www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Pectoral Cross

Dear Friends,

I invite your kind comments to make this clearer to me . . .

The Eastern priest wears a pectoral Cross at all times, correct?

The Bishop wears the panaghia, correct?

In the West, Latin priests do not wear a Cross - this is reserved to bishops, correct?

But is there anything preventing a Western priest from wearing a pectoral Cross?

And Eastern laity do not wear Crosses on top of their clothing - this is reserved to priests, yes?

But is there anything preventing Eastern laity from wearing a cross like this?

Can a lay-person carry a hand-cross with him or her and also use it for signing oneself with the Sign of the Cross?

Alex

<<In the West, Latin priests do not wear a Cross - this is reserved to bishops, correct?>>
Yes

<<But is there anything preventing a Western priest from wearing a pectoral Cross?>>

Not as far as I know - many priests [ and Seminarians] that I know do indeed wear a crucifix - but it is usually under their shirts. But there is this tradition of the Pectoral Cross being reserved for Bishops. However though - think of the monastics - many nuns do indeed wear a fairly heavy neck Cross as part of their habit.

Oh ,though , I have seen quite a few Church of Scotland Ministers openly wearing a Cross

Sorry - obviously I can't answer any of the others

Anhelyna

In the West there is the tradition of the mission crucifix for some men's religious congreagations, i.e. the Redemptorists and the OMIs. this is a cross worn either tucked into the fascia (OMI) or tucked into the folds of the cassok (CSsR). My guess is that the pectoral cross is reserved to bishops unless it is part of a religious habit.

Justin

It is only in the Slavic traditions that a priest wears a cross at all times. In the Greek and Arab, the cross is usually reserved for the archpriest.

Justin

Alex,

Only among the Slavs do simple priests wear the pectoral cross, an honor granted by Tsar Nicholas II. Greeks and Antiochians reserve pectoral crosses for archpriests.

Byzantine bishops may wear either/or both at the same time.

In the Latin Church the pectoral cross is reserved to bishops and abbots and it would be illicit for a priest to wear one as it is a sign of the episcopal office and jurisdiction. At one time the pectoral cross was also granted to canons and protonotaries apostolic, but no longer. On the otherhand, priests who have jurisdiction as papal legates, vicars apostolic, prefects apostolic, apostolic administrators, and ordinaries of territorial or personal prelatures.

As for the baptismal cross, given that no one would mistake this for a pectoral cross, I see no reason it could not be worn on top of one's clothing.

As for the hand cross, this is something reserved to priests and, among some Oriental Orthodox, bishops. I would not think it proper to carry one.

In Christ,
Fr. Deacon Lance

Dear Friends,

Thank you for all this informaton!

Rev. Fr. Deacon Lance - was it only with St Tsar Nicholas II that our priests wore the pectoral Cross?

There are pictures from the 18th century depicting simply priests - and they are all wearing pectoral crosses.

O.K., O.K., I'll stop wearing a pectoral Cross.

And the cassock goes back to the Diocesan Church Goods store too . . .

I keep a small hand cross with me so no one sees and hold it for prayer only.

I don't bless anyone with it . . .

I once had an interesting experience in our theological library.

A fellow came up to me in the stacks and said, "Father Robert, how wonderful to see you again!"

I told him I was neither a Father nor a "Robert."

But he would have none of it and said he knew me very well having taken seminary lectures that I taught . . .

Nothing I could say would dissuade him - and I didn't have my wallet with me at that time.

He said he was a Byzantine and asked me to bless him . . .

I protested that I couldn't but he begged me with tears in his eyes, saying, "I don't know why you are doing this, Father . . ."

So I blessed him with three fingers and told him to go his way in peace . . .

That was truly strange! Perhaps I have a priestly double?

Alex

Bless, Fr. Deacon Lance,

And what about the prayer rope?

Is this reserved to clergy and monastics only?

Alex

Since the term "archpriest" is not always as clear as it should be, let me clarify a little more, at least with regard to the Melkites. An Archimandrite (Melkites do not reserve this title to monastics) will wear a jeweled cross. A Stavrophore priest will wear a simple cross. A priest who is neither of these will not wear a cross.

Edward, deacon and sinner

Bless, Fr. Deacon Ed,

Since you are Bi-Ecclesial, could you tell me if a Latin priest could get away wearing any kind of a Crucifix on top of his clerical shirt?

Alex

Dear Friends:

In the Catholic Church, at least on the Latin side,&#65279; the &#8220;Pectoral Cross&#8221; (or &#8220;Crux Pectoralis&#8221;) is reserved for the Pope, cardinals, bishops, abbots, and other prelates entitled to use this pontifical insignia, worn on the breast attached to a chain or silken cord, the colour differing, according to the dignity of the wearer, and contains either the relics of some saint, or a particle of the Holy Cross.

It (the pectoral cross) is not worn by Priests, who may wear only the simple cross, if at all permitted.

The pontifical pectoral cross is distinct from the simple cross, the use of which is often permitted by the Pope to members of cathedral chapters. Canons, to whom this privilege has been granted, are permitted to wear the (simple) cross at choir service only, and not over the alb at liturgical services, unless specially permitted.

The pectoral cross is, relatively, the latest addition to episcopal ornaments. It signifies the continuation by the Bishop, or other prelate permitted to wear it, of the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The custom, however, of wearing a cross (simple, not pectoral) on the breast either with or without holy relics, dates back to ancient times and was observed not only by bishops but also by priests and lay people.

So, Alex, you may continue wearing your own "personal" cross at all times!

AmdG

Dear Amado,

Thank you, Father in Christ, for your kind approbation!

Alex

Alex,

I think Tsar Paul I was the first to grant this dignity to priests but I assumed it must have been retracted since Tsar Nicholas II did it again.

As for prayer ropes, I think a small unadorned one is fine.

In Christ,
Fr. Deacon Lance

Amado,

Pope Paul VI restricted use of the pectoral cross to those I mention above. Canons and honorary prelates can no longer use them.

In Christ,
Fr. Deacon Lance

Bless, Fr. Deacon Lance,

Thank you for your kindness in informing us of these matters!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Deacon Lance is correct, a Latin Rite priest may not wear a pectoral cross at all. There are some exceptions to this, however. Fr. Bob Taft is permitted to wear one because of an honor granted to him by the Eastern Catholics. I believe he does not do so except in the presence of Eastern Catholics. Bi-ritual Latin priests who have been granted the cross in their Eastern roles are prohibited from wearing them when serving as Latin priests. Since the granting of Eastern honors to Western clergy is no longer permitted, this problem should, eventually, "die out."

Edward, deacon and sinner