• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
A mosaic depicting Jesus the Risen Savior, surrounded by his disciples as he pulls Adam and Eve from the depths of hell to salvation, is seen in 2008 at Sacred Heart University's Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Fairfield, Conn. Human sinfulness and God's never-ending forgiveness are central themes of the entire Bible, Old and New Testament alike. (CNS photo/Tracy Deer-Mirek, courtesy Sacred Heart) See BIBLE Dec. 28, 2017.

Does original sin need an update? Is a crucifix necessary at Mass?

May 10, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News
Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Q: My Catholic grandmother used to say that “original sin” was a sort of stamp all people since Adam and Eve have been born with, where God is still holding people guilty of Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience even up through today, and that unless this stamp is removed through baptism, people will automatically go to hell at death. This seems a bit extreme to me and perhaps a bit “old school.” Wouldn’t a more modern take on the subject be that all people, even up through today, are simply continuing in an exiled state from Eden — “perfection” — and that God through Jesus offers a return? (Location withheld)

A: Thank you for this interesting question! First of all, I’m not sure exactly what you mean by “a more modern take.” While over the centuries Catholic doctrine might be developed — that is, be explained in more detail and articulated with greater clarity — Catholic teaching itself doesn’t change. So what was true in your grandmother’s day is still true in ours, and will remain true even for your great-great-grandchildren. That being said, it is possible to explain unchanging Catholic teaching in new ways that could resonate better with different cultures and in different time periods. Older catechisms often referred to the “stain” of original sin, and it’s not unreasonable to question whether this language may be potentially confusing or off-putting to younger generations. At face value, neither you nor your grandmother are incorrect in your descriptions of original sin, although perhaps your grandmother’s terminology requires some additional context. Baptism does remove the “stamp” or “stain” of original sin, and this indeed makes it possible for us to live forever with God in heaven. But, this is not because God would otherwise desire to punish us in some legalistic or vengeful way. Additionally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church readily acknowledges that original sin is not the same as a personal choice to commit some evil act on our part (see CCC, No. 405).Funnily enough, your description of original sin as exile is actually very “old school” as well. The book of Genesis itself describes Adam and Eve as being specifically “banished” from the Garden of Eden (Gn 3:23). And many of us are familiar with the traditional prayer “Hail Holy Queen” (an English translation of the Latin chant “Salve Regina”), in which we ask for Our Lady’s intercession for us, the “poor banished children of Eve,” and then implore her to show us her son Jesus “after this, our exile.”

Q: Our priest has recently stopped using the processional cross, and now we have no crucifix on the altar during Mass or at any other time. I’ve always thought that there is supposed to be a crucifix on the altar to remind us all of the suffering and passion of Christ. (Location withheld)

A: Yes, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the “instruction book” for how Mass is to be celebrated, specifically indicates that “on the altar or close to it, there is to be a cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified” (GIRM, No. 117). Presumably, this is not only to remind us of Christ’s passion, but also to help call to mind how the holy sacrifice of the Mass is the same thing as Christ’s original sacrifice of his life on Calvary. GIRM 117 goes on to tell us that a processional crucifix may also be used for this purpose. But either way, it is clear that a crucifix is required. If it looks as though your own parish is not following this norm, the best thing to do would be to share your concerns directly with your pastor in a respectful way. Sometimes your local diocesan liturgy office can also be a good resource for these kinds of liturgical questions.

Read More Question Corner

Question Corner: Does reception of the Eucharist replace confession?

Question Corner: Can we bring the Precious Blood to the sick?

Question Corner: Do I need to attend my territorial parish?

Question Corner: Is the parish administrator the same thing as a pastor?

Question Corner: Are Jewish marriages valid to the Catholic Church?

Question Corner: When is it appropriate to say the St. Michael Prayer following the Mass?

Copyright © 2023 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Jenna Marie Cooper

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Our faith is not afraid of questions

Artificial Intelligence, wholeism and prayer

Question Corner: Does reception of the Eucharist replace confession?

A butterfly lands on a flowering bush with purple blossoms

A Miracle for a Baby in Rhode Island (and for all of us)

Kids need lots of people who love them

| Recent Local News |

Archdiocese of Baltimore offers resources for parishes to assist migrants

Third annual gun buyback scheduled for Aug. 9

Driver arrested after crashing into entrance of Esperanza Center

Construction underway on new north addition to St. Joseph’s Nursing Home 

Prince of Peace merges with St. Francis de Sales in Harford County

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • New York archdiocese sees hundreds of responses to ‘Called By Name’ program
  • Can’t afford a Catholic college? Think again. Many offer full tuition options
  • Detroit archbishop fires theologians Ralph Martin, Eduardo Echeverría from seminary
  • LA archbishop, joined by business leaders, starts fund to help families affected by ICE raids
  • FBI surveilled SSPX priest amid probe of suspected neo-Nazi’s plans for violence
  • Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives
  • Our faith is not afraid of questions
  • Catholic ‘American Ninja Warrior’ fights world hunger, one obstacle at a time
  • Parishes need to launch ‘revolution of care’ for the elderly, pope says

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en