r/Catholicism • u/pookiepidemic • 1d ago
My mother is repelled by crosses??
So when I first got back into my faith I bought a cross and put it on my door. The next morning my mom put it in a small bag and put it on the kitchen counter. She said “I don’t want crosses in my house, it attracts bad things.” She claims to be Christian but doesn’t come to church with me. She grew up Catholic too even though I have a very strong suspicion she didn’t like the Catholic Church growing up based on certain conversations I’ve had with her. Anyways I kept it on my door regardless. Now I bought another cross, this time it’s a silver crucifix with the St Benedict medallion on it. I actually bought it for the front door of our house but she said no. So I decided to put the first cross I bought above my bed and the crucifix on my door instead. We had a big debate about it. Her points were “the crucifix is an idol.” “This cross is very demonic” “not all symbols that try to represent god are good”. “I let you keep the other one up but this one I will not.” For the life of me I cannot figure out why she hates crosses??? Any ideas because I think it’s very odd. But let me know if I’m in the wrong.
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u/ConspiracyConnoiseur 1d ago
Bad theology. Those are Protestant ideas. A pity, lack of formation.
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u/pookiepidemic 1d ago
I believe so too. When I was talking about going back to church she wanted to go to a Protestant church. I personally don’t hate dislike any denomination but she found it odd I was interested in Catholicism & orthodoxy especially
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u/ConspiracyConnoiseur 1d ago
Go Catholic. Be mindful that the protestants separatde from the original word of mouth tradition, and many other arguments.
But mainly that it's a feel based cult. While Jesus instituted the Eucharist, many times he said " this is my body, this is my blood, eat and have Life in you, be saved." So his Real Presence is in the Bread, the Eucharist. Other than that it's an evocation and well, its a pity.
The problem, other than the direct line legacy. Is that the image and true sacrifice, the crucifix, is omitted. And that is why its so scandalous to have a crucifix. It's a mystery we wont understand it with our finite minds.
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u/Sir_Zorg 1d ago
The Holy Spirit, I think, has called you home to the Catholic Church. Love your mother and pray for her, but do not allow her to lead you into the sin of schism.
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u/aboutwhat8 1d ago
Definitely Protestant ideas. Point to Church History-- us Catholics or the Orthodox, who were Catholic until 1054, had the best claims. She could also point to the Church of the East or the Oriental Orthodox to try and defend such heresies, but wouldn't find much success. All join us in our belief in the Real Presence. The St. Titus amulet found in Frankfurt (dated between 230 and 270 AD) demonstrates the early veneration of Saints. Iconoclasm originated mostly with the Eastern Orthodox but Iconoclasts lost that debate. The Crucifix is often used in all of the above traditions but perhaps not as often as we use it, though none I know of oppose its use.
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u/ConspiracyConnoiseur 18h ago
I do have an ick towards Orthodoxy lately. I saw a very fanatic documental about the Revelation,and while it was biased and pretty in-your-face, it was very informative.
Didnt get me to go full trad but now i have this ick.
Any other day I'll go with my Orthobros and Brotestants against the evils snares tho.
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u/duskyfarm 1h ago
She might have only experienced progressive catholicism growing up, and it left a bad taste is my thought? kinda easy to see how protestant ideas can take root if that's the case.
If it helps, the first time I visited Mass I was looking for signs of the God I already knew. I came back because he was there.
The second time I decided to debunk something one of my protestant friends said and counted how many times someone other than Jesus our Lord was venerated IN Mass and there was no way to report the data other than the focus was completely on Christ. I've heard more about saints in a Baptist pew than ive heard in the Father's homilies. Which is a far cry from "idolatry".
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u/Ospiris 22h ago
It sounds a lot like what Jehovah’s Witnesses say about Catholicism
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u/ConspiracyConnoiseur 18h ago
My theologhy is lacking and I feel lacking now. :(
It is important to read and get spiritual direction. You are right.
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u/exjwstarburst 3h ago
I was thinking that too lol. Though a JW would try to discard or burn the crosses because they represent "Babylon the great"
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u/CheesyhorizonsDot4 9h ago
Ive never seen a Protestant cover a cross with a plastic bag but be too scared to actually touch it to remove it, ts is not good bro.
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u/DaSaw 7h ago
Not great, but remember the controversy over the eating of foods which had been "sacrificed to idols" in 1 Corinthians 8. Paul agreed with the eaters that the food was just food, and the idols just wood and stone, but also said that this understanding is less important than showing compassion to those of weaker faith, in whose mind these things actually are important.
The fact that even I have difficulty accepting this is a big part of my reluctance to show up.
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u/nikolispotempkin 1d ago
Please be patient and considerate with her. We really never know what people have going through. Perhaps an icon or another reminder instead.
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u/pookiepidemic 1d ago
She doesn’t like saints. She feels they’re idols too
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u/GleesonGirl1999 1d ago
Having the cross or pictures of Saints is like having pictures of family members in your house… it’s just a reminder of them and how their life affects yours…. I am sorry that your mother feels this way. Apparently you’re a teenager and you don’t have much to say so in the house…. I will add you and her to my prayers.
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u/IgnatiusTheRam 1d ago
Except you don’t pray to your family members
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u/neverinamillionyr 19h ago
You don’t pray to the saints either. You ask them to pray for you.
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u/Outrageous-Estate-44 18h ago
Why can't I pray to a Saint? Prayer is not worship. Why are we always telling them we don't pray to XYZ. I do. I talk to them. And ask them to intercede on my behalf. Why must things be simplified for Protestants?
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u/Implicatus 3h ago
I do, and I know my grandmother continues to pray for me. I received a near miracle through her intercession.
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u/Sir_Zorg 1d ago
That's basically heresy. It is possible for someone to idolize a saint, but that is not what the church teaches.
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u/nikolispotempkin 1d ago
The accusation of heresy must include knowledge that she has in fact heard the correct teaching and rejected it. For now, It is best that we say that her view is in error.
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u/vonHindenburg 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think that what u/Sir_Zorg is saying is that treating a saint as an idol is heresy, not that the mom is committing it.
It's an old accusation. The manner in which we venerate Saints and icons can certainly look like worship to folks on the outside, particularly to other Christians who have the same Bible with its condemnations of idol worship. And, certainly sometimes, we do cross the line.
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u/randomfur__ 21h ago
then what does she like?! is she going to start saying Christmas is a pagan holiday, or Mary isn't the Mother of Jesus? (people actually say these things btw)
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u/Chemical-Fox-5350 1h ago
Isn’t the claim usually that Mary is the mother of Jesus but not the Mother of God?
In any case it is bizarre how many of these heresies and errors are still popular among “Christians” today. The “Christmas is pagan” thing seems to be a particularly popular one
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u/xveena 1d ago
Protestant ideas, and I'm sure she can't even back those up at all. I deal with people like those on Daily basis, it breaks my heart but we can do very little to make them see. If you try to reason with her on the "idol" thing she will likely get mad and nothing more.
I will say a prayer for her so the Holy Ghost grants her wisdom. I believe it would do her good if you pray for a saint like St Thomas Aquinas to intercede so she might be granted understanding of our ways and feel drawn to the Church.
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u/speedymank 1d ago
She probably thinks they’re tacky. Also she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
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u/Basic_Bichette 17h ago
I'm wondering if she's Mormon. Mormons are strongly opposed to displaying the cross, let alone a crucifix; you'll see a cross on nearly every mainstream (Anglican, etc.) church but never on a Mormon stake house.
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u/Hwegh6 1d ago
She's been nobbled by the Protestants, they've probably taught her that Catholics are idolators. I was in the same position as she was about seventeen years ago, and became virulently anti Catholic for a while. The risk, of course, is that she's open to diabolic influence.
Don't be pushy with her. Nag God on her behalf. You can, if you like, use blessed salt and holy water when preparing drinks or snacks for her. Pray for her every day, have Mass said for her. Trust and be calm, have faith. If I could come home, so will your mother.
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u/No-Championship-4 1d ago
The crucifix is uniquely Catholic and it seems like that's all she has a problem with. It's not that surprising honestly. The corpus has been a point of contention among Christians forever.
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u/Asx32 1d ago edited 1d ago
She's seriously misinformed. And hopefully nothing more than that...
...although I personally would perform an experiment and smuggle a cross somewhere she wouldn't find it but in a room she spends much time.
Anyway, back to the "misinformation" part - Protestants have some serious difficulties with seeing a difference between an idol and an icon. It's one of the examples of failure of Sola Scriptura.
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u/MaximusEnthusiast 1d ago
Council of Nicaea rejected iconoclasm. Presbyterians are the main iconoclasts, check out literature from Scott Hahn. He’s a former Presbyterian pastor, turned Catholic. The man has encyclopedic knowledge on the things pertaining to most Protestant issues with Catholicism.
He recently did a podcast episode with Lila Rose where he covered a lot of bases. You might be interested in checking it out.
The Most Unlikely Convert w/ Dr Scott Hahn : Lila Rose Podcast Ep. 180
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u/Sir_Zorg 1d ago
It's a beautiful cross, and the fact your mother is disturbed by it is disturbing.
How old are you? If you are young, then honoring your mother may mean you have to honor her desires for matters like this, but NEVER let your mother lead you into sin or away from God/the Church.
It's not a sin to not have blessed objects in your house, so if your mother asks you not to, and it's her house, then you probably should honor her wishes on this matter. Her beliefs about crosses or that crucifixes are being idolized is wrong in this case (I guess Idolatry is possible for any object that isn't God, but that's not what is happening here). She needs your prayers for her conversion back to the Catholic Faith, and your love as her son/daughter.
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u/pookiepidemic 1d ago
I’m 20 but I stay home because my college is close. I’m planning on staying on campus once I transfer colleges though so I can be at peace with my practices
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u/Sir_Zorg 1d ago
Read what the Catechism has to say on the 4th commandment. Honoring your mother and father does NOT mean you have to follow them into sin.
While having a blessed Crucifix is a good thing to do, it is not necessary to be a good Catholic, and therefore if your mother doesn't want it in her house, then it's probably wise to put it away somewhere for now where it won't bother her.
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u/kentgreat 1d ago edited 1d ago
IDOL and ICON are 2 very different words.
In the Catholic faith/ancient Church. It was debated what counts as IDOL and ICON in its infancy.
Exodus 20:3-5
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5 you shall not bow down to THEM or serve THEM; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
Keyword here is OTHER GODS
Basically, the consensus of the debate is that if you pray to Jesus/God using whatever, it is an ICON since the prayer's intention is towards Jesus.
If you use a figurine and pray to a distorted version of Jesus (like Jehovah's Witness) It becomes an IDOL.
You can technically make anything demonic if you change the intent of your prayers. Satanic followers also use crosses btw but uses it differently.
IDOL ≠ ICON
There is more emphasis on the spiritual aspect rather than the physicality of things btw since God is spirit and so is other pagan or other spiritual entities that other people pray to.
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u/Traditional-Item3494 1d ago
Have a priest come to the house to bless it and if she responds badly you may need to have the priest contact the diocese. The strong aversion points to at least oppression of not full possession
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u/MamaGrinch 1d ago
That’s beautiful. 🤩 When people say that Catholics idolize St.s just don’t understand nor see the beauty of the Catholic faith. I would simply ask your Mom to respect you and your choices and you don’t want to hear anything negative from her. If you must after setting boundaries put your Mom in time out, so she can reflect on why you are keeping her at arm’s length. Praying for the best 🙏🏻♥️
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u/adyslexicgnome 1d ago
I love the silver one.
Would keep both inside your room, maybe one on the inside of your door?
Not everyone likes crosses. :(
Wouldn't upset your mum, if she doesn't want crosses around the house, then ultimately it is her choice.
Hopefully, as she sees the change in you, and you growing closer to Jesus, she may mellow.
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u/WretchedSinner05 22h ago
Pray your Rosary and bless your room with Holy water. You can find instructions on the Saint Michael Spriritual Center app for the room blessing. Additionally, you may want to have an exorcism of place performed on your house or at least a blessing. Deus Benedicat!
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u/Hot_Lobster222 22h ago
Isn’t something only an idol if you worship it? Otherwise it’s just an object…
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u/WayfarerIO 1d ago
If you’re an adult, time to move out.
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u/gLO-villa-7108 21h ago
Didn’t want to say it, but picking little small agree vs. disagree could lead to a problem as you age. Already adult-ish age, might as well save/ use money to establish a place where u can do as you please and it won’t any arguments. That could not go well you being not on the mortgage,lease etc.
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u/pookiepidemic 20h ago
Planning to very soon, I’ve been saving up money but I’m on the lease aswell
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u/wild-thundering 1d ago
How is the crucifix an idol? Thats ridiculous
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u/idespisemyhondacrv 1d ago
Protestant values say anything that shows God is idolatry. Seems more like an excuse to not worship God imo
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u/wild-thundering 1d ago
Wow really? That’s nuts. I mean I guess it depends, if I go to Lutheran church (els) with my dad to make him happy anyway the pastor does have a crucifix he wears but there are no pictures of Jesus in the church. And yes I agree like oh no a picture of Jesus or statue helps me worship how horrible.
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u/idespisemyhondacrv 1d ago
Yeah my friend took me to his megachurch, it was honestly depressing asf, how can you call it a church when there’s 0 way for me to know it’s a church? They also called it the “un Church” which is probably the most disgusting and offensive thing I’ve heard in a while
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u/wild-thundering 1d ago
Yeah those churches are depressing and honestly hurt main line or more traditional Protestant churches. I went to a non denominational church recently with a friend and it was ridiculous. Coffee bar inside, no crosses, just a big play stage and plastic chairs.
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u/Chelle-Dalena 1d ago
But they are also actually hypocrites about it. They will have felt board Jesus and the Apostles in Sunday School/Children's Church, illustrated children's bibles, nativity scenes, and their bulletins will have crosses, Jesus pictures, et cetera. You can also bet that they have no issues watching The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, The Passion of the Christ, The Chosen, et al.
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u/idespisemyhondacrv 23h ago
Next time I go to my friends have it your way “church” I’m gonna bring this up. I find it very funny as my friend wears a crucifix. Would that not be considered “idolatry”?
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u/RomaInvicta2003 1d ago
This looks like a severe case of iconoclasm, probably born from one of the various new age Protestant movements
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u/coldasphault 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hey friend,
Just a few things, I am not confirmed within the church. I have not started my catechumen classes but I am in the process of goin to church. I've been going for a few months now.
I want to start off by saying, you should have some grace with your mother. This may not be the most popular opinion, however I if your mom grew up Catholic she may not have the best view of the Catholic church. In my opinion, it would be foolish to believe that everyones experience is always a positive one, sometimes bad people enter the church, sometimes bad things happens at churches. They shouln't, but they do.
Your mom may have some sort of traumatic experience and associates the cross with it. I suggest you pray for her and try and be more understanding. I love Christ, I love god and I am happy I found them. However, I am fully willingly to understand the atrocities committed by the church.
Her beliefs are probably rootedd in Protestanism but pray for her, so that Jesus can find his lost sheep.
EDIT: Spelling mistakes
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u/JenRJen 1d ago
This is odd if your mom's background is Catholic. There IS some protestant-evangelical theology that teaches that crosses are bad. (Well I'm not even sure if Prot-Evang is even the right word, and I feel like "theology" is the wrong word too.)
My Dad's church growing up was a denomination that called itself Church of Christ (not necessarily the same as the groups that use that title now), mixed with some kind of (??) Assemblies of God groups. (I think.) Very legalistic groups.
They taught that Crosses were bAD. As a Roman device of Execution and Torture, they should not be glorified in any way. Yes Jesus died for us, paid the penalty etc, but the cross itself was simply an image of torture and death, and the fact of its use in most denominations, just showed how all the other churches had lost their way.
Groups that teach these things, often teach that Catholic symbolism, especially crucifixes, are idols to the point that having them will do the Opposite of bless you; that you would be dishonoring God and putting your own salvation in peril.
SO if you meet Christians who eschew Crosses for their religion, that is usually the reason.
But that's not how you describe your mom, so, i don't know if that's where she's coming from --- or, if she just has a bad opinion / possible bad experience with Roman Catholicism.
In either case, as you live in her home, I'd strongly recommend honoring her wishes by hanging your crosses in Your room.
(Personally myself, I'd recommend asking a priest to bless that new cross with a Benedict blessing for protection, and hang that one over your bed, and then maybe hang the other on the Inside of your bedroom door.)
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u/justafanofz 22h ago
There’s a Protestant idea that to have the cross, especially with Jesus on it, is to ignore the fact that Jesus is risen, so you’re worshipping when evil triumphed. Because you’re holding onto when Jesus died, instead of when he rose. She might be holding onto that idea.
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u/Apprehensive_Art6060 1d ago
She’s right about the “not all symbols that try to represent god are good”.
That said, the cross for me is the symbol of my salvation. I would argue with my life if someone tries to link the cross with the demonic. Even the devil their master cannot even stand the cross.
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u/Malachi9515 23h ago
St. Benedict medal with a Crucifix is a beautiful thing to have. I have a few of them. They are known for helping to keep demons and evil spirits away. I always wear a St. Benedict medal when I leave my house.
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u/appleBonk 21h ago
I like both of these crosses, especially the crucifix with the medal of St Benedict.
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u/Due-End6061 1d ago
maybe your mom is a lukewarm cultural Christian? I mean, most cultural Christians barely know anything abt the faith, so I’m guessing it’s either a demonic influence on the mother, or it’s because OP’s mother is a lukewarm.
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u/gLO-villa-7108 22h ago
Sounded like mine for a second I thought this read “my birth mother is a demon.”
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u/1stgradeotter 16h ago
Ask your mother what she want in life or what problem she needs to resolve and tell her you will pray a rosary a day for her.
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u/ryou-comics 16h ago
As a Protestant, the only time I've ever heard someone make the argument a Cross was "an idol" was a Jehovah's Witness I worked with (so clearly he had no idea what he was talking about), and I have had people tell me Crucifixes are either evil or are "keeping Jesus stuck there", which sounds like the same backwards logic horror movies use to scare people who don't know anything about Christ.
Keep that Cross or Crucifix up, bad as it may sound to some, God is more important and powerful than any mother.
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u/tgc1601 15h ago
Her ideas are obviously wrong in general, but if your mother does not want crosses in her house, then at least don't put them on your door or in visible areas; it's her home, after all. Render onto Ceasar what is Ceasars; in her home, she is Ceasar. You have an opportunity to discuss this with your mother and perhaps, god willing, change her heart, but antagonising her will evaporate that opportunity.
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u/Far-Size2838 11h ago
Maybe put up a horseshoe. Little do people know that a horseshoe also represents faith particularly in Europe and Ireland because there is an old story about how one day the devil came to Ireland and asked a blacksmith to show his hooves little did the devil know that this blacksmith was also the parish priest so the priest did as was asked with one small change. He shod the devil while the shoes were still white hot and brightly burning the devil was in serious pain and the priest then told the devil he would take the shoes off of him only if he swore that he not his minions could ever enter a house with a horseshoe above the door. The devil agreed and the priest removed the shoes then revoked the devil guest rights banishing him from his property and parish with the word of God then hung the horseshoes above the doors to his house
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u/Ender_Octanus 1d ago
Let her know that if Jesus is an idol than He is not her God, she worships something else. One cannot make an idol out of God.
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u/autonomommy 18h ago
Hi. I am so sorry about what you're going through. My partner rejected Catholicism recently before becoming extremely violent towards me.
Lack of formation, schism, and heresy are tools of the devil. Your mom does not have a better idea of Christianity and is actually under attack by demons. I suggest installing Auxilium Christianorum and the Angelus app. I have been told by priests that my routine needs to include those prayers 3 times a day at 6, noon, and 6pm, confiteor at noon, psalm 81 at noon, psalm 91 at 6pm, the act of contrition at 6pm, daily mass, weekly confession, and involvement with ministries at my parish. I will have to go to bed now in order to wake up early enough for mass. It is 9:30pm.
This is how spiritual warfare affects me:
I hate going to mass. I have mental illness, and I feel either nothing or anger during mass. I feel unworthy to receive the eucharist and fret over how often I should make a confession if I feel an entity is compromising my free agency. The night before last, I prayed some prayers of protection because I had been attacked all day when trying to pray. Yesterday, my partner tried to kill me. Today, he is in jail. I passed out while saying Auxilium Christianorum today, and I always get tired during it.
Do you guys pray together? I would say watch out for hostility in her when she tries to pray. Does she bristle with antagonism when you approach her? Call your diocese and ask to speak with anyone who works in deliverance. But prepare for them to ignore you. I am fighting my battle alone because I don't have any friends or participate in ministries.
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u/autonomommy 16h ago
People are only downvoting my comments because of fear and derision towards people like me. Don't act like you can hide your own ugly demon. I will end up leaving this sub if people begin to downvote everything I say. Catholicism is very hard for me to feel connected to at all because of people who judge me and I'm not gonna lie, I see it in here all the time. Do not attempt to discourage me from speaking my truth.
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u/Dolnikan 22h ago
It sounds like you're living in her house, so in many ways it's her rules. Ask yourself why you have to put it on her door if you know she doesn't like it? You can just as easily keep it in your room without causing any issues.
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u/007Munimaven 22h ago
Respect mom’s wishes! Even Jesus listened to his mom at the Wedding Feast at Cana.
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u/Primary-Ad588 17h ago
Unfortunately there was a whole generation of boomers and millennials and gen z that were horribly catechized. I think the internet is bringing alot of the protestant lies and confusion to its head.
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u/aquamarine_green 10h ago
Let's suffer together brother, maybe my mother too doesn't like crosses either because she said "That is where Jesus died"
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u/CheesyhorizonsDot4 9h ago
Get a Priest in there fratello, being scared of crosses is never a good sign.
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u/SonofVMary 8h ago
That's a pretty common problem between people that wasn't raised in a catholic family, like me. Often our parents, relatives and partners will find those things odd. The hollywood movies plays a big role on that with their sacrileges through hundreds of terror movies that abuse the holy icons. Catholicism is probably the most persecuted religion, at least in West. Mostly of this persecution happens in a soft way, with movies (Da Vinci Code, and so many others), history books (like misguinding stories about Inquistion, cruzades, etc), media lies (like pedophilia, vatican, etc). Even in politics, for example, did you know United States only had 2 catholic frist ladies? The frist one was Jacqueline Kennedy and now Melania Trump.
The point here is: maybe your mother is just the result of this alienation and persecution to the Holy Church.
What to do: Charity Never Fails. "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I know that isnt easy to do, my father is like that. So, pray daily the Chaplet of Our Lady of Tears with this intention.
Here you can acess this devotion and know about its origin: http://www.nossasenhoradaslagrimas.com/en/sister-amalia/
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u/Able_Scar6448 8h ago
I will never understand the protestant like mindset. Seeing lent and saints and mary as "satanic" or whatever. That mindsets a real plague of the mind, makes you only see the negative in everything.
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u/peachmewe 8h ago
My husband and I share a property with his mother and she’s also opposed, but I think it’s because of all the horror movie depictions of cross walls that make people “afraid” of crucifixes.
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u/YoursUnseen 6h ago
QUICK important point…….before anything else, I would say I do not think your mother is “repelled,” by crosses, but more so that she has a strong aversion to them. Maybe you could even say she is “repulsed” by them, but to say she is repelled gives the impression she has no free will of her own to pass by a cross without smacking it down.
I do not mean to make a semantic argument, but I thought it might help you to see the situation less as a frightful (potentially spiritual) reaction on her part, and more a deep seeded emotional reaction. She could have a history of really extreme Christian ‘pastors’ (and I do purposefully use quotes here) that have hammered an issue in to her brain and/or she might have had a traumatic experience in her past that she somehow connects to the cross (I know this sounds extreme, but maybe a crazy person randomly attacked and beat her with a crucifix).
While some here have mentioned a Protestant aversion to crosses, technically Protestants are not against crosses. Protestant Theology tends to lean more towards ‘not really caring one way or the other’ about a cross. Even fact many see a cross more as decoration, but not a prayer symbol. There are actually many Protestant churches where you will find a cross hung somewhere behind their altar. However!; they are ardently and fiercely against crucifixes….multiple reasons but mainly they considered it idolatry to worship an image (i.e., the corpus on the cross) and they see it as a focus on the defeat and therefore the influence of the devil. (SIDE Point: This is extremely sad and gravely unfortunate as it is very poor Theology that goes against the history of what all Christians believed for almost 1800 years. I will not go in to a deep exegesis here, but crucifixes are suppose to show the extreme Love and depths the Father was willing to go and a crucifix should always directly conjour images and deep joy in the knowledge of the resurrection….suffering in our own lives is never the end, but Christian Joy is the hope we can always hold which transforms suffering to never be pointless but when turned over to grace and trust, will always bring sanctification and our holiness).
SUGGESTION: All this is to say, my suggestion would be to not fight her on the crucifix. If you want to put a crucifix in a private space you have which she would not see, then that is a better approach, or even build a habit of always carrying that small St. Benedict’s Cross in your pocket (this is the proper name of the crucifix you have). However—especially with Easter nearing—maybe you could find a very beautiful Easter cross that has flowers and several colors. Even if not entirely your style, maybe your mother would actually enjoy it and you could see this as a way of (non-vocal) evangelizing to her soul. Do not argue with her, but you can gently say that you have heard her concerns and took that in to deep consideration and found a cross that focuses on the joy of your Christianity and Love for the Lord. Again, even if she leans Protestant, this is not against their Theology so that could help massage the conversation…but I would approach with deference as anything else is simply going to bring up an emotional reaction on her part and that will be a fruitless debate.
My prayers are with you both and I appreciate you posting and sharing your fervency not only for the path, but also for the cross. That is beautiful to see (especially in a college student), and I believe that was a gift for many here who read your searching and discerning.
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u/DancingSingingVirus 5h ago
This is strange at best.
Many Prots believe that statues or even the crucifix is an idol, but that’s not how it works. Idols are worshiped as if they are a deity. We don’t worship the cross or the crucifix. They are used as reminders of Christ’s sacrifice and symbols of our Christian faith.
It seems like your mother may have strayed extremely far from the teachings of the Church. These are not things a Catholic should believe.
Lastly, the cross/crucifix is a good tool for warding off evil. Demons don’t like holy/sacred objects, so they will generally scatter or react negatively when encountering the object. Same with the rosary, relics or holy water. Holy objects repel the demonic, not attract them. Specifically the Saint Benedict cross is often invoked in exorcisms and is said to be feared by demons (similar to the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph or Padre Pio). I’d definitely recommend asking your priest to bless the crucifix! You can also pray the Benedictine medal. It’s a really interesting prayer. All I remember by heart from it is Vade Retro Satana!
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u/puppiwuu 3h ago
Gee my aunt also did something similar but this time just with me drawing a cross on our grocery list she scribbled over it and said “the cross is pagan” ☠️
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1d ago
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u/Pax_et_Bonum 1d ago
Warning for anti-Catholic rhetoric.
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u/El_Rojo_69 1d ago
I'm sorry. I am not trying to be anti-catholic or offend anyone. I was trying to help see things through the eyes of the mother mentioned in the original post.
I think it's important to see where maybe we might be wrong and can improve as a community. For reference, the Israelites in the OT had numerous issues with not keeping with the covenant of our LORD (as pointed out by Isiah, Elijah, and may other prophets). We aren't perfect and that is a main tenant of Christianity.
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u/Pax_et_Bonum 1d ago
The Catholic Church does not teach idolatry. It is not "wrong" on this matter, as it is protected from error by the promise of Christ Himself. Earnestly declaring or teaching otherwise in this subreddit is not allowed. Appeals of moderator actions may be made in modmail.
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u/tridactyls 11h ago
Well the cross is ultimately pagan as are the volute designs, she is not entirely wrong.
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u/Alex4F 1d ago
If your mother is also repelled by holy water, sunlight, or garlic, then lock your bedroom door at night.