Lecture cross
A lecture cross (also processional cross ) is a cross attached to a pole , which is carried in the Roman Catholic Church at the solemn entry to Holy Mass , at processions , funeral ceremonies , the blessing of graves or pilgrimages . In some Lutheran churches the lecture cross is used to move in at festive services and funerals. From a liturgical point of view, it makes sense that the lecture cross functions as an altar cross during the celebration of the Mass, i.e. that it is visibly placed near the altar after moving in.
As early as the early Middle Ages , artistically crafted lecture crosses, clad with gold sheet and set with gemstones, known as gem crosses, which were also altar crosses. You will therefore find spouts or shafts on medieval altar crosses. Since the number of people in the procession was often very large and those who were further away should also see the cross, the processional crosses became increasingly larger, but also heavier. Paper mache was therefore sometimes used .
Carrying forward a cross in the liturgy is related to the use of standards in wars and demonstrations . The cross-bearer, usually an altar boy , is called a cruciferar . With the Crux Vaticana , Justin II gave St. Peter's Basilica a lecture cross as a gift.
literature
- Andreas Rudigier and Beatrice Zamora (eds.): The late Romanesque lecture cross by Bartholomäberg (from Limoges) . Heimatschutzverein im Tale Montafon , Schruns 2002, ISBN 3-902225-03-3
- Reinhard Rampold (ed.): Medieval lecture crosses in Tyrol . Athesia-Tyrolia, Innsbruck 2004
- Burkhard Kunkel: Rheinisches Vortragekreuz , Cat. No. 588, in: Stiegemann, C., Kroker, M., Walter, W., (Ed.): CREDO. Christianization of Europe in the Middle Ages , Vol. II, Petersberg 2013, pp. 638–639.
Web links
- The large art lexicon by PW Hartmann
- Lecture Cross (Heraldry) in the Heraldry Wiki