I think the “cathedra” of a cathedral is important, especially since the word cathedral comes from cathedra which is the bishop’s throne in his parish church.
But post Vatican II nostalgia for the 3rd Century way churches and cathedrals were oriented, believed that the recovery of placing the bishop’s throne and priest’s chair dead center and higher than the altar and everything and everyone else was a great idea. Never mind that through centuries of organic development, Catholics rightfully understand that Christ is the highest and the center of the Church, not the bishop, so altars became the highest point in cathedrals and churches and thrones and chairs placed lower and to the side.
Thanks be to God, there has been a recovery of placing thrones and chairs to the side, although in these configurations, often the altar remains lower and because of that obscured, while chairs and thrones, although to the side, are higher. What’s up with that?
Here is a before and after of the bishop’s throne at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines:
Before:
After:
Certainly the after is far better and more beautiful, although the red color is a bit too bright and too red for my more sensible and better tastes; maybe more muted would have been better?
But then look at where this throne is situated:
In the wedding liturgy photo, even from the angle of the choir loft, the altar, because it is too forward, too small and too low, is obscured, but not the bishop’s throne, which in this wedding liturgy, is not used, since no bishop is celebrating this wedding. The entire space where the throne is situated as the primary focal point of this cathedral is wasted space when no bishop is celebrating a Mass or liturgy of some kind.
Why in the name of God can the bishop and his majestic throne be at the highest and most predominant place in this cathedral and the altar, a symbol for Christ, is at the lowest apex in the sanctuary and insignificant looking when compared to the bishop’s throne?
The recovery of 3rd century placement of liturgical furnishings is truly backwardism in its worst form and negates the organic development for centuries that shows that Christ is the center of the Church, not the bishop or the priest.
Today, though, 15th century synodality is being recovered by Pope Francis, which will place it, synodality, at the center of the Church, not Risen Christ.
20 comments:
"Look at me, look at me!!!"
In the Byzantine Church, this would be the High Place and the Bishop's throne is placed here. However, it is behind the altar which will always have the tabernacle placed on top, or it will have a pyx, like a dove hanging over its top.
http://ww1.antiochian.org/sites/default/files/assets/writer/BishopBASILCelebratesSundayofOrthodoxywi_E8AB/Sun_Orth_4.jpg
https://gp.eeparchy.com/2012/06/30/the-byzantine-altar/
Too much emphasis on Caesar sitting on his throne here.
Tom Makin,
That's exactly it.
Some guy presiding over forced VII reaffirmations with a thoroughly annoying s#!*-eating grin on his face. All about being seen, worshiping the God of exterior participation while constantly smiling at each other.
One more thing than I'll climb down off my soap box.
Criticism of those who favor tradition has been endless and relentless in the last 50+ years. Now, it's the pope himself and certain magic-circle minions. Churches must be plain, we daresn't take away from the painfully barren and somewhat ugly low table altar, the presider must sit high to be seen grinning and you are to grin back, paint over the murals, don't "turn your back on the people", not too many signs of the cross, don't embellish in an attempt at raising up banality. Evidently, it's all about up-with-people, fakey "welcoming", endless demonstrations of "vibrancy" while making sure you don't stop looking at each other and smiling.
Doesn't Christ seem to come in second here?
If I'm not mistaken, the Church used to attract people, converts and vocations to fulfill its mission by its majesty, beauty and reverence? Marketing wasn't required.
The bishop’s throne is obscene. I imagine when built Christ was the focus of the sanctuary instead of a mere man. You would almost have to be a megalomaniac to desire this
“O come, let us adore him, the local bishop.”
The altar is completely out of proportion to the building in general, and the Sanctuary in particular. The position of a crucifix abive the Cathedra is also a tad uncomfortable and too small for the building.
The cathedra is worthy of a Bishop Trump, it’s so outrageously overdone and ill-focused. When’s the installation of the great Orange Prelate?
JED,
More fitting for the Dem’s cult figure, Obama the Magnificent! How soon the hoi polloi forget the Greek columns and hymns sung by school children to him! Shame on you JED for dissing your hero by displacing him with a mere mortal!
TJM,
I am absolutely NOT a partisan of Obama. The only thing I can say for BHO is that he mostly understood and mostly followed the law. Trump didn’t come close to either. Law is the sine qua non of the entire deal. I never voted for a Democrat until the Republicans put up the treacherous mendacious clown.
JED,
Take a stroll through Barnes and Noble and you will be faced with several examples of stomach turning books on the Obamas. I have never quite seen such a sickening display of president and first lady worship not even for successful presidents and first ladies, with the exception of Jackie Kennedy who actually was an accomplished woman, multi-lingual like Melania Trump. The media exposed themselves for the scum they truly are by the way they treated Mrs. Trump. She would have been hailed as the second Jackie if Trump had been a Democrat. In many ways, Trump and Kennedy had similar policies, save that Trump kept us out of hot, new wars. I know that is no biggie to you and the errant priest who posts here.
TJM,
As a lawyer with ethics and with a strong aversion to blowhards, cheats and liars and the lies they blow, the cheats they pull and the lies they cultivate. It’s a simple and straightforward approach that is the THRESHOLD question of character.
And I just don’t know what to say about the non-issue of comparing one wife to another. For God’s sake, I ask you, “SO WHAT?”
I don’t think being likened to the Kennedy woman is any particular compliment. She was terribly self-centered and frivolous. She could have served her country after her husband was murdered but she served herself. But again, SO WHAt? Does that have anything to do with anything? No it doesn’t.
JED,
Actually Obama’s policies earned him the title of the most reversed president in modern Supreme Court history. He tried to squelch religious liberties such that all 9 justices reversed him. Trump did not even come close unless you get your “news” from Hell’s Bible aka The New York Times or CNN
JED,
Well if you are a lawyer you obviously did not study law lecturer Obama very much who clearly did not have a firm grasp on the law. Hence his high reversal rate at the Supreme Court. He never really practiced law in a meaningful way, and for his “ethics” that is laughable. He was a typical Chicago political thug (the opinion of many of my Democratic political friends in Chicago).
I was in the top 1% of the legal profession, being a partner for 30 years in an 800 man international law firm. So I do know something about the law.
If your husband was murdered and then your brother-in-law, you might be a bit “selfish.” She also seemed to be a good mother. And it does matter that a vicious and biased press treats two public women figures so differently based on politics. That is why the country is so divided today.
I understand now, based on your cartoonish approach to President Trump you are one of those who worships form over substance. Not a great look for a lawyer. You also sound callous: no new wars and lifting millions out of poverty, including minorities, means nothing? You must be thrilled then with Grifter Joe who is reversing all of that!
This sanctuary arrangement screams clericalism.
I would like to propose that we call this the Meghan & Henry Windsor Arrangement.
TJM and JED,
This was supposed to be about the bishop's chair arrangement. Dangerfield, you injected politics and yes, we get it, you don't like Trump. Fine point made. Enough already. You're not changing anyone's mind with your verbal jousting here. TJM, you're not exactly convincing your opposition either.
Can't we all just stick to the topic?
Jerome Merwick,
Fine but I had the better arguments because they are reality, not feelings, based. Surprised you let Mark Thomas get away with misrepresenting Father McDonald’s statement. That was particularly brazen of him
TJM,
My apologies, but I think we're all getting a bit too dramatic here, and I have been the worst offender sometimes. I am too busy to police every opinion that I disagree with or offends me or whatever else.
I'm just tired of watching all of this "gotcha" stuff happening on this website. Maybe it's from spending too many hours in a classroom listening to teenagers say, "shut up" to each other relentlessly. After a while, it's just meaningless and mind-numbing.
As Rodney King famously said...
Jerome Merwick,
Well said. I have simply grown less tolerant of fake Catholics, including many bishops and priests, as I age. I remember a great, Universal Church, which is now a just a fading memory. I truly believe the TLM communities and traditional orders are all that remain of authentic Catholicism - we can no longer look to Rome, at least for the present
Post a Comment