Veneration of the Cross

[geetarplayer]

First let's note that I love Catholic traditions such as Communion, adoration, the special place of honor we give to Mary, etc.

That being said, today we had two opportunities to venerate the cross--one at the Good Friday service and one at the stations of the cross. I was at the stations of the cross, and quite frankly it made me sort of uneasy. Why are Catholics asked to kiss (or venerate in any other way) a cross... which is not even the same cross that Jesus died on? Forgive me, but it seems kind of pagan.

-Mark

[Dave]

Well, it's like kissing a photograph of your mother -- if you do, are you venerating a piece of cardboard, or are you honoring the person who it represents? In the same way, when we venerate the cross, we're honoring Jesus, who the cross represents.

[Norseman82]

Don't sweat it. There is no requirement that you HAVE to kiss the cross.

[jiyoung]

i think it'd be appropriate because first of all as dave said, it's a representation of the cross on which Christ died. but for me, it's not as much venerating the cross itself but what the cross means--Christ's sacrifice. i think of how grateful i am that Jesus died for us. and i venerate Him and thank Him for His sacrifice.

[argent_paladin]

ditto what they said...
and btw, Communion isn't a tradition in the same way that the other things you mentioned are. The Eucharist is a sacrament, established by Christ.

[cmotherofpirl]

We are physical beings and touch is an important sense. Religion is not just a head thing.
So to touch or kiss the representation of the Cross can be a powerful experience.

[Fidei Defensor]

Calling it adoration of the Cross is what made me uneasy..

[Cathurian]

Not the Cross in front of you. The Cross Jesus died on

Right?

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote name='Cathurian' date='Mar 26 2005, 09:39 AM'] Not the Cross in front of you. The Cross Jesus died on

Right? [/quote]
I think so.. I hope so.

[Andrea348]

i only started going to good friday services when i started college and a was used to the way we did it....one single file line to go up to the cross and some people spent a short time there before kissing it or some people just hugged it or touched it......yesterday there were two lines going up to the cross and it was like kiss and leave....it was really awkward for me, but i guess you must do that when there are more people that need to do it

[Guest Eremite]

The use of relics and physical vehicles of grace goes back to the Old Testament. When Elisha died, for example, the mere touch of his bones brought a man to life:

"Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet." (2Kings 13:20-21)

We also see the continuation of this in the Acts of the Apostles:

"So extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished at the hands of Paul that when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them." (Acts 19:11-12)

The crosses we venerate come with the blessing of the Church itself, and so are sacramentals, which we rightly venerate; not for what they are in themselves, but for what they represent.

[Paphnutius]

As for us here, our cross had a relic of the True Cross...

[SevenSorrows]

[quote name='geetarplayer' date='Mar 25 2005, 10:27 PM'] First let's note that I love Catholic traditions such as Communion, adoration, the special place of honor we give to Mary, etc.

That being said, today we had two opportunities to venerate the cross--one at the Good Friday service and one at the stations of the cross. I was at the stations of the cross, and quite frankly it made me sort of uneasy. Why are Catholics asked to kiss (or venerate in any other way) a cross... which is not even the same cross that Jesus died on? Forgive me, but it seems kind of pagan.

-Mark [/quote]
Do what your heart calls you to do.

A few things to think about.

as others pointed out, we kiss relics.

yes the cross people were kissing, wasn't the true cross, but the passion movie wasn't real, and i was still crying.

Why do people kiss the rosary after making the sign of the cross?

Why do mexican's kiss their finger when they do the sign of the cross (when their finger clearly isn't a cross, nor the real cross)

It all just comes down to devotion to God. For me, the cross is a holy symbol. Christ turned the cross, which was a tourture device of death, into the sign of salvation. So when I kiss it, I remember him, I think of kissing Jesus.

I remember as an altar server, we had a big cross, held up by two of us and people got to come up to kiss it. It was my first "crazy God" feeling. cause the priest had talked about united your cross with his, and leaving your sins/problems with him, and I could actually feel the people's sins when they came up (I am not saying I am padre pio or anything..hahaha)

but then I always got crazy feelings too when I used to be an extraordinary minister of the eucharist for the most precious blood. but enough of me.

[StPiusVPrayForUs]

Kissing of the Cross isn't limited to just the Crucifix during Holy Week. The 1950s Palm Sunday celebrations that is still observe in many TLM communities has the priest blessing the palms, giving a reading of the Holy Gospel, and then the priest would give a palm to the altar boy(s) kneeling and they would first kiss the palm and then the priest's (the alter Christus in persona Christi) hand. Likewise, the kaity do the same but they kneel at the altar rail and afterwords there is a procession outdoors leading up to the cross opening up the church's door symbolizing the opening of the gates of Heaven.

[Ash Wednesday]

You're venerating the cross as a symbolic gesture, much like we wear crosses, display them in church, etc.

Many people venerate Jesus by kissing the feet of a crucifix after saying a rosary, for example.

Because I've been sick I didn't want to venerate the cross with my germs, so I just knelt down and touched the cross and said a prayer of thanks to Jesus. No kisses from me this year.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='fidei defensor' date='Mar 26 2005, 09:19 AM'] Calling it adoration of the Cross is what made me uneasy.. [/quote]
The article in New Advent points out that the use of the word "adoration" in this case is archaic. It was a general word for venerate at one time.

Further, the practice originated with kissing the True Cross, a relic, and we all know that kissing relics, medals, and crucifixes in general is a common custom.

Dave is correct in his judgment.

[musturde]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Mar 27 2005, 01:25 AM']

Further, the practice originated with kissing the True Cross, a relic, and we all know that kissing relics, medals, and crucifixes in general is a common custom.
[/quote]
Esp. among eastern rite and ded. Mexicans and Italians.... Actually I don't see much of us doing it in America. It's just a sign of respect and love.