"The crucifix is not a decoration; it's not a work of art with many precious stones like you see. The crucifix is the mystery of the 'annihilation' of God out of love," Pope Francis told those gathered at Santa Marta for morning Mass yesterday.
Pope Francis is of course right. Although his main reflection focused on the symbolic significance of the crucifix and the image of the serpent, his comments above got me thinking about how the crucifix is used as a decorative symbol outside Christianity and how Christians can benefit from its prominence.
For Christians, the crucifix is never simply a decorative object and viewing it solely as one strips away its significance. But how do we deal with its prolific use in consumer culture where it's often used for commercial or controversial aims? The cross features in so much of popular culture, be it music videos, jewellery or art. In many cases its use has no intended relevance to Christianity or it's incorporated to exploit or mock the Christian faith.
The commercialisation of a symbol which is of unquantifiable significance to Christians will naturally generate criticism, cause offence and result in believers objecting to its use in this way. But the crucifix acts as a reminder of Christ's suffering in whatever way it is portrayed, whether this consequence is intentional or not. The connection between Christ's sacrifice cannot be erased because of the context in which the symbol is placed. We shouldn't condone the crucifix being denigrated but its presence in the midst of a sea of secular imagery should be welcomed.
Commercial uses aside, some Christians are even against the crucifix been worn for religious purposes. For many Catholics the crucifix is a symbol which isn't just found in church but it's one that has a prominent place in the home and even on their person. On Good Friday, Catholics around the world kiss the wood of the crucifix at Mass as part of the Veneration of the Cross and throughout the year the rosary, which features a crucifix, is used for prayer.
So is it OK for Christians to wear a crucifix? I think what matters most is how we use the symbol. A cross or crucifix on a necklace should be regarded as more than just a piece of jewellery but as a tool to help us contemplate Christ's suffering and God's love for us.
During his homily on Tuesday, Pope Francis also said that to understand the "history of our redemption" we must look at the crucifix. I'd argue that this is why so many Christians have an attachment to the symbol in a tangible form. With a crucifix you can run your fingers over the marks which represent the nails that pinned Christ to the cross, visualise his suffering and meditate on the scale of his sacrifice.
In addition to this, a crucifix doesn't just become a reminder to the wearer and the Christian community, it also reminds everyone the wearer comes into contact with. Our actions are the greatest way that we can define our identities but our appearance is a factor too, which helps to explain why so many Christians have fought for the right to wear their crosses. Wearing a crucifix can be an intentional act of visual witness.
As the pontiff said on Tuesday, salvation "was not accomplished with a magic wand" and so the wearing of a cross or crucifix shouldn't be viewed as a good luck charm but as a tool to guide us into deeper meditation on how Jesus gave his life for us and what that means.
