The Cross became the symbol of the Crucifixion at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, as opposed to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131-144  Pope John Paul II, with the Monstrance and Crucifix of Jesus Christ The Cross (Crucifix - for there is a difference, the crucifix always shows Our Lord's agony in many distorted and graphic figures hanging on the cross) became the symbol of Christ's Crucifixion at the Council of NAACO in A.D. 325, as opposed to the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Constantine decreed that the Cross was to be the official symbol of Christianity, even though he was a worshipper of the Sun God. Catholic images always portray Christ as dead or grotesquely still hanging on the cross - WHY?
"Whenever a cross is referred to in connection with Catholic liturgy (e.g., an altar cross) a crucifix is to be understood. The crucifix is now seen on the altars of all ancient churches except the Coptic and Restrain, though in the East carving in the round is generally forbidden." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131
"But the use of the crucifix was not general before the 6th century, and the representation of our Lord suffering or dead is yet more recent: it began about the 13th century and only became general with the Spanish influence of the counterreformation." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131  Crucifixes,
monks, rosaries and the devil are depicted during the Inquisition
Period of the Church. "The traditional Catholic crucifix represented our Lord crowned, robed, alive, not hanging on but reigning from the cross." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131 [ I have never seen one of these pictures spoken of by the Church? But here is one of the Virgin Mary]
"The Cross is called a crucifix that bears an effigy of Christ crucified. The crucifix is not only a prominent symbol of Easter, but is widely used by the Catholic Church as a year-round emblem." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131
The worship of the cross is looked upon as the grand charm, as the great refuge in every season of danger, in every hour of temptation as the infallible preservative from all the powers of darkness.
"A crucifix should be placed over an altar where Mass is celebrated; it is recommended that there be a crucifix in each home; and a crucifix is attached to the pendant portion of all rosaries. - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131
The skull seen upon some crucifixes is not essential to the crucifix; it is simply a symbol of Calvary ('the place of the skull'). More proper is the tablet or banner, called the 'title,' attached near the top of the upright beam, bearing the letters: I N R I, the initials of the Latin words for 'Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.' - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131
Special indulgences are attached to the crucifix and to certain prayers recited before it [the crucifix]. In the liturgy a crucifix upon a standard called a 'processional cross,' is carried into the sacred area at the time of the entrance procession." - The Catholic Encyclopedia, p. 145  Feast of the Cross The Crucifix that Pope John Paul II is holding is not a Traditional Crucifix, shown below. This Crucifix is known as a "Bent Cross". Roman Catholic author, Piers Compton, writing in his book, The Broken Cross: Hidden Hand In the Vatican", Channel Islands, Neville Spearman, 1981, explains that this Bent Crucifix is "... a sinister symbol, used by Satanists in the sixth century, that had been revived at the time of Vatican Two. This was a bent or broken cross, on which displays a repulsive and distorted figure of Christ.
A thought - if Christ died in the electric chair, would Christians proudly wear that around their necks? Would Catholics mark that onto their foreheads or put onto their loved ones casket? Veneration of the Cross is the honor paid to a relic of the true cross. As a relic it may be carried under a canopy in procession, is genuflected (they mean BOW TO) when on exposition, and is kissed as a mark of respect." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131
The crucifix is worshiped on Good Friday: - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131 "The liturgical action of the Good Friday celebration of the Lord's Passion is known as Veneration (they mean WORSHIP) of the cross. This is the beginning of the second part of the celebration, following the general intercessions, at which time the priest, clergy, and faithful approach in a procession to where the unveiled cross is presented, and make a simple genuflection or give some other appropriate sign of reverence, e.g., kissing the cross or corpus..." - A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131  The Veneration (worrship)
of the Cross
- A Catholic Dictionary, p. 131 The 40-day penitential season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding at midnight on Holy Saturday, the day before "Easter Sunday". Pope John Paul II Pope receiving his cross of ashes from Cardinal Jozef Tomko (R) during the traditional Ash Wednesday service at the Saint Sabina Basilica in Rome March 5, 2003.
Holy Week, commences on Palm Sunday , including Good Friday , the traditional day of the crucifixion and terminates on Holy Saturday; the Octave of Easter, extending from Easter Sunday through the following Sunday. When the church gives palms out on "Palm Sunday" they are tied in the form of a cross. As Christ passed over the Hebrews in the time of Moses with the blood of a lamb marked on each door, so Christ as the Lamb of God, shed His blood for all who would repent and receive Him as their RISEN Savior.
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