Church Decorations

[TheMc]

Lastly, yes, very good eye SMHW. There is a cross of the crucified Christ sitting on the Altar. The resurrected Christ cross was donated about 15 years ago. I do still have the old sanctuary cross (a crucified one) which I use at Lent often when I cover the resurrected cross (which is actually covered due to the resurrected aspect of it vs anything to do with the old tradition).

Well, could you possibly donate it back? Ressurectifixes really shouldn’t take the place of a crucifix in a catholic church.

 

[pilots13]

Well, could you possibly donate it back? Ressurectifixes really shouldn’t take the place of a crucifix in a catholic church.

Lets just say that won’t be happening any time soon. Our pastor at the time it was installed thought it was one of the best crosses he had ever seen. He loved how the Jesus figure was made so welcoming. And having the open, welcoming Jesus displayed behind the Altar, where the true sacrifice of that same Jesus occurs at every Mass.

 

[TheMc]

Lets just say that won’t be happening any time soon. Our pastor at the time it was installed thought it was one of the best crosses he had ever seen. He loved how the Jesus figure was made so welcoming. And having the open, welcoming Jesus displayed behind the Altar, where the true sacrifice of that same Jesus occurs at every Mass.

Ouch.

 

[pilots13]

Ouch.

Apparently Jesus can’t be welcoming?

 

[YoungTradCath]

Apparently Jesus can’t be welcoming?

It makes no sense to have a ressurectifix and call it a crucifix. Perhaps there is a crucifix somewhere near or on the altar, in which case the requirement is satisfied. But a ressurectifix does not count as a crucifix.

 

[Digitonomy]

I attended mass yesterday at a church that has the same “barn”-type architecture as yours. Normally I wouldn’t have paid much attention to the decorations, but this thread sensitized me to the difficulties the designer faced. They did an excellent job, and I think the main difference was they apparently had some money to spend. The features with the greatest impact were the vertical banners to either side of the crucifix. They were made of blue or purple fabric (dark enough that I couldn’t tell which), with a large embroidered angel on each facing the crucifix, in the same way that statuary is often used in other churches. At the bottom were the words “Glory to God” on one banner and “In the Highest” on the other. There was a matching banner on the front of the lectern with an embroidered village, perhaps from Tatooine , and the words “O Little Town of Bethlehem” on the bottom. The nativity scene, a few trees, and wreath were unremarkable.

While the church itself was a little smaller (which makes the decorating a bit cheaper) and the building made of lesser quality materials, the effect of those banners was really impressive. I don’t know how much such banners cost, but if you can tolerate using them in the same way year after year after year, it’s a pretty good investment - if you have any money to invest.

 

[pilots13]

I don’t know how much such banners cost, but if you can tolerate using them in the same way year after year after year, it’s a pretty good investment - if you have any money to invest.

This is why I don’t spend my limited budget on having permanent banners made like that. My Tatooine banners are simply plain blue banners, gold stars we’ve had for years, and about $20 of felt I bought and made the buildings out of. Looks nice, cheap, and can be used again down the road, or never again.

YoungTradCath:

It makes no sense to have a ressurectifix and call it a crucifix. Perhaps there is a crucifix somewhere near or on the altar, in which case the requirement is satisfied. But a ressurectifix does not count as a crucifix.

I’m not calling it a crucifix. It is a ressurectifix. And we do have a crucifix on the Altar.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

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The candle thing has always been a bit of a foggy thing for me. I was always under the impression, that if you had two candles in the sanctuary, you were good. The 4 single candles you see are all used every Mass 95% of the time (feasts like Good Friday, and a handful of other times I’ve only used 2, or different candles all together). They tend to move around a lot, pending how they fit best into the design. Our old pastor gave me a requirement that there always be one candle by the Altar and one by the Ambo, and he didn’t care where the other two were. With very few exceptions, this is what I’ve done. I guess how close to the Altar is “next” to it? Am I breaking rules only having one directly next to the Altar, or am I OK having 4 candles somewhere in the sanctuary at all times?
resurrected cross (which is actually covered due to the resurrected aspect of it vs anything to do with the old tradition).

“On or near the altar” seems pretty clear, with “near” meaning on the floor adjacent to the altar. Fifteen feet from the altar is not near. There is no requirement that any candles be placed by the ambo, but candles or processional torches are normally carried to the ambo during the Gospel procession and removed after the Gospel reading."

Also, according to Canon 938.2, “The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved should be placed in a part of the church that is prominent, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.”

 

[pilots13]

Also, according to Canon 938.2, “The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved should be placed in a part of the church that is prominent, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.”

This is actually why the tabernacle was moved during one phase of our remodeling a few years back. It used to be on the right side Altar, and had the music ministry between it and any kind of seating. When the side Altars were remodeled it was moved to the left Altar which had a full section of seating in front of it, a new Tabernacle was bought which looks 10x nicer than the old one, and the wood carved backdrop was made (it used to just be plain Mankato Limestone). The backdrop was made by some famous sculptor who I think has worked on Papal Altars and such before. I don’t recall his name. The vine pattern is modeled after the frames around the Stations of the Cross hanging on the church walls (which date WAY back well before the construction of the present church building).

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Better shot if the Tabernacle Altar from a Holy Thursday Mass. Sorry for the sideways-ness of it.