The destruction of the Benedictine altar arrangement occurred for the first time in Pope Francis’ Papal Mass at His Holiness’ Cathedral of St. John Lateran last week. Does it portend the same for St. Peter’s and does it matter?
Before:
St. Peter’s over the years after Vatican II:
St. Peter’s over the years after Vatican II:
6 comments:
No, no, no.
Yes, yes it does....
Why do we need candles anyways? This is the age of LEDs and candles are, well, ancient and useless and polluting the eco with CO2. And the Cross? Well that is ugly to any reasonable person. Facing the people? We live in the age of TV performers, not personal silent prayering. After all the audience must see the hocus pocus of the magician up there if the performer is to be the centre of attraction.
Candles are preferable to artificial lighting for several reasons. Representing Christ, they are 'alive.' The flame grows and moves, it changes and gives warmth. Also, the candle sacrifices itself - it burns down - reminding us of the self sacrifice of Christ.
Debate over an appropriate altar is small "T" tradition. Table or coffin-looking? 2 candles or 4, 6 or more? Facing the back or front? Not as serious an issue in my view as the millions of abortions we've had under Roe v Wade.
Speaking of tradition, will the Savannah-based Episcopal Diocese of Georgia maintain such when they elect a new bishop? That is, will they elect a male bishop or go with 1 of the 5 candidates who is female? They have their annual diocesan convention tomorrow in Statesboro (Bulloch County), less than 50 miles northwest of Richmond Hill. Stay tuned---electing bishops could be a messy process, but at least it is more transparent---their diocese has a website on the bishop search, can look up info on the candidates, responses to various questions. You won't find any website in the Archdiocese of Atlanta---where 30327 lives---on the search for a replacement to Wilton Gregory. Heck, no one will even admit to a timetable....
I am sorry to see a move away from the "Benedictine Arrangement," but this seems part of a larger problem, which I think will be worked out on the timetable of Providence.
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