Grace Thompson
The veneration of the cross is a Catholic act of reverence towards a crucifix, which is a physical expression of gratitude to the Lord for his death on the cross, which won salvation for humanity. This act of veneration is not idol worship, but rather a show of respect and reverence for the object that is not of the same kind as that given to God. In other words, Catholics do not worship the cross itself but what it represents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Veneration means to give great respect or reverence. |
| Object of veneration | Catholics venerate God through creatures and objects. |
| Reason | To express gratitude to the Lord for his death on the cross and for winning salvation for us. |
| Gesture | Kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it. |
| Not idol worship | The respect and reverence given to sacred objects is not the same kind given to God. |
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What You'll Learn
The crucifix is venerated, not worshipped
Catholics show reverence to the crucifix as a way to express their gratitude to Christ for his death on the cross, which they believe brought about their salvation. This act of veneration is directed ultimately towards God, but it is also shown to creatures and objects associated with God, such as the crucifix. In other words, the physical object of the crucifix is not worshipped, but rather what it represents—the sacrifice of Christ.
St. John Damascene, a proponent of venerating icons, explains that veneration is a sign of submission, subordination, and humility before God. It is an acknowledgement of God's greatness and our weakness in comparison. This is reflected in physical gestures of veneration, such as genuflecting or prostrating oneself.
Thomas Aquinas, in his "Summa Theologiae", writes about the distinction between veneration and worship. He states that when we venerate the crucifix, we are worshipping Christ's image with "adoration of latria", a form of reverence. However, adoration, according to Aquinas, consists chiefly in an interior reverence of God, with secondary bodily signs of humility.
Therefore, while Catholics may kneel before the crucifix and kiss it, these acts are not considered worship. They are physical expressions of honour and respect for the crucifix as a symbol of Christ's sacrifice and our salvation.
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The cross is inseparable from Christ's sacrifice
The cross is a central symbol of faith for Christians. In the Catholic tradition, the Sign of the Cross is a sacred gesture that invokes the Holy Trinity and the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice. The act of tracing the shape of the cross on one's body is a way of remembering Jesus' sacrifice and His victory over sin and death through His Crucifixion and Resurrection. This tradition dates back to the early centuries of Christianity, when Christians would make a small cross on their foreheads as a sign of their devotion to Christ.
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, writes about venerating the Cross, stating that we owe worship (Latin: latria) to the Cross. He explains that when we venerate the image of the Cross, we are ultimately worshipping Christ Himself with adoration. This act of adoration consists of interior reverence to God, as well as bodily signs of humility, such as genuflection and prostration, which signify our weakness in comparison to God's greatness.
The Sign of the Cross is a profound expression of faith that goes beyond a mere ritual gesture. It is a prayer in itself, uniting Catholics across time and space. In liturgical settings, it marks the beginning and end of sacred moments, sanctifying daily life and connecting with God in prayer. Additionally, it serves as a reminder of Christ's Passion, allowing Catholics to identify with Christ's suffering and acknowledge the power of His redemptive work.
Through the Sign of the Cross, Catholics affirm their membership in the Body of Christ and declare their belonging to God. It is a visible sign of Christian identity, invoking God's presence and serving as a shield against temptation, evil, and spiritual danger. The cross, once a symbol of death and shame, has become a symbol of Christ's victory, light, and love, transforming the lives of Christians and illuminating their path toward salvation.
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Veneration is a sign of submission and humility
The act of veneration is a way to give great respect or reverence to an object or creature. It is not an act of worship, but rather a way to honour what the object represents. In the Catholic tradition, the veneration of the cross is a way to show respect and gratitude to Jesus Christ for his sacrifice and salvation. This act of veneration is often done by kneeling before and kissing a crucifix, especially on Good Friday.
Veneration is a sign of submission, subordination, and humility before God. By venerating the cross, Catholics are submitting themselves to the will of God and recognizing their weakness and nothingness in comparison. This act of humility is a way to profess one's faith and devotion to God and to acknowledge the great love that God has for humanity.
St. John Damascene, a priest and monk near Jerusalem, was a great proponent of venerating icons in the Catholic Church. In his homilies, he often spoke of the importance of venerating holy objects and places, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. John wrote three treatises in defence of sacred images, explaining that veneration is a way to show respect and reverence to God through the objects and creatures he has created.
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, wrote about the veneration of the cross as an act of adoration and worship. He stated that when we venerate the cross, we are worshipping Christ's image with the adoration of "latria". Aquinas also wrote that adoration consists chiefly in interior reverence to God but also includes bodily signs of humility, such as genuflecting or prostrating oneself. These physical acts of humility signify our weakness and nothingness in comparison to God.
In conclusion, the veneration of the cross in the Catholic tradition is a sign of submission and humility. By venerating the cross, Catholics are submitting themselves to the will of God, recognizing their weakness, and showing gratitude for the salvation won through Christ's sacrifice. This act of veneration is a way to physically express one's faith, devotion, and humility before God.
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The act of veneration is not idol worship
As St. Thomas Aquinas writes in the Summa Theologiae, "we venerate the Cross merely as Christ's image, which we worship with the adoration of latria". This is a form of interior reverence for God, with bodily signs of humility, such as genuflecting or prostrating. The act of veneration is directed towards God, and the object of veneration is a representation of Him.
St. John Damascene, a proponent of venerating icons, explains that veneration is a sign of submission, subordination, and humility before God. It is an acknowledgement of His greatness and our creation by Him. This is distinct from worship, which is reserved solely for God.
The Bible provides an example of appropriate reverence for a material object: God instructed Moses to erect a bronze serpent so that those who looked upon it would be healed from their snake bites (Numbers 21:8-9). This act of reverence was not considered idol worship. However, when the Israelites started to worship the bronze serpent as a god, it was destroyed by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4).
Therefore, the act of veneration, when directed towards sacred objects such as the cross, is not idol worship as long as the reverence is given to what the object represents, rather than the object itself.
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Veneration is directed towards God through objects
Veneration is an act of worship, but it is not the same as idol worship. It is a way of showing great respect or reverence, and Catholics direct this towards God through objects and creatures. For instance, Catholics may venerate a crucifix, but this is not idol worship as the respect is not of the same kind as that given to God. Instead, it is a way of showing gratitude to the Lord for his death on the cross and the salvation it brought.
St. John Damascene, a strong advocate for the veneration of icons, explains that veneration is a sign of submission, subordination, and humility before God. In his view, we venerate God because he is God, and we are his creation. This act of veneration is also directed towards objects, as a way of venerating God indirectly.
St. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologiae, writes about the veneration of the Cross, stating that we owe worship to the Cross as Christ's image. He differentiates between adoration, which is an interior reverence of God, and veneration, which is a secondary act involving bodily signs of humility. For example, genuflecting to signify our weakness in comparison to God.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church supports the idea that veneration is appropriate and not foreign to the Bible. It points to the example of God instructing Moses to erect a bronze serpent for healing (Num. 21:8-9). This object was rightly revered until the Israelites started showing it worship, at which point it was destroyed (2 Kgs. 18:4). Thus, it is important to distinguish between reverence shown to sacred objects and worship, which is reserved solely for God.
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Frequently asked questions
The cross is an important symbol in the Catholic religion as it represents the instrument of salvation through the death of Christ.
Veneration of the cross is a way of showing respect and reverence to the crucifix. It is a physical expression of gratitude to Christ for his sacrifice and the salvation it brought.
No, the act of veneration is not idol worship. Veneration is defined as giving great respect or reverence to a sacred object, but this is not the same kind of reverence given to God. It is more akin to showing respect to a picture of a loved one.
