The newly renovated Cathedral in Boston is well done with beautiful materials, an impressive free standing altar. Please note the lovely Benedictine altar arrangement. But with the positive let me lament the negative as I continue below the photo:
This happens with renovated and newly built churches/cathedrals. The altar is on the same level as everything else and there is no room a few steps below it for additional liturgical actions, be it an ordination, wedding, RCIA liturgies and the like.
Look at every pre-Vatican II church and cathedral and there is ample space for other ceremonies during Mass with the main altar always three or more steps higher.
In the photo above, it appears the candidates for the diaconate on kneeling on a precipice or cliff!
Why??????????????????? Oh Why????????????????????????????
6 comments:
I'm not sure what your complaint is.
The altar is seven steps higher than the nave/aisle. It is not on the same level as the ambo or the baptismal font.
Those being ordained are kneeling on the topmost of the seven steps.
The sanctuary has ample room for various rites. According to the cathedral website, there is room for 60 to be seated in the sanctuary.
The altar is 10 to 12 feet from the top step in front of it. There is even more space, maybe 20 feet, between the bottom step and the first pews
There are some really cool pix of the process at the Cathedral website.
"The altar is on the same level as everything else and there is no room a few steps below it for additional liturgical actions, be it an ordination, wedding, RCIA liturgies and the like.
???
Compare:
https://holycrossboston.com/renovation
I believe Fr. AJM is referencing the lower sanctuary, nearest the rail/gates that provided room for a priest to walk back and forth for the distribution of communion. This would have been the first step when the sanctuary was entered. Then, steps taking into consideration the length of the nave would come leading to the predella. Finally would come the 3 steps leading to the high altar.
I believe typically, side altars would have been at the lowest level however, there might be a step up to the level of the mensa.
I prefer this arrangement however, I suppose regarding the renovation of the Boston Cathedral, there was no obligation to create this. This addition would have eliminated such an abrupt drop off - I definitely see your point - and made a nice/appropriate place for the priest to receive the gifts, offer prayers during para-liturgies, distribute communion etc.
Father McDonald,
Off topic but I hope you are following Father John Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment Blog
I do agree Father.In my wreckovated Parish, the High Altar was brought forward, hard against the top of the steeps leading up to the Sanctuary. Consequently, the Priest cannot say Mass ad orientem; there is no platform for him to stand on.In addition,the Altar sits on the floor of the Sanctuary, impossible to see from middle or back of the church.
I went to the website and was sickened by a picture of Barack Obama, the most ardently pro abortion president until Biden, standing in the pulpit. Why would they post a picture of a truly evil man (thanks Father Kavanaugh for giving me the idea for characterizing a president in this way).
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