The Catholic crucifix is the ultimate symbol of the Catholic Church. The representation of Christ as Redeemer and Savior is the central theme of Christianity. The Catholic crucifix serves as a reminder of Christs sacrifice and love for all men.

The Catholic crucifix is a Latin cross with the Body of Christ (corpus) upon it. It is used to symbolize the redemption of mankind through Christs sacrifice. The Catholic crucifix is the central symbol of the Catholic faith; no Catholic church in the world is without one.

History of the Catholic crucifix:

The Catholic crucifix was not widely used before the 5th century A.D. Prior to the 5th century the Lamb of God was the most common symbol used to represent Christ.

The Council of Constantinople in 629 A.D. ordered: "That, instead of the lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ will be shown hereafter in His human form in images so that we shall be led to remember His mortal life, His passion, and His death, which paid the ransom for mankind"this image was the Catholic crucifix.

On the early Catholic crucifix the corpus was usually stylized, but from the 9th century A.D. on medieval artists started to depict increasingly more realistic portrayals of Christ and His suffering. The Renaissance saw a reversion towards more ideally conceived imagery, but the dramatic and more accurate depictions of Christ would return to the Catholic crucifix during the baroque period.

The Catholic crucifix came to be recognized as the universal symbol of Christianity, symbolizing the sacrifice of Christ, and the consequent redemption of mankind. Reformation Protestants in the 16th century, however, rebelled against the use of the Catholic crucifix and stripped the corpus from the cross, so as to but greater emphasis on the Resurrection. Thus, the crucifix came to be identified specifically with the Catholic Church, the bare cross with the "Reformers."

The Catholic crucifix has, over the years, become a powerful symbol in both art and jewelry. By wearing the Catholic crucifix many Christians around the world proudly proclaim their love and faith in Christ as Redeemer. Here is a good page to view the different styles of the Catholic crucifix.

Where is the best place to purchase a Catholic crucifix:

To get an idea of the different styles and prices that are available in a Catholic crucifix it is more convenient to view them online before shopping around at local jewelry stores.

Retail jewelers will sometimes carry a small selection of Catholic crucifixes, but you are more apt to find a greater selection online. Just type "Catholic crucifix " into an Internet search engine like Google or Yahoo and you will find several reliable websites that specialize in the Catholic crucifix.

The cost of a Catholic crucifix is dependant upon many variables. In solid 14K yellow or white gold, Catholic crucifixes should cost about $50 to $300 depending on size.

Faith in Christ, faith in life:

Faith is the central pillar of Christian life. Without faith there would be no hope, and without hope there would be no reason. The Catholic crucifix is the strongest symbol of faith; faith in Christ as Savior and Redeemer. Faith in all that is good and right. The Catholic crucifix is much more than a representation, it is a way of life.