A Ten Year Old Child's View about Cross

By: Real Catholic

All of us adults are aware of the various on-going controversies in our church. But no one knows how these things affect our children. Most of us think the children know nothing, or do not care, about this cross/crucifix controversy, etc. Recently I had an experience with my ten year old son with opened my eyes.

I am in Chicago and I have a 10 Year old son. Mostly I am his buddy/companion and chauffeur for many of his activities. We are very active in the church and as always it’s fun to go to the church and meet our friends and families.

Though we had many issues about crosses in the Church, I have never discussed any of those things with my son. And as an active supporter of Crucified Cross, I did not want to influence my son’s thinking against the Diocese and church authorities. Perhaps, I thought my 10 year is too young and small to understand those issues and details diligently.

But the recent incident torpedoed all levels of my imaginations. And here the is the incident..

I normally call people during my driving and sometimes I call my “Coppel Buddy” and “Garland Buddy” to get some updated info from there. And recently my son overheard one of the “Cross” conversations between myself and my Garland buddy in the car. And my son asked about the “Cross” details. I tried to change the subject and told him that “Nothing son- Some simple things about Crosses in the Church”. My son was persistent, as children of that age mostly are. As usual, with his enthusiasm and curiosity, he insisted to get more details about the last conversation I had about the Cross. I was in a great dilemma.

I told him in a nice and gentle way, the rituals and the Cross issues in Garland Church. I told him that there are two types of Crosses “Crucified Cross and Claver Marthoma Cross” and in Garland Church they are taking off the Crucified Cross and replacing it with the Marthoma Cross.

I was astonished and totally mesmerized by my son’s most definite reply. He raised his voice and I could feel some anger there. He asked me.. “Dad… How can anybody replace Crucified Jesus with an “Anchor Cross”? And he continued earnestly "..Crucified Cross is a “Truth” – Crucified Jesus a “BELIEF” and Crucified Jesus is the “Center of FAITH”. And he said that, if Crucified Jesus was not there, there would not have been an Anchor Cross in the first place. And he stated clearly, Whoever is doing it, they are committing a MISTAKE.  He also told me that in the older days, the Cross was a T-Shaped Cross.

My feelings about my son's out burst was mixed. One way I was HAPPY because I thought even a 10 year old KID was thinking the same way like normal people are thinking. And at the same time I was UPSET because I am NOT able to do much towards the fact that I am strongly supporting the Crucified Cross.

Anyway I don’t have much to say..But it’s something, we need to confront within ourselves. What can we do to make sure we have the Crucified Jesus, which is the focus of our FAITH always on our altar. I am sure VOICE is fighting for the TRUTH – FAITH – and our BELIEF. I wish all the best and I support the right actions of VOICE to keep the Syro FAITH people together. I foresee a manifested deviation from our faith by our religious leaders and I am sad if that occurs. And I pray to Crucified Jesus to bring the right thoughts to our leaders.