Can flowers be placed on altar during exposition?

[earthtomonty]

I am trying to end a dispute between a convent and a priest. The priest believes flowers may not be placed on altar during exposition and recently moved a vase off; the sisters were very offended by this.

The altar is in a small side chapel and is not freestanding – it is a small high altar against the wall. The only resource I found was this one: ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur351.htm.

It did not speak about exposition and only said they should be used with restraint, which is not helpful in my situation.

Any sources appreciated!

 

[bardegaulois]

There is a decree of the S. Congregation of Rites, dated 22 January, 1701, which declares that.it is not permitted to place flowers or similar ornaments before the door of the tabernacle, and the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore (No. 266) calls attention to this decree. Of course, the decree refers, strictly, to the mensa altaris in front of the tabernacle; still, it says that the flowers, etc., should be placed in “humiliori et decentiori loco,” and reverence for the “table” of the altar, as the place of the most solemn rites, ought to exclude from all parts of the mensa anything except what is required, absolutely, for the ceremonies, such as the chalice, the missal, etc.

Edit: taken from Volume LIII, The Ecclesiastical Review

 

[pianistclare]

Do you literally ON the altar, or on the floor in front of it?
Big difference. I can’t think of any reason why the Lord exposed would need any ornamentation.
But sometimes, we do decorate nearby, with cut arrangements for things like First Communion. But never ON the altar, and never in such a way as to feel like the area is “decorated”.
A lot of well meaning individuals get schooled by priests who feel they need to make necessary corrections/instructions. Don’t make too much of it. He’s trying to keep everything as correct as possible for the Lord. God bless.

 

[1ke]

I am trying to end a dispute between a convent and a priest.

That is a losing proposition.

The priest believes flowers may not be placed on altar during exposition and recently moved a vase off; the sisters were very offended by this.

a) The priest and sister need to talk to each other. They aren’t children. They are adults.

b) The priest is the liturgist, not the sister. Sister needs to back it up.

 

[FrDavid96]

I am trying to end a dispute between a convent and a priest. The priest believes flowers may not be placed on altar during exposition and recently moved a vase off; the sisters were very offended by this.

The altar is in a small side chapel and is not freestanding – it is a small high altar against the wall. The only resource I found was this one: ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur351.htm.

It did not speak about exposition and only said they should be used with restraint, which is not helpful in my situation.

Any sources appreciated!

Nothing, again nothing, is to be placed on the altar except for what is absolutely essential to the Liturgy (altar cloths, candles, Missal, corporal, chalice, etc.). Flowers do not qualify.

It was not only right for him to remove them, it was his responsibility.

Now, having said that, keep in mind some points:

–“on the altar” means exactly that, “on” as opposed to nearby (which is permitted)
—“the altar” means exactly that. If it’s not a true altar (but instead some kind of shelf that looks like an altar), then flowers may be placed there.

In any case, it’s still the priest’s decision to make even if they “may” be placed there.

 

[earthtomonty]

It is definitely an altar, so there should be no flowers. Thanks for the responses (although the lack of sources since 1701 is disconcerting!).

Re: priest vs. nuns…more and more we are going to find ourselves in situations where priests are “brought in” for the sacraments, and the majority of the liturgy is designed by some lay or religious person. I hate it, but it’s the way it is (thanks 60s-90s). So I don’t think this situation is unique…it’s going to become more frequent, if anything.

 

[pianistclare]

It is definitely an altar, so there should be no flowers. Thanks for the responses (although the lack of sources since 1701 is disconcerting!).

Re: priest vs. nuns…more and more we are going to find ourselves in situations where priests are “brought in” for the sacraments, and the majority of the liturgy is designed by some lay or religious person. I hate it, but it’s the way it is (thanks 60s-90s). So I don’t think this situation is unique…it’s going to become more frequent, if anything.

I guess you don’t realize that “papist” is an offensive term for Catholics?
I’d worry about that a little. Just sayin’

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