Veneration of the Cross

What do you mean by Veneration of the Cross?

 

We had it. I didn't attend. I venerate Christ, not bits of wood. And it is not 'the wood of the cross'. If all the true bits of the cross that have been claimed to be held by various gullible RC churches round the world, were piled together in one big pile, there would be enough of it to build a large barn. If Christ had been electrocuted, would they have concocted a service of kissing the seat of an electric chair?
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I used to do this as a RC but I have no desire to do it now I am an Anglican. I think the RCC has gotten hung up on spectacle and veneration of all things not Christ, perhaps in an attempt to create emotional responses. I don't think they realise how alienating all of these extraneous little devotions can be to those outside the faith (and perhaps to some within as well). It is like gilding the lily, so to speak. The facts of Jesus' incarnation, death and resurrection are fantastic enough without trying to add all kinds of other religious 'bits and bobs' to the faith. The more little devotions and ceremonies the RCC adds to the faith, the more they appear to be cult-like.

As for the veneration of the Cross, to me this just seems like something that should be a personal choice, and done privately if desired.

 

We had stations of the cross, but no veneration of the cross.

 

Our small Anglican Catholic parish had the same this year.....Stations of the Cross and no veneration of the cross, this year. In the past, we had both.

 

Stations are OK as a teaching aid and as education or revision of an aspect of the faith, as long as one includes only the scripturally factual ones and leaves out the utterly contrived and fictional ones.
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I'm not aware that Stations of the Cross involves veneration of the images or models depicted on the walls of the church. I see no problem with using them as teaching aids, (though very few parisioners are illiterate today so the value in teaching the faith by stations is now rather redundant compared to the middle ages when they were first introduced). It is probably inevitable that there will be associations with historical claims by many to have posession of bits of the actual Cross of Christ. Veneration of a piece of physical wood is, in my opinion, so close to idolatry and foolishness as to make me feel very uncomfortable if compelled to take part. I venerate the recollection of Christ's act of sacrifice to redeem mankind by pledging allegience to Him and his philosophy of life, as his disciple, not by kissing bits of wood, whatever shape they may come in.
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I have never felt the need to use a humeral veil. I also do not have a monstrance. I heard a colleague insist that daily Mass and eucharistic adoration are essential to growing a parish.

 

I remember when I was in the RCC, there was a time or two during Lent when we'd all line up to kiss the crucifix.

Now in the Anglican church, it bugs me a bit to comply with the routine of bowing the head to the cross, but I do it to fit in. I mean, I know it's not veneration to bow the head, but it reminds me so much of that crucifix-kissing and also all the genuflecting before the RC altar (which had to do with the consecrated hosts stored there). Old emotional baggage...

 

I was referring to some of the 14 stations of the cross that are not mentioned in scripture. Some are, some are not. However stations of the cross does not involve 'veneration'. It is a contemplative and instructional form of service, unlike Veneration of the cross in which worshippers are invited to 'venerate' or 'kiss' a piece of wood represnting the cross of Christ.
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I was taught that we do not bow or genuflect to objects in the Anglican church. WE bow or genuflect in 'the direction' of the place where the Eucharist is celebrated as a matter of convenience, fully knowing that Christ's presence is all around us, but that is a particular place where we may focus our attention and routinely recognise his Lordship over our life and everything we do.
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So the folks over your way don't bow the head at the cross when the crucifer comes down the aisle? I see that all the time over here.

 

I certainly don't. I don't know about others though.

 

If memory serves, Pope Benedict had authorized a reformed version of the Stations early in his Pontificate. All of the sentimental conjecture such as the Veronica character was replaced with purely Scriptural content.

 

I do bow my head but I am not sure whether this is out of old habit from the RCC or if it is just an act of respect. I will have to examine my motives now.

 

I shouldn't worry too much about it. Even if it was motivated by pure ignorance or idolatry Christ would understand and forgive. It's only other people who might be offended or impressed and they don't really matter all that much in the realm of eternity where Christ reigns.
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