However, when His Holiness recently celebrated Mass ad orientem, His Holiness’ entire body acted like an iconostasis, blocking the view of the Precious Body and Blood of our crucified, risen and Glorified Lord. He wasn’t concerned about that though, taking that ancient liturgical position!
Please Pope Leo, follow the lead of Pope Benedict, which Pope Francis maintained for most of his papacy, by having the crucifix centrally placed on the altar. God bless you!
Removing the crucifix from the central position of the altar at papal Masses occurred in the last few months of Pope Francis’ life. His Holiness had maintained the custom of the central crucifix, although at St. Peter’s it was a smaller one.
With ad orientem altars, symmetry is the law of the day, but not when the priest faces the nave! Why, oh why????
Removing the crucifix from the central position of the altar at papal Masses occurred in the last few months of Pope Francis’ life. His Holiness had maintained the custom of the central crucifix, although at St. Peter’s it was a smaller one.
Since Pope Leo has become pope, the altar arrangement has been in flux. I think part of it is the current MC. But he’s not around while Pope Leo celebrates Masses in and around Castel Gandolfo.
The tradition of placing the crucifix on the left side of the altar (from the priest’s perspective) seems to be the one that Pope Leo favors as this is what has happened at Masses while he is on vacation, except for the one Mass he celebrated ad orientem.
This is an AI summary of what Pope Benedict XVI taught about the central crucifix on the altar even when the priest faces the nave:
Pope Benedict XVI frequently advocated for and implemented the placement of a large crucifix at the center of the altar during Mass, both in his role as pope and previously as a cardinal. This practice, known as the "Benedictine arrangement," is intended to visually emphasize the centrality of Christ and His sacrifice in the Eucharistic celebration.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- The crucifix is placed in the middle of the altar, often alongside six or seven candles, to draw attention to the cross as the focal point of the liturgy.
- The crucifix serves as a visual reminder of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, which is made present in the Mass.
- The placement of the crucifix encourages both the priest and the congregation to turn their gaze towards Christ, rather than focusing solely on the priest.
- Pope Benedict XVI argued that the crucifix is not an obstruction to the view of the priest, but rather an invitation to collectively gaze upon the Lord.
- The crucifix helps to distinguish between the Liturgy of the Word (proclamation and relationship) and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (adoration).
- The crucifix is seen as a unifying symbol for all, rather than an impediment to communal worship.
- Pope Francis has continued the practice of placing a crucifix on the altar, demonstrating the importance of this tradition.
6 comments:
We Byzantines celebrate ad orientem as you are likely aware.
Very symmetrical and vertical though we do not have the Roman high elevations. Even the "thine own of thine own" is only accomplished at chest height.
During the consecration itself and similar to the priest, we are bowed at the waist.
My point? There's really no need to exaggerate "seeing", knowing is more than sufficient.
The RC would do well to reclaim this posture as it eliminates the need for exaggerated gesturing and, with some, uncalled for theatrics. Additionally, the tone it sets and the notion of simply reenacting a meal is completely eliminated.
ByzRus,
I am no expert, but traditionally, it is my udnerstanding that Romans also did not exaggerate seeing. Although the practice of the elevations at the consecrations dates back to medieval times, this is all the faithful saw of much of the "action" at the altar in most churches for centuries. This obsession with seeing and immediately, easily comprehending everything the priest says and does is a very modern idea, born from a new hyper-rationalist emphasis post-Enlightenment; unfortunately, those who created the new missal bought this novelty hook, line, and sinker as the way to make the liturgy more appealing to "modern man." As many, including multiple popes, have subsequently lamented, this has led to a loss in the mystery and particular Roman elements (Latin, Gregorian chant) of the Mass.
Nick
I agree with Fr McDonald....Don't bury the Crucifix behind candles.
Fr. AJM,
I'll add that I don't understand why "can't block the view of what's happening on the altar" automatically means "crucifix needs to be shoved to the side." (a la Bishop Martin's liturgical nitpicking, among others'.) My parish uses the so-called "Benedictine" altar arrangement, with relatively short candles and crucifix, and there has been no issue. Surely that's a better option than shoving everything to the side. And in the pictures you posted, the crucifix wouldn't even block lines of sight if it was centered! It's barely taller than the chalices. Very odd, all told.
Nick
Agree. This is the commemoration of the sacrifice on Calvary. The cross, central to that event shouldn't be hidden. Protestants do this by only showing the cross, not the corpus of our Lord.
That tiny crucifix wouldn't block anyone's view...Pope Leo seems to just ignore the tiny crucifix anyway and incenses that larger crucifix above anyway...
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