You can only imagine what pre-Vatican II Catholics in this parish must have felt like in the mid 1960’s when their magnificent high altar and sanctuary were abandoned for Mass on a faux altar outside the sanctuary, floor level where most could not even see the altar, just the abandoned and now useless work of art altar created for so great a Mystery. In fact, the old high altar appears closer to the congregation than the one floor level. The floor level altar distances the congregation from the altar wheras the high one, completely visible standing, sitting or kneeling brought the Mass closer to the people.
This idiocy was repeated in almost every Catholic Church throughout the world and in so many cases the works of art altars, inspired by orthodox Catholic Faith in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, were ripped out and destroyed as though Taliban iconoclasts had invaded and destroyed that which did not fit their ideology.
Is it any wonder that only 12% of Catholics attend Mass today? New altars, as in this church and the manner in which Mass is celebrated, does not inspire Catholics to be enthralled with the Mass as were the Catholic Faithful who provided the now obsolete high altar behind the new blah.
4 comments:
"You can only imagine what pre-Vatican II Catholics in this parish must have felt like in the mid 1960’s when their magnificent high altar and sanctuary were abandoned for Mass on a faux altar outside the sanctuary, floor level where most could not even see the altar, just the abandoned and now useless work of art altar created for so great a Mystery."
I'm sure parishioners were thanking their lucky stars that at least the high altar was retained. Their church could have looked as ugly/uninspiring as Chicago's bland/barren VII triumph, Holy Name Cathedral. Here, probably the local undertaker, among others, were soaked to "get on-board" and fund the new altar.
Several years ago, a priest friend of mine was offering a low mass with hymns at a magnificent and massive city church. Unfortunately, an unexpected backup getting into the city delayed my arrival until the beginning of the consecration. The high altar was used with no microphone. From more than half way back, I could see perfectly and I was stunned that I was actually able to hear Fr's low voice. The one shortcoming was the NO altar table acting as a barrier. Again, thank goodness the high altar wasn't sacrificed for the very nice but, mostly uninspiring table altar.
Father McDonald,
There is an excellent article by Dr. Kwasniewski over the The New Liturgical Movement today that I think you will enjoy reading called Plumber's Work:
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/08/plumbers-work-romano-guardini-and.html#.XzFPqShKhPY
Vatican-2 was either a mistake or a deliberately diabolical attack on the Church.
Not only did it take people visually further away, in many cases the pews were rearranged into the theater setting and put at great distances, not only further away, but reducing capacity of the church significantly.
Post a Comment