Dear May:

The so-called "Risen Christ" crucifixes are an oxymoron. Christ was not on the Cross when he resurrected. These "Risen Christ" crucifixes one painfully sees in many parishes is, in my opinion, an attempt to soft pedal the Passion.

I heard a few months ago that in the parish where I offered my vows as a consecrated brother the crucifix and corpus in the Sanctuary had been altered. Previously it has a few specks of blood dripping down our Lord's face and chest. A friend of mine, who is now the pastor at the parish, asked why these small depictions of blood were removed. He was told that they did not want to disturb the children!!!!

Give me a break. Our children see blood and gore daily on TV. How was this modestly artistic depiction of a few drops of blood on the corpus of our Lord going to upset the children? And, why has it not upset the children of the parish for the decades previous to this alteration?

Such nonsense is an attempt to water down the Passion. We do not want to be reminded any more than necessary about the pain and suffering our Lord voluntarily accepted for love of us. By george, if we think to much about the Passion we might begin to feel guilty for not living the way we should. God forbid that we feel guilty. 

In addition to this disingenuous display of the "Risen Christ," using such a thing is liturgically nonsensical not only because the Resurrected Christ was not on the Cross, but because it does not to mind or represent either mystery -- the Passion or the Resurrection. Any art that is used in liturgy is meant to "naturally" bring our minds to the mysteries without having to figure out an interpretation of the art.

Thirdly, the "Risen Christ" crucifix has absolutely no liturgical history or tradition, and frankly fails as a trivial artistic representation. It is, in my opinion, a scandal to have this thing in the Sanctuary, and from an artistic point-of-view, to have it anywhere on parish property.

But the question concerns whether or not this "Risen Christ" figure is legal.

Unfortunately, it is legal with one proviso. During the Mass a traditional crucifix with corpus MUST be on or near the altar. If the only "crucifix" present during the Mass is the "Risen Christ" one, then the priest is doing something illegal.

The General Instructions on the Roman Missal states:

117. ...Also on or close to the altar, there is to be a cross with a figure of Christ crucified. The candles and the cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified may also be carried in the Entrance Procession.

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.

Thus, as long as a regular crucifix is prominently present during the Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the "Risen Christ" figure, while liturgically impotent and artistically tacky, can be in the parish church (presuming the permission of the Bishop).

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

P.S. I thought I read somewhere that new legislation was enacted that ordered the "Risen Christ" figures to be taken down, but I cannot find the reference. Thus until such time as the Holy See orders these things to be taken down, as long as a real crucifix is present during Mass I guess they are allowed.