| ROME, 2 MAY 2006 (ZENIT) Answered by Father Edward McNamara,
professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: When an altar crucifix is used during the celebration of Mass, ought
the corpus to be facing toward the priest or toward the congregation? —
D.V., Washington, D.C.
A: The indications in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal are
sparse regarding the direction of the figure of Christ on the cross:
"No 308. There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ
crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly
visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a
cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the
Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations."
Taking our cue from Monsignor Peter Elliott's liturgy manual, we might
add that the crucifix should be located on, next to, immediately behind
or suspended above the altar. It should be visibly related to the altar
as viewed by the people.
As Monsignor Elliott comments: "The liturgical crucifix is not primarily
for the private devotion of the celebrant but is a sign in the midst of
the Eucharistic assembly proclaiming that the Mass is the same Sacrifice
as Calvary."
Thus, strictly speaking, the altar crucifix is in relationship to the
altar, and not just to the priest, and for this reason the "corpus" is
usually turned toward the altar.
An altar crucifix can be somewhat off-putting for the faithful who can
see only the reverse of the cross. This is a relatively new problem as,
before the liturgical reform, the whole assembly, priest and people,
faced both altar and crucifix in the same direction.
For this reason the best solution appears to be either the large
crucifix permanently behind or above the altar.
If this is not possible, then the very flexibility of the norms would
allow for a processional cross, or a larger but movable crucifix on a
stand, which is placed near the altar in such a position that clearly
relates to the altar while remaining visible to the faithful. ZE06050220
* * *
Follow-up: Where Altar Crucifixes Should Face [5-16-2006]
After our column on the position of the altar crucifix (May 2), a priest
from San Diego, California, asked:
"If the crucifix is on the altar —
and if the priest is celebrating 'versus populum' —
should the crucifix face the priest or face the people? Based on GIRM,
No. 308: 'There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ
crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly
visible to the assembled congregation.'
"Since the concern here is visibility 'to the assembled congregation,'
it would seem also that a crucifix on the mensa of the altar should be
turned to face the people."
I am not convinced of this interpretation. The mention of the figure of
Christ in the new General Instruction of the Roman Missal was inserted
above all to eliminate the nascent fashion for bare crosses. I believe
that the visibility requirement refers above all to the cross itself.
The rubrics of the Ceremonial of Bishops in use before the conciliar
reforms already foresaw the possibility of the altar "versus populum."
This book, while mandating that the cross be visible to all, also
prescribed that the corpus be placed toward the altar ("cum imagine
sanctissimi Crucifixi versa ad interiorem altaris faciem").
Another priest suggested having an altar crucifix designed with a figure
on both sides.
Although there do not seem to be present norms to forbid this practice,
it was not permitted in earlier times.
Some manuals recommended the use of other images on the side of the
cross (facing the people) such as the fish symbol or even another image
of the Redeemer such as the Good Shepherd or King of Kings.
With regard to visibility many local synods established a minimum size
of 40 centimeters (16 inches) for the vertical to 22 centimeters (8.8
inches) for the horizontal bar, although in practice the altar cross was
often larger.
A decree of Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758) also established that another
cross was not necessary if a large crucifix was painted or sculptured as
part of an altarpiece.
Although this decree is no longer operative it helps us to give an
affirmative answer to another question from Bloomington, Illinois, as to
whether a large crucifix, suspended from the ceiling or placed on the
wall behind the altar, is sufficient.
No. 129 of the present Ceremonial of Bishops recommends that the
processional cross be used as an altar cross for the bishop's Mass. If,
however, a cross is already present, then the processional cross is put
away until the end of Mass. ZE06051620
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