Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger:
Where a direct common turning towards the east is not possible, the cross can serve as the interior "east" of faith. It should stand in the middle of the altar and be the common point of focus for both priest and praying community. In this way we obey the ancient call to prayer: "Conversi ad Dominum," "Turn to the Lord!" In this way we look together at the One whose death tore the veil of the Temple – the One who stands before the Father for us and encloses us in his arms in order to make us the new and living Temple.
Moving the altar cross to the side to give an uninterrupted view of the priest is something I regard as one of the truly absurd phenomena of recent decades. Is the cross disruptive during Mass? Is the priest more important than the Lord? This mistake should be corrected as quickly as possible; it can be done without further rebuilding. The Lord is the point of reference. He is the rising sun of history. That is why there can be a cross of the Passion, which represents the suffering Lord who for us let his side be pierced, from which flowed blood and water (Eucharist and Baptism), as well as a cross of triumph, which expresses the idea of the Second Coming and guides our eyes towards it. For it is always the one Lord: Christ yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).
* * * * * * *
I highly doubt to see this in Manila, with Jennifer lording over the Lord of Hosts. But as shown by His Holiness, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, by Opus Dei Centers, by the Parish and Diocesan Shrine of Saint Josemaria Escriva in Tarlac, this arrangement is valid, acceptable, and true. When will you start adopting this in your parish? And not just flimsy crucifixes and sperma candles in shot glasses!
Give the Liturgy the dignity it deserves!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs a starter,
ReplyDelete1. following the GIRM with those candelabras and crucifix
2. putting back the altar railing and reserving the sanctuary ONLY to ordained ministers and authorized MALE acolytes
3. pushing the lectern or ambo OUT of the sanctuary
4. leaving out the Eucharistic Ministers except only in case of grave necessities when it takes more than an hour to distribute communion
5.Following the rubrics and liturgical wordings to the letter based on the Sacramentary and Lectionary without any improvisation, without any impromptu greeting like Good Morning after the Dominus Vobiscum, without any nonsensical use of AMEN by the homilist, without allowing the faithful to recite the Pater Noster with arms raised or clasped etc...
5. Strict compliance to kneeling during consecration and the Agnus Dei.
This could be enough for the moment to start the momentum of the whole resacralization of the Holy Mass.
Veni Sancte Spiritus,
emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur,
ET RENOVABIS FACIEM TERRAE!