Altar used as a stage for performance

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goneiri

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Recently our youth group did a summer bible study. Part of it involved putting on a stage performance. I was not there but they posted photos of it all afterward in our Parish newsletter. They performed on the altar while the ‘audience’ sat in the pews. They used all the altar space and decorated the area, including the altar table, with animal images - as part of the performance.

I was completely shocked and offended at this when I saw the photos. Is this allowed?
 
I don’t want to sound critical but as most modern Altars are pretty small (approx. 30" x 77")
I’m assuming you are talking about the Sanctuary.

At our local parish, any performances are done in the social hall. There is a stage located at the end of the hall.

The church is God’s house not a social center. Now, having said that I know some priests that allow such things to happen. Not sure what the G.I.R.M. says.
 
corsair said:
I don’t want to sound critical but as most modern Altars are pretty small (approx. 30" x 77")
I’m assuming you are talking about the Sanctuary.
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Yes that is exactly what I meant. The altar was used for holding props and was draped with animal images and the sanctuary was used for the whole performance. We have a hall and plenty of space otherwise so I am baffled as to why they did this.

We have a lot of converts in our Parish [much more than the average parish I would guess] who run these programs and I am guessing that they are not aware of the importance of the sanctuary/altar to Catholics.
 
Obviously.
Maybe bring it up with someone, as you say, likely they have no idea how wrong it is to use the altar for anything for the Sacrifice of the Mass.
 
As a musician, I have to say that this is extremely common. I’ve performed in scores of concerts where the performers stood or sat in the sanctuary. Decorating the altar is really extreme, however, but I remember having to tell former performers not to set their water bottles on the altar at a parish where we were performing.
 
I don’t think this was a good move, and I definitely believe the altar should be used only during mass, but I somehow doubt God feels offended from this. What is more innocent than VBS kids putting on a bible play in God’s house?

Like I said, I wouldn’t advocate the use of an altar as the parish playhouse- that’s wrong.

I hope I’m making any sense. I’m finding it very difficult to explain myself.
 
The only objects to be placed on an altar are the ones used for Mass. To put anything else on it is not allowed.
 
I think it is a very rare event, and in general is not allowed. I was allowed to have young children do a Christmas program on the altar many years ago. Everything had to be liturgically correct and decorations were not allowed. Small movable props were allowed to be placed in front of the altar only, but not on it. The majority of the program was done to the side of the altar or as part of the procession into the Church.

I think in general this kind of thing is not allowed, and should be very limited. The altar is not a stage.
 
I was at a Mass where the altar was rolled aside and a screen came down from the back of the sanctuary and they showed a slideshow, in the period after Communion and before the Priest did the dismissal. It is a locally popular parish that is a favorite stop for the bishop.
 
Once, we had a Christmas presentation by the children of the school. The Kindergarten angels got their halos and wings on in the chapel. The next day, the Pastor reamed me a new one. Why? He found glitter flakes on the altar in the chapel.
REAMED I tell you.
Nope, no kids anywhere NEAR the altar. :tsktsk:
 
goneiri said:
Recently our youth group did a summer bible study. Part of it involved putting on a stage performance. I was not there but they posted photos of it all afterward in our Parish newsletter. They performed on the altar while the ‘audience’ sat in the pews. They used all the altar space and decorated the area, including the altar table, with animal images - as part of the performance.

I was completely shocked and offended at this when I saw the photos. Is this allowed?
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If it was in the parish newsletter, then the priest must have been aware of it. If he didn’t say anything, then there’s not much that can be done about it.

Perhaps he mentioned something to the organizers, without saying anything publicly. (Let us hope.)

But normally, this is considered to be in very poor taste.

We have a Christmas Pageant at our parish, and I often end up in charge of it. I never use the Sanctuary; I always use the Nave, and I do have the characters all over the Nave so that the people can see them, rather than confining the action up front, where very few people can see anything. (Baby Jesus often ends up on the first step to the Sanctuary, but that’s as close as we ever get.)

I would really prefer to do the Christmas Pageant in a different space, but the people are used to having it take place in the Church. I guess they did at one time use the Sanctuary.
 
RCIA and Religious ED need to start teaching reverence again. The Church building is the house of God. There should “never” be any social functions like dances or bands or whatever. That’s disgusting and anyone who promotes that kind of stuff, knowing how absolutely inappropriate it is, should be removed from any position where they call the shots on that kind of stuff. The house of God should be a place of silence and peace. Talking before, during, or after Mass (outside of responses, prayers, etc) is wrong. Applause after the Mass is horrid. Where is the reverence? [edited]
 
The Code of Canon Law, canon 1210 states:

Only those things which serve the exercise or promotion of worship, piety, or religion are permitted in a sacred place; anything not consonant with the holiness of the place is forbidden. In an individual case, however, the ordinary can permit other uses which are not contrary to the holiness of the place.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Ch. 5, no. 306 says:

For only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the altar table …

Finally, the 1987 document “Concerts in Churches” states:

In order that the sacred character of a church be conserved in the matter of concerts, the Ordinary can specify that: … The Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place…

I should think the latter applies to other non-worship events as well.
 
I think lately the train of thought is, (and I’m not saying it’s right) that as long as the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed it’s o.k. 🤷
 
I’ve been to a concert at a parish where the tabernacle was emptied prior to the concert. It was the first and last time I’ve seen that. I like that practice.
 
johnmann said:
I’ve been to a concert at a parish where the tabernacle was emptied prior to the concert. It was the first and last time I’ve seen that. I like that practice.
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I don’t know where it’s such documented but it makes sense, though it’s still the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies in effect.
 
ProVobis said:
I don’t know where it’s such documented but it makes sense, though it’s still the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies in effect.
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In Jewish belief, isn’t God present in the Holy of Holies all the time? I would think the empty tabernacle is more like an empty chalice or ciborum for communion: consecrated for use holding the Eucharist, and so deserving of respect for that reason, but not having any intrinsic holiness of its own. For instance, it would be acceptable to carefully store clean communion vessels in a cabinet with other items like towels and linens, log books, matches, etc.
 
Digitonomy said:
In Jewish belief, isn’t God present in the Holy of Holies all the time? I would think the empty tabernacle is more like an empty chalice or ciborum for communion: consecrated for use holding the Eucharist, and so deserving of respect for that reason, but not having any intrinsic holiness of its own. For instance, it would be acceptable to carefully store clean communion vessels in a cabinet with other items like towels and linens, log books, matches, etc.
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Not saying you’re wrong but I have to admit, this is the first time I’ve heard an empty tabernacle being equated to an empty chalice or ciborium. It has large significance on Good Friday, inter alia.

Is there some reference to your thinking? I’d like to read up more on it. Other than Exodus, of course.
 
ProVobis said:
Not saying you’re wrong but I have to admit, this is the first time I’ve heard an empty tabernacle being equated to an empty chalice or ciborium. It has large significance on Good Friday, inter alia.

Is there some reference to your thinking? I’d like to read up more on it. Other than Exodus, of course.
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No, it’s just my thinking in response to your post. The Holy of Holies seems like an excellent comparison to the tabernacle when the Eucharist is present. But if the Eucharist is not present, the light is extinguished, God is not there in the Real Presence.
 
Digitonomy said:
No, it’s just my thinking in response to your post. The Holy of Holies seems like an excellent comparison to the tabernacle when the Eucharist is present. But if the Eucharist is not present, the light is extinguished, God is not there in the Real Presence.
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I still don’t understand your reasoning in terms of the OP. Consider, for example, the EF prayer,

Aufer a nobis, quæsumus, Domine, iniquitates nostras:
Take away from us, we beg, Lord, iniquities our:

ut ad Sancta sanctorum
that to Holy of holies

puris mereamur mentibus introire.
with pure we may be worthy mind to enter.

Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Through Christ Lord our. Amen.

Oramus te, Domine, per merita Sanctorum tuorum,
We pray to You, Lord, through merits of Saints Your,

quorum reliquiæ hic sunt, et omnium Sanctorum:
whose relics here are, and all Saints:

ut indulgere digneris omnia peccata mea. Amen.
that to forgive you may grant all sins my. Amen.
 
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