Monday, January 14, 2008
New Side Altars
Here are some photos of the new Side Altars that have been erected as shrines dedicated to the Infant Jesus and the Divine Mercy in the Carmelite Church of Ss. Peter and Paul in Waterloo Street.
Enjoy!
They are beautifull illuminated at night by incandesent and halogen lights. I will upload the night shots soon. In the meantime, I hope all is well with all my readers. God bless!Labels: Altar, Carmelite, Churches, Photos
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Home Altars
Home Altars are essential as the Faith of the family should be displayed in the home. The maxim "The family that prays together stays together" gives us a very good reason to dedicate a prominant place of worship in the home.
To decorate the houses with religious pictures is a custom as old as Christianity itself, for the true Christian has always considered his home as nothing less than a Temple of God, and the religious pictures as means to extend and preserve the spirit of Christianity in the home. In the living room the place of honour should be the crucifix.
"The home must be in accord with the Church, that all harmful influences be withheld from the souls of the children. Where there is true piety in the home, purity of morals reigns supreme. There is a crying need for a renewal of the Christian spirit in the home." St. John Vianney
Making a Home Altar
To decorate the houses with religious pictures is a custom as old as Christianity itself, for the true Christian has always considered his home as nothing less than a Temple of God, and the religious pictures as means to extend and preserve the spirit of Christianity in the home. In the living room the place of honour should be the crucifix.
"The home must be in accord with the Church, that all harmful influences be withheld from the souls of the children. Where there is true piety in the home, purity of morals reigns supreme. There is a crying need for a renewal of the Christian spirit in the home." St. John Vianney
Making a Home Altar
One need not spend a bomb on the home altar. Try looking at second hand shops, garage sales & antique shops for old tables, dressers or trunks- making sure there is somewhere to store extra things like matches, candles, et cetera.
It may also be handy to buy inexpensive but, good quality linens for private Holy Masses.
Here are some items you may want to include on your altar: prayer books, candles & holders, snuffers, flower vases, beautiful containers for rosaries & one for intentions, censer & incense, Holy water fonts, kneelers, Holy Bible & stand, crucifixes, icons, images or statues of our Lord & Lady.
"Of course, religious pictures themselves will not make a family good. Only when they are contemplated upon, are they a practical help to true Christian sentiment, and to a true Christian way of living in the family." St. John Vianney.
With the help of the Lord’s grace and your own creative ideas, you'll be able to build a beautiful home altar. Your home will become a church in miniture. God will add the extra grace.
Above is the makeshift altar in my bedroom; my home altar- which some of you have seen- has been dismantled until I get a new place (soon!). The icon in the background is an authentic Byzantine Icon. If you look closely, you'll be able to see that I've adorned our lady with a crown of twelve jewels and the eyes of the eagle (at the top) with two pearls.Friday, July 27, 2007
Side Altars
Following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, most Churches were remodelled to 'conform' to the 'new spirit' of the liturgy. As concelebration was permitted, Side Altars were no longer necessary. Hence, many were destroyed. But did side altars really have to be destroyed? NO. If we take a look at Churches where side altars were preserved, we can see that these altars have now become shrines for popular devotions. In St. Joseph's Church, electric votive candles set the a condusive for devotional prayer at the side altar dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. On the perservation of side altars, Fr. Rector Teo had this to say, "It's a sad thing. By the stroke of the pen, people's offerings were destroyed entirely". N.B. Side altars were usually offered by a particular person, family or group of friends; they would pay for the construction of the altar.
Below are before and after photos of a side altar in St. Joseph's Church dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. The first picture was taken last year, while the second was taken today after I spent a morning of polishing; the picture above was also taken today.
New side altars? Why not? The Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite, no. 84, suggests the dedication of side altars for Mass without the people, for example, by visiting clergy.
The Ceremonial of Bishops, no. 921, explains that newly erected side altars- where Mass is to be celebrated- ought not to have an image of the saint which it is commerated to above it. This is to "avoid the impression that Mass is offered to the saint." A proviso is given to existing side altars, that they "need not be modified".
A Reminder
As side altars are dedicated altars, they should be treated with reverence and respect. When not in use, they ought to be covered with a cloth or dust cover. Non-liturgical items may never be placed on side altars.
Labels: Altar, Candles, Our Lady of Fatima, Photos, Second Vatican Council
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Ad Orientum & Versus Populum
Instruction of the Liturgy issued by the Sacred Congregation of Rites on October 16, 1964.
95. Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist
The most holy Eucharist shall be reserved in a solid and inviolable tabernacle placed in the middle of the main altar or of a minor, but truly outstanding, altar, or, according to lawful customs, and in particular cases approved by the local ordinary, in some other noble and properly adorned part of the Church. It is lawful to celebrate Mass facing the people even if there is a tabernacle, small but suitable, on the altar.
Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,
"Whatever may be the position of the celebrating priest, it is clear that the Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered to the one and triune God, and that the principal, eternal, and high priest is Jesus Christ, who acts through the ministry of the priest who visibly presides as His instrument. The liturgical assembly participates in the celebration in virtue of the common priesthood of the faithful which requires the ministry of the ordained priest to be exercised in the Eucharistic Synaxis. The physical position, especially with respect to the communication among the various members of the assembly, must be distinguished from the interior spiritual orientation of all. It would be a grave error to imagine that the principal orientation of the sacrificial action is [toward] the community. If the priest celebrates versus populum, which is a legitimate and often advisable, his spiritual attitude ought always to be versus Deum per Jesus Christum [toward God through Jesus Christ], as representative of the entire Church. The Church as well, which takes concrete form in the assembly which participates, is entirely turned versus Deum [towards God] as its first spiritual movement."
Cardinal Schonborn FAITH Magazine May-June 2007,
"Both directions of celebration are justified and neither should be suspected or “ideologized” . Mass isn’t celebrated “to the people” or “to the wall”, but to God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. The celebration turned “to the people” has the meaning that we all, priests and laypeople, gather around Christ who symbolizes the altar and whose Body and Blood become present on the altar. The celebration “with the back to the people” is not a turning away from the faithful but facing in the same direction in prayer, expressive of the path we walk towards God as pilgrims, His wandering people."
Labels: Ad Orientum/Versus Populum, Altar, Liturgy, Official Documents, Quote, Quotes, Sacred Congregation of Rites, Second Vatican Council, Tabernacle
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The practice of Eucharistic Adoration
(From Sacramentum Caritatis by H.H. Pope Benedict XVI)
With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church's pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community. (194) Great benefit would ensue from a suitable catechesis explaining the importance of this act of worship, which enables the faithful to experience the liturgical celebration more fully and more fruitfully. Wherever possible, it would be appropriate, especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specific churches or oratories for perpetual adoration. I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the Eucharist.
Here I would like to express appreciation and support for all those Institutes of Consecrated Life whose members dedicate a significant amount of time to eucharistic adoration. In this way they give us an example of lives shaped by the Lord's real presence. I would also like to encourage those associations of the faithful and confraternities specifically devoted to eucharistic adoration; they serve as a leaven of contemplation for the whole Church and a summons to individuals and communities to place Christ at the centre of their lives.
Forms of eucharistic devotion
68. The personal relationship which the individual believer establishes with Jesus present in the Eucharist constantly points beyond itself to the whole communion of the Church and nourishes a fuller sense of membership in the Body of Christ. For this reason, besides encouraging individual believers to make time for personal prayer before the Sacrament of the Altar, I feel obliged to urge parishes and other church groups to set aside times for collective adoration. Naturally, already existing forms of eucharistic piety retain their full value. I am thinking, for example, of processions with the Blessed Sacrament, especially the traditional procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Forty Hours devotion, local, national and international Eucharistic Congresses, and other similar initiatives. If suitably updated and adapted to local circumstances, these forms of devotion are still worthy of being practised today. (195
Labels: Adoration, Adoration/Holy Hour, Altar, Catechesis, Catholic Belief, Corpus Christi, Devotion/Devotionals, Eucharist, Holy Father, Sacramentum Caritatis
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
History and Graces received from Altar Serving
For hundreds of years, the usage of altar servers has brought about countless priestly vocations. In the words of the Archbishop of Westminster, Bernard Cardinal Griffen, "To serve at the altar, as to sing in the choir, is next to the priesthood the highest privilege which a human can enjoy. He represents the faithful and takes a most intimate part in the rich treasures of the church's liturgy and ceremonial. Those sacred ceremonies should be carried out with devotion, dignity and attention to detail."
History:
An altar server is a lay assistant to the priest during the Mass or to other members of the clergy in other religious functions including Benediction and Eucharistic Adoration. An altar server is not to be confused with an acolyte. Before the Second Vatican Council, the acolyte was the highest of the minor orders, having duties including the lighting of the altar-candles, carrying the candles in procession, assisting the subdeacon and deacon, and the ministering of water and wine to the priest at Mass. Acolytes wore either the alb or the surplice over a cassock. The order of acolyte was conferred on a seminarian at a minor ordination. After the reforms of the minor orders in 1972, the acolyte survived but became one of two lay ministries (along with that of lector) instead of an order. Today, Indult Catholic societies such as the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter are still permitted to ordain seminarians to all the minor orders, including the acolytate. Therefore, the acolyte is not to be confused with the altar server even though the altar server can do the already mentioned duties of the acolyte.
In the post-Vatican II Church, an acolyte has all the responsibilities of an altar server except a few additional ones. The acolyte is also permanent extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and can also be entrusted with celebrating Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. He is also the only lay minister who can do the purification of the vessels at Mass. Furthermore, an acolyte is given a priority to lead blessing ceremonies (Book of Blessings, Introduction, n. 18). In the absence of both a priest and deacon, the acolyte has priority to lead Sunday Celebrations (Directions for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest, 1988, n. 30).
Traditionally, the role of altar server has always been reserved to males and rightfully so. By having males serve at the altar, a young man is better able to discern the priesthood since he is involved with the Liturgy. Personally, I support the return of an all-male group of altar servers for the entire Catholic Church. Some parishes are even returning to the practice of all-male altar servers. Historically, the role of altar server has always been reserved to males. In the Encyclical Allatae Sunt on July, 26, 1755, Pope Benedict XIV stated in paragraph 29:
Pope Gelasius in his ninth letter (chap. 26) to the bishops of Lucania condemned
the evil practice which had been introduced of women serving the priest at the
celebration of Mass. Since this abuse had spread to the Greeks, Innocent IV
strictly forbade it in his letter to the bishop of Tusculum: "Women should not
dare to serve at the altar; they should be altogether refused this ministry." We
too have forbidden this practice in the same words in Our oft-repeated
constitution Etsi Pastoralis, sect. 6, no. 21."
In 1970 the Vatican condemned female altar serving in Liturgicae instaurationes as well as in 1980's Inaestimabile donum. Not until a circular letter from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments to presidents of episcopal conferences on March 15, 1994, did the Vatican officially allow female altar serving.
Graces:
To serve at the altar as an altar server is one of the greatest sources of graces. The altar server assists the priest at the Sacred Liturgy; he is privileged to walk into the sanctuary. Remember, the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. It is not a memorial but rather the Mass truly is the Sacrifice of Calvary. For that reason, all altar servers must display the utmost respect and reverence. For example, each and every single time that the server walks past the Tabernacle, he is to genuflect on his right knee to our Lord who is truly present in the Eucharist.
All altar servers must listen attentively during the Mass and should remain in a state of prayer with their hands in a prayer position. Talking amongst each other is absolutely forbidden. Likewise, all altar servers should wear proper shoes and never flip-flops, sandals, boots, or gym shoes. An altar servers must also learn the proper name to all of the items used during the Liturgy. Such items are listed at the bottom of the webpage of the Altar Server Manual. Altar Servers must ensure that no particle of Our Lord's Body or Blood falls to the ground. With the use of the paten, altar servers perform an extremely important sacred ministry. They must ensure that no particle of the Eucharist is desecrated accidentally at any portion during the Mass. Furthermore, altar servers must know the basic prayers of the Mass at least in the vernacular and perhaps some of them in Latin. The altar server must have a basic understanding of the Catholic Faith and understand the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
Graces:
To serve at the altar as an altar server is one of the greatest sources of graces. The altar server assists the priest at the Sacred Liturgy; he is privileged to walk into the sanctuary. Remember, the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. It is not a memorial but rather the Mass truly is the Sacrifice of Calvary. For that reason, all altar servers must display the utmost respect and reverence. For example, each and every single time that the server walks past the Tabernacle, he is to genuflect on his right knee to our Lord who is truly present in the Eucharist.
All altar servers must listen attentively during the Mass and should remain in a state of prayer with their hands in a prayer position. Talking amongst each other is absolutely forbidden. Likewise, all altar servers should wear proper shoes and never flip-flops, sandals, boots, or gym shoes. An altar servers must also learn the proper name to all of the items used during the Liturgy. Such items are listed at the bottom of the webpage of the Altar Server Manual. Altar Servers must ensure that no particle of Our Lord's Body or Blood falls to the ground. With the use of the paten, altar servers perform an extremely important sacred ministry. They must ensure that no particle of the Eucharist is desecrated accidentally at any portion during the Mass. Furthermore, altar servers must know the basic prayers of the Mass at least in the vernacular and perhaps some of them in Latin. The altar server must have a basic understanding of the Catholic Faith and understand the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
To all altar servers, please take these suggestions to heart. I strongly suggest you read the words expressed on the article Advice for Altar Servers. Remember, as an altar server, you stand next to the priest who stands at the Cross of Calvary. At the Consecration, you stand near the altar on which the Bread and Wine become Jesus Christ. You should humble yourself and bow your head before the power of God. You are assisting at the Holy of Holies. Display reverence and worship Our God. Undoubtedly, altar servers receive countless blessings from Almighty God from serving devoutly at Mass. Even attending Holy Mass is the source of numerous graces. It is certainly more grace-filled for altar servers.
Prayer before Serving:
Heavenly Father, we ask your blessing upon us, that we may serve at your altar with reverence, attention, and love, in order to draw others to do the same. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Additional Information:
- Advice for Altar ServersHandbook for Servers by the Archconfraternity of Saint Stephen
- How to Serve the Latin Mass by Rev. H.E. Calnan, D.D.
- Manual for Altar Servers by CEI Publishing
- "Prayer Book for Young Catholics" by Fr. Robert J. Fox
"To serve is beautiful,but only if it is done with joy
and a whole heartand a free mind." Pearl S. Buck
Labels: Altar, Altar Serving, Links, Liturgy, Prayer, Priesthood
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Awesome View
Some pictures of my Aunt's new residence:
The pool
The Home Altar
Isn't the view awesome?
The pool
The Home Altar
Labels: Altar, Miscellaneous, Photos
Friday, April 13, 2007
Altat Transformation
You've seen Parish Transformation, now check out Altar Transformation by the Fraternity of St. Peter.
Uploaded by CHRIST-REDEMPTEUR
St. Joseph's Sanctuary: Easter
The High Altar
The Altar Table
A closer look at the High Altar
The full view of the canopy
The pulpit and the Pascal candle
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