Thank God that Wake Forest is in the Diocese of Raleigh and not Charlotte, as the new church of Saint Catherine has a beautiful altar railing which I presume they use for Holy Communion. Communicants can stand or kneel at the full length of the railing as they find their unity, not in posture, but in the Lord Jesus received worthily in Holy Communion.
You can view all the glorious photos, along with a commentary, at “Liturgical Arts’ Journal” by pressing HERE.
But I want to focus on what is the fly in the ointment for me. I continue to be appalled, appalled I tell you, that diocesan liturgical commissions, along with their bishops, allow double altars in new construction. I am appalled, appalled, I tell you!
With the photos above, there are two solutions that could have been used, but neither were, unfortunately. One solution, given the liturgical chaos we continue to live, is less plausible than the other.
The less plausible is to simply have the one piece back altar and allow Mass ad orientem. We did it that way for the majority of the 2,000 years of the Catholic Church! What’s the big deal?
The more plausible solution, if one must have a free-standing altar, the altar part of that one piece altar, could have been separated from the reredos and pulled forward for a freestanding altar that could be used for Mass facing ad orientem or toward the nave.
Having two altars in a new church makes no liturgical sense and indeed goes against the liturgical law as I understand it.
And then my real pet peeve! No floral arrangements in front of the altar! Just don’t do it! Why do it? Who thinks this helps highlight the altar and its beauty. Floral arrangements should frame and highlight the altar not hide it!!!!! And all that is really needed, in the case of noble simplicity, are two nice arrangements on either side of the reredos/tabernacle! That’s it. Why stick a floral arrangements in front of the altar? Why? Oh why!
2 comments:
Is this really a double altar, or just a reredos with a tabernacle mounted on it? It doesn't look wide enough to be used as an altar.
The photo isn’t the best one, but yes that would be the main altar for an ad orientem Mass. Keep in mind it has to be narrow for the priest to be able to reach into the attached tabernacle.
Post a Comment