Crucified or Risen? Biblical and liturgical reflections on the role and place of the Cross in the Sanctuary
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21906/rbl.140Keywords:
Cross, crucifix, resurrection, sanctuary, altar, tabernacle, Holy Mass, Eucharist, liturgical regulationsAbstract
The present article looks at the place and purpose of the Cross in the Roman Catholic Sanctuary. Liturgical regulations concerning this matter have their basis in Sacred Scripture. A Cross with an image of the crucified Lord on the altar is a reminder, that the essence of the Eucharist is the holy Sacrifice of Christ on Golgotha. The Crucifix is also a reference point which helps us deepen our spiritual participation in the Mass. For this reason, placing the cross in the middle of the altar seems to be a meaningful way to emphasize the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist. Christ present in the tabernacle and the image of the crucified Lord on the Cross together point to the paschal unity of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, as it is seen in the Mass.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).