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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Inappropiate Altar Crucifix Patricia Saturday, December 10, 2005

Question:

An Altar Cross, in the conventional sense, does not exist on the Altar at this Shrine. In its place is a huge plexa glass cross with a deformed body of Christ, showing only the nail wound holes in both hands and feet, hangs before it. Even the processional cross does not represent a Crucifix because North, South, East, and West are adorned with colored glass.

It has been my understanding that to have a valid Roman Catholic Mass a true Crucifix must be in full view upon the Altar.

Is my understanding correct or incorrect.
Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Patricia,

Yes you are correct that the altar cross must have a figure of the crucified Christ.

But just to clarify some vocabulary:  an INVALID mass means that there actually was no sacrifice, that the bread and wine never actually become the Body and the Blood.  This is relatively rare.

If there is no altar cross present, that doesn't mean that the Mass is invalid.  Many people would refer to this as an "illicit" mass, meaning a mass within which liturgical laws were broken, disregarded or changed for whatever reason.  Priests and other ministers are required to celebrate mass licitly, but when they don't for whatever reason, it doesn't mean the mass must be invalid.

In order for a mass to become invalid something very serious must happen. Three examples: the priest using something other than bread and wine, omitting the consecration, or someone other than a validly ordained priest/bishop celebrating the mass.

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.