. The cross does not bother me, but the crucifix does. Not every cross includes Christ, but every crucifix includes the cross. And on every crucifix, I see Christ’s perfect and infinite love for me, even though I am not worthy of it. The cross should be as shocking today as it was 2,000 years ago. One can easily grow comfortable with an image of a cross, but no one should grow comfortable with an image of the crucifixion.
