The Crucifix
The new crucifix,
set to hang above the Tabernacle, symbolizes the profound mystery of the cross and the transformative power it represents. While crucifixion was a humiliating form of death in the Roman world, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross reveals God's love and glory. Despite the apparent weakness and humiliation of the crucifixion, it ultimately led to victory over sin and death.
The crucifix reminds us of Jesus’ supreme act of redemption and deliverance, offering hope and renewal to anyone who beholds it, regardless of their trials or suffering. When the believers gaze upon the cross, they are reminded of our invitation to center our lives around the cross, dying to ourselves. This cruciform way of life emphasizes that our trials and challenges acquire significance when we recognize them as connected to Christ's cross, allowing His light to shine upon them and infuse our sufferings with genuine purpose.
Architecturally,
positioning the crucifix prominently at the front and center of the church, right above the Tabernacle, aligning directly behind the altar, holds deep significance. It becomes a focal point of worship as all three elements point to the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324). In the Jewish Passover tradition, the altar was used to offer lamb sacrifices as a form of devotion and worship to God. This sacrificial practice prefigured Jesus as "the Lamb of God" who would redeem the world through the shedding of His blood on the cross. The altar, then, is where the sacrifice of the cross is made present by the Eucharist, which is housed in the tabernacle directly behind it.
The beauty of having the crucifix in the center of St. Ann is that it becomes a focal point. In other words, what the believer sees when they gaze at the cross is a sacrificial love that is physically made present again in the Eucharist, in the Tabernacle, and on the altar during the consecration.
Transcend
keep the conversation going about the beauty of the Catholic faith and the Transcend Campaign. Want to see how you can sponsor a facet of the Church? Email Rebecca Almanza, our development director, at ralmanza@stannparish.org. Please continue to pray for the successful completion of these projects and for our church.