“You have found your cross. And it is a cross to be loved, to be carried, a cross not to be thrown away, but to be cherished.”
These are the words pronounced by the wedding priest while blessing the crucifix during the ceremony.
A Croatian marriage crucifix tradition
The marriage crucifix tradition is a Christian custom where a crucifix is used as part of the wedding ceremony and becomes a central symbol in the couple's married life. The crucifix serves as a reminder of Christ's sacrificial love and as a model for the love, patience, and selflessness that marriage requires.
This tradition is linked back to a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina called Siroki-Brijeg. This town attributes their 0% divorce rate to this beautiful devotion to the crucifix.
How to incorporate into the Wedding Ceremony ?
It all begins with the bride and groom process into the church carrying a crucifix. Then they hold the crucifix together, with their hands clasped around it, as they exchange vows, displaying that the crucifix is the foundation of their marriage. And before kissing one another, the bride and groom kiss the crucifix. The couple's holding of the crucifix signifies their commitment to center their marriage on faith and Christ.
The Symbolism of the Marriage crucifix
By including it in their wedding, the couple acknowledges that their union should reflect Christ's selflessness and endurance. The crucifix represents Christ's love and the sacrificial nature of true love.
Home Placement
After the wedding, the crucifix is placed in the couple's home, typically in a prominent or sacred space, such as above their bed or in their prayer area. It serves as a constant reminder of their vows and the faith that underpins their relationship.
Renewing Marriage Commitment
Some couples use the crucifix during anniversaries or moments of marital challenge to pray together, asking for strength, guidance, and unity.
The marriage crucifix tradition emphasizes the spiritual dimension of marriage, seeing it not just as a partnership between two people but as a covenant with God at its center.
Find the Right Crucifix
For a such special and important crucifix, you need to find the crucifix that inspires you the most. charmantiques.net offers you a curated selection of antique and vintage crucifix with beautiful designs that could be a part of your marriage.
A Middle Ages look for this bronze crucifix designed by the French artist Max Le Verrier (1891-1973)
Art Deco lines for this crucifix designed by Jacques Hartmann (1908-1994) and Suzanne Laurens (1904-2003)
A rare late 18th century crucifix
