The San Damiano Cross

You may have noticed the use of the San Damiano cross in our Faith Formation classes and during Children’s Liturgy of the Word. With the children, we hold the death and resurrection of Jesus together. We never speak about one without the other. They are one mystery. The San Damiano cross is the visual sign of this one mystery – the death and resurrection of Jesus. The depiction of Jesus is that of our living God: Christ stands upright, not nailed to the cross. The eyes of Jesus are open. His wounds are visible, the source of those wounds, the nails, and thorny crown are gone. Because his Risen life is stronger than death, in the place of the crown of thorns is a halo. The image of Christ is a figure of light that gives light to the other figures depicted on the cross, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. " (John 8:12).

Source: The San Damiano Crucifix. CGSUSA. (2023, February 5). Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://www.cgsusa.org/