Artificial Flowers

[kage_ar]

In this thread, it was stated that artificial flowers are not permitted.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=225473

I have done some search and have been unable to locate any official document. I have found some local Parishes that have this as a policy, but, no formal USCCB or Vatican document

Would anyone here be able to point me to an official document?

Thank you

 

[Miserissima]

New Advent has a little bit of help:
newadvent.org/cathen/01357d.htm
[removed extra links and emphasis mine]:

Altar Vase

Vase to hold flowers for the decoration of the altar. The Cæremoniale Episcoporum** (I, xii, n. 12) says that between the candlesticks on the altar may be placed natural or artificial flowers, which are certainly appropriate ornaments of the altar.** The flowers referred to are cut flowers, leaves, and ferns, rather than plants imbedded in soil in large flowerpots, although the latter may fitly be used for the decoration of the sanctuary around the altar. If artificial flowers are used they ought to be made of superior material, as the word serico (ibid.) evidently implies, and represent with some acouracy the natural variations. Flowers of paper, cheap muslin, or calico, and other inferior materials, and such as are old and soiled, should never be allowed on the altar.

Hope this helps!

Mis

 

[Miserissima]

Wait! There’s more!

The term garland was also technically used to signify a crown of precious metal, often adorned with gems, made for the **arrangement of natural or artificial flowers before the altar or sacred image at festival times. **

(from ROCK, Church of our Fathers (London, 1849); WALCOTT, Sacred Archaeology (London, 1868); MARRIOTT in Dict. Christ. Antiq., s. v. Baptism; PLUMPTRE, ibid., s. v. Crowns for Brides; LEE, Glossary of Liturgical and Ecclesiastical Terms (London, 1877); SCANNELL (ed.) Catholic Dictionary (London, 1905), s. v. Marriage; LECLERCQ, Manuel d’Archéologie Chrétienne (Paris, 1907).
G. CYPRIAN ALSTON
Transcribed By Scott Anthony Hibbs
Retrieved from link: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Garland"

And one more supporting link:

The Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam† blog is always awesome, slatts.blogspot.com/2007/05/altar-furnishings-and-decorations-part_21.html (again, emphasis mine):

FLOWERS: Flowers are the emblems of spiritual joy and like candles and incense have their own function in divine worship. They have always been used in decorating the church, but have been placed on the altar only since the thirteenth century. Natural, fresh, sweet-smelling flowers should be used whenever possible, although artificial ones are permissible if they are made of such materials as cloth, porcelain, or wax. Paper flowers are not considered liturgical. There seems to be no general law which prescribes that flowers must be used on the altar for decoration, nor are they the only means of adorning the altar.

The “Caeremoniale [mentioned in the post I made above, which is still linked to New Advent]” suggests that relics (in reliquaries), candles, candelabra, lamps, precious vases, becoming and tasteful bunting, and wreaths may also be used on festival days or when the bishop celebrates Mass. Decorating the altar with palm branches on Palm Sunday seems to be customary and apppropriate.

From: Adapted from Altar and Sanctuary, An Exposition of the Externals of the Mass
by Angela A. Glendenin (© 1939)
Published by the Catholic Action Committee
The Catholic Action Series of Discussion Club Textbooks

So basically, a “no artificial flowers” rule beongs to the parish or possibly the diocese…and the flowers should be as realistic as possible.

Hope this helps!

Mis

 

[benedictgal]

Given that I’m the one who made the principal statement regarding artificial flowers, I suppose I should offer some insight.

Whatever is used in the Church should have life in it, at least that is how it was explained to us. This means that the music should be live (not Memorex). The wine comes from grapes that were crushed. The hosts comes from wheat that was ground. In other words, things should be natural. This includes flowers for the altar.

You spend money to send a funeral spray when a relative of friend dies. These are 99% of the time made of real flowers. You send flowers to your sweetheart on her birthday or Valentine’s Day or the anniversary of your wedding. Certainly, if you sent her artificial flowers, that doesn’t convey the same message as a fragrant dozen or half-dozen roses.

Our Cathedral (and the parishes throughout our diocese) does not permit artificial flowers for use in the sanctuary for the same reasons outlined in my opening paragraph.

Inasmuch as the 1978 document, Art and Environment in Catholic Worship doesn’t necessarily carry the force of law, this statement seems to be in agreement with the issue of using “natural” things:

1. Flowers, plants and trees–genuine, of course–are particularly apt for the decoration of liturgical space, since they are of nature, always discreet in their message, never cheap or tawdry or ill-made. Decoration should never impede the approach to or the encircling of the altar or any of the ritual movement and action, but there are places in most liturgical spaces where it is appropriate and where it can be enhancing. The whole space is to be considered the arena of decoration, not merely the sanctuary.

I hope this offers some explanation regarding this issue.

 

[kage_ar]

Thank you all, of course nothing tacky or cheap looking would be appropriate. I have seen some goregous silk flowers used in many Parishes, and there are brides who cannot afford real flowers.

Glad to know that this is just preference of some Dioceses/Parishes, and not law. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[benedictgal]

I might add that the document I quoted does, in fact, come from the USCCB. Although it doesn’t have the force of law, many, many parishes and dioceses do have that prohbition against artificial flowers.

In fact, while searching for information for you, I did find that many parishes throughout the country have set in their policies a prohibition against having artificial flowers in the sanctuary. There are parishes in North Carolina, Texas and other states where this holds true.

 

[Miserissima]

Given that I’m the one who made the principal statement regarding artificial flowers, I suppose I should offer some insight. I hope this offers some explanation regarding this issue.

Benedictgal,

I totally agree that there should be no “recorded” music. I read somewhere that not only is it forbidden, but is tacky and draws attention away from when we should be lifting our minds toward God.

Back to the flowers issue,

From the Commentary on the Directives for the Implementation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (third typical edition) in the Diocese of Columbus:

Our choice should always be for the use of natural materials.
Stone or wood should always be chosen over plastic or wood composites.
Natural fibers for vestments and linens should be chosen over synthetics.
Cut flowers are preferred instead of hand made silk flowers.
Plastic or other mass produced foliage should never be used.
We should always strive to give the best we have to offer and avoid an attitude of convenience or “that’s good enough."

I understand that “preferred” does not deny the use of artificial flowers under the guidelines given in my previous posts.

From a post here at CAF going back to 2004:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=210066&postcount=4

The USCCB issued a highly controversial document in November of 2000 called Building Stones: Art, Architecture & Worship, ( nccbuscc.org/liturgy/livingstonesind.htm )
which offered some guidelines but did not carry with it the rule of law.
One of the suggestions for creating a worship atmosphere is to use “natural” flowers.

§ 123 § The tradition of decorating or not decorating the church for liturgical seasons and feasts heightens the awareness of the festive, solemn, or penitential nature of these seasons. Human minds and hearts are stimulated by the sounds, sights, and fragrances of liturgical seasons, which combine to create powerful, lasting impressions of the rich and abundant graces unique to each of the seasons.

§ 124 § Plans for seasonal decorations should include other areas besides the sanctuary. Decorations are intended to draw people to the true nature of the mystery being celebrated rather than being ends in themselves. Natural flowers, plants, wreaths and fabric hangings, and other seasonal objects can be arranged to enhance the primary liturgical points of focus. The altar should remain clear and free-standing, not walled in by massive floral displays or the Christmas crib, and pathways in the narthex, nave, and sanctuary should remain clear.
[edited]
In short, artificial flowers can enhance worship space, but regardless of whether they are live or silk, the person placing the flowers does need to have a sense of the sacred and a critical eye.

There has been no [recent] pronouncement on the use of either real or artificial flowers. You’re correct that real ones are preferred, but using realistic high-quality silk flowers as a second choice has many benefits, which more and more parishes seem to be leaning toward (I probably did the same Google search, hee!). Until there’s a clear ruling on it, it’s up to the parish, or the diocese, until there is a law that becomes universal.

Here’s a scan from Churches - Their Plan And Furnishing by Peter F. Anson (March 15, 2007):



To me, the Caeremonial Eposcoporum has the final say until something more definitive is published, but one’s immediate, local authority should be one’s Parish Sacristan, who should be “up” on what’s going on in the diocese. I recommend getting the book LTP’s recently-published aid: “The Sacristy Manual,” by G. Thomas Ryan (Chicago: LTP Publications, 1993). 1-800-933-1800 for him.

 

[Miserissima]

OH OH OH ! Cool…

Does anyone have a hardcopy of the Adoramus Bulletin
Vol. VIII, No. 5: July-August 2002?

One of the questions in the readers forum addresses Artificial Flowers and there might be something worth reading (for all of us) there:

Readers’ Forum for July-August 2002
NRSV Study – Mysterium (In)fidei? – Scripture-based Hymns – Divine Office Chants – P(name removed by moderator)oints – Non-Catholic Lectors – Artificial Flowers? – Altar girls? – Adoration Protocol – Consuming Extra Consecrated Hosts – Why the “Stand” Demand? – Piety Banned – Devil at Work? – EMs in the Sanctuary – Elevating the - Collection Basket! – Psalm swap – Sanctus article kudos

 

[sarah_9]

Hello friends,

Flower decoration is must for any event, it did not matter whether the flowers are real or artificial, many people prefer silk flowers to decorate the location, especially if the event is organized in open area like beach wedding.Artificial flower decoration is not a bad idea.

Regards,
sarah_9

 

[bpbasilphx]

FWIW, a directive from Patriarch Alexis I of Moscow said that artificial flowers (or anything else) should not be used in churches PRECISELY because they are artificial and thus contain in themselves an element of deception that is not appropriate for the temple of Him who said, “I am Truth.”