Devotion to the Crucifix of forgiveness: what it is and how to get graces

We can define the Crucifix of Forgiveness as a "thorn in Satan's side", just like the Miraculous Medal, the Cross-Medal of Saint Benedict or the Motto of Saint Anthony, since it is an ancient Catholic sacrament approved by Pope Saint Pius X in 1905 and enriched with numerous indulgences.

Historical background

The Crucifix of Forgiveness was presented to the Marian Congress in Rome in 1904, with the support of HE Cardinal Coullié, Archbishop of Lyon. And it was thanks to the speech made to him by Br. Léman that this Crucifix obtained general approval. The plan to form a union around this Crucifix was presented to His Holiness by the Most Eminent Card. Vivès, President of the Congress.

The Crucifix of forgiveness is an absolutely Catholic Crucifix and this can be seen from a simple analysis of the same. Let's see it in detail:

⇒ In the front part of this Crucifix, just above the head of Jesus, we find the attestation of his royalty, the so-called Titulus Crucis. This inscription - Iesus Nazarenus Rex iudæorum - referring to that preserved in the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem in Rome, recovered according to tradition by Saint Helena on Golgotha, wants to be a testimony to the royalty of Christ. In fact, although the Relic of the Holy Cross is not complete, two words continue to shine, respected even by the passage of time: "Nazarenus Re", "The Nazarene King". A clear prophecy engraved on the wood to reiterate the fact that before the kingship of Christ all the others disappear.

⇒ On the rear face of this splendid Crucifix - placed in the center - we find the shining image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, surrounded by two inscriptions that recall the infinite mercy of the Savior towards sinners.

The first of these inscriptions is a prayer of forgiveness exclaimed by Christ during the agony on Calvary: "Father, forgive them" (Lk 23,34:XNUMX). In uttering this phrase, Jesus asks the Father to forgive his own crucifixors, and it is not by chance that this Crucifix is ​​called the "Crucifix of Forgiveness".

The second inscription, however, is a love prayer exclaimed by Jesus against the ingratitude of men, as evidenced by the visions of Santa Margherita Maria Alacoque (1647 - 1690). On June 15, 1675, in fact, while Sister Margaret was absorbed in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus appeared to her showing her Heart and saying to her: “Here is that Heart that loved men so much and in return receives only ingratitude, contempt, sacrileges in this sacrament of love ”. Since those apparitions to Santa Margherita - then - devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has spread throughout the Catholic world.

Continuing the description of the Crucifix of Forgiveness, we see that always in the back, but at the bottom, there is a letter "M" to which a letter "A" is superimposed. This is the most widespread and well-known Marian monogram in the field of sacred art, in fact we often find it on the vestments of priests. It has a double meaning: on the one hand the two letters represent the Latin expression "Auspice Maria", which literally translated means "under the protection of Mary", and on the other they are an implicit reference to the greeting that the archangel Gabriel addressed to Our Lady when she announced that she would become the Mother of the Savior: "AveMaria".

The rich symbolism contained within this marvelous Crucifix, however, does not end here, since the Marian monogram (A + M) is in turn surmounted by a star, to represent "Maria morning star", one of the attributes with which we turn to Our Lady in the context of the Lauretan litanies of the Rosary.

Mary as "morning star" with her radiance foretells that the light of day is near, that the darkness is thinning out, that the night is drawing to a close. Mary at the foot of the Cross with her maternal presence urges us not to lose hope, to look to her with confidence and through her to her son, Jesus.

The indulgences related to the Crucifix of forgiveness

(To gain indulgences through the pious use of an object of piety (crucifix, cross, crown, medal ...) it is necessary - as specified in Rule 15 of the Manual of Indulgences - that the same object of piety is conveniently blessed).

- anyone who carries the Crucifix of Forgiveness on his person can obtain an indulgence;

- if you kiss the Crucifix with devotion, you get an indulgence;

- anyone who recites one of these invocations before this Crucifix can obtain an indulgence every time:

> Our Father, who art in Heaven, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors;

> I beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray to the Lord our God for me;

- those who, habitually devoted to this Crucifix, fulfill the necessary conditions of Confession and Eucharistic Communion, can obtain a Plenary Indulgence on the following feasts:

the Feast of the Five Wounds of Christ, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Finding of the Holy Cross, the Immaculate Conception and the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary;

- anyone at the moment of death, fortified by the sacraments of the Church, or with a contrite heart, in the supposition of the impossibility of receiving them, will kiss this Crucifix and ask God for forgiveness of his sins, and forgive his neighbor, will gain a Plenary Indulgence.

Pontifical Decree of June 1905 to the MM L'Abate Léman Prefecture of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences

To the faithful who devoutly kiss this Crucifix and obtain its precious indulgences, we recommend keeping in mind the following intentions: to witness the love for our Lord and the Blessed Virgin, gratitude to the Holy Father the Pope, pray for remission of their sins, for the liberation of the Souls of Purgatory, for the return of the Nations to the Faith, for forgiveness among Christians and reconciliation between members of the Catholic Church.

In another decree of November 14, 1905, his Holiness Pope St. Pius X stated that indulgences linked to the Crucifix of Forgiveness can be applied to Purging Souls.

If, immediately after the Holy Mass, the Rosary is the most powerful tool for alleviating the sufferings of the Souls of Purgatory, the Crucifix of Forgiveness represents a very effective addition to spend in their favor.