Seat of Mercy Cross

Product Description

The Seat of Mercy Cross—the depiction of the Crucified Christ in the Trinity—is an exquisitely detailed solid bronze wall cross. We see the Father upholding the Son and the Holy Spirit descending. Grape clusters decorate the outer edges, symbolizing Christ’s blood poured out on the cross and in the Eucharist.

What a perfect gift for RCIA candidates who are being received into the Church.

A Powerful Symbol

At 3.5 inches long, 2.9 inches wide and .25 inches thick, this solid bronze cross has heft but still hangs beautifully on any wall in home or office. A master bronzesmith conceived and forged this powerful depiction of the Trinity and the Eucharist. The depth and detail of this cross express compactly and elegantly these central Mysteries of the Christian faith.

Seat of Mercy—Throne of Grace

The Seat of Mercy cross depicts the Mystery of the Trinity: God the Father presents Christ to humankind as the One who died on the cross for our sins. The Holy Spirit mediates between Father and the Son. Seat of Mercy is the English translation of Martin Luther’s Gnadenstuhl, the German translation of thronum gratiae (“throne of grace”), which in turn is the Latin translation of the Greek hilasterion (ἱλαστήριον) of Romans 3:25 (translated in the NIV translation as “sacrifice of atonement”). This Seat of Mercy cross also shows the blood flowing from the side of Christ (John 19:34) as a cluster of grapes.

This cross is a dignified and profound gift worthy of the awesome Mysteries being celebrated on Easter and in every Eucharist.

Romans 3:23-26

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement*, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

*The Greek for sacrifice of atonement – hilasterion ( ἱλαστήριον) – refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16)

Hebrews 9:1-15

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover [ hilasterion ( ἱλαστήριον)]. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood,thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

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