Community Around the Altar?

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SouthernSister

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Tonight, our priest invited the small congregation gathered for Mass to come into the Sanctuary during the Consecration and gather around the Altar. I realize this is irregular, but does it go directly against the GIRM?

I know that my priest’s intent is to build community, not deliberately be disrespectful.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
 
SouthernSister said:
I know that my priest’s intent is to build community, not deliberately be disrespectful.
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A priest’s intent at Mass should be to celebrate the Mass in the manner specified by the competent authorities (the Vatican and the USCCB in this case).
 
VociMike said:
A priest’s intent at Mass should be to celebrate the Mass in the manner specified by the competent authorities (the Vatican and the USCCB in this case).
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Can someone please give me the resources about this?

Thanks in advance!
 
SouthernSister said:
Tonight, our priest invited the small congregation gathered for Mass to come into the Sanctuary during the Consecration and gather around the Altar. I realize this is irregular, but does it go directly against the GIRM?

I know that my priest’s intent is to build community, not deliberately be disrespectful.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
Click to expand...
oh my lord, what has happened to the roman ritual.
Please, help us father benedict!
 
We have had the same pastor and associate pastor for close to twenty years (that’s another thread completely!) and for most of that time they have invited anyone who wants to, to gather around the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Invariable, it is almost exclusively small children, most of whom have no idea what is going on. The often squirm and wave, show their underwear, pinch each other…all while their parents, in the pews, blithely ignore them. It makes me want to tear my hair out. The pastor is really big on community, etc. but this really takes it to extremes, I think.
 
From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
  1. The People of God, gathered for Mass, has a coherent and hierarchical structure, which finds its expression in the variety of ministries and the variety of actions according to the different parts of the celebration. The general ordering of the sacred building must be such that in some way it conveys the image of the gathered assembly and allows the appropriate ordering of all the participants, as well as facilitating each in the proper carrying out of his function.
    The faithful and the choir should have a place that facilitates their active participation. [footnote 114: Cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Inter Oecumenici, on the orderly carrying out of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 26 September 1964, nos. 97-98: AAS 56 (1964), p. 899.]
    The priest celebrant, the deacon, and the other ministers have places in the sanctuary. Seats for concelebrants should also be prepared there. If, however, their number is great, seats should be arranged in another part of the church, but near the altar.
    All these elements, even though they must express the hierarchical structure and the diversity of ministries, should nevertheless bring about a close and coherent unity that is clearly expressive of the unity of the entire holy people. Indeed, the character and beauty of the place and all its furnishings should foster devotion and show forth the holiness of the mysteries celebrated there."
“295. The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation. It should, however, be large enough to allow the Eucharist to be celebrated properly and easily seen. [footnote 115: Cf. Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Inter Oecumenici, on the orderly carrying out of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 26 September 1964, no. 91: AAS 56 (1964), p. 898.]”

Also worth reading would be GIRM 310 and 311. Under the heading “II. ARRANGEMENT OF THE SANCTUARY FOR THE SACRED SYNAXIS (EUCHARISTIC ASSEMBLY)” it has the sub-heading for n. 310 “The Chair for the Priest Celebrant and Other Seats”. Then under the heading: “III. THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE CHURCH” it has the sub-heading for n. 311 “The Places for the Faithful”.
 
SouthernSister said:
Tonight, our priest invited the small congregation gathered for Mass to come into the Sanctuary during the Consecration and gather around the Altar. I realize this is irregular, but does it go directly against the GIRM?

I know that my priest’s intent is to build community, not deliberately be disrespectful.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
Click to expand...
It’s not irregular, it’s forbidden in the strongest language.
 
My Pastor does this at daily mass everyday. He doesnt actually have us stand around the alltar-he has us stand at the base of the altar(its two steps up down from the altar. I like to be on my knees when the Lord arrives so i stay in my pew.

Does it boher that he does this-No .Most people like to do it. I know it is against GIRM but as far as i am concerned that is between him and the Bishop.
 
estesbob said:
My Pastor does this at daily mass everyday. He doesnt actually have us stand around the alltar-he has us stand at the base of the altar(its two steps up down from the altar. I like to be on my knees when the Lord arrives so i stay in my pew.

Does it boher that he does this-No .Most people like to do it. I know it is against GIRM but as far as i am concerned that is between him and the Bishop.
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Liturgical apathy is a sad thing to have.
 
No one is to be on the altar until after the priest is done taking Communion. You can find this under the USCCB website.
 
Walking_Home said:
Liturgical apathy is a sad thing to have.
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\

Well Ive been accused of worse.

Sorry i cant get as worked up about this as the rest of you. BTW-at each of these Masses I got to hold Our Lord and Savior in my hand and consume his body. It was quite an experience but i guess I should have been worrying about who was standing where rather than who was receivng whom.
 
SouthernSister said:
Tonight, our priest invited the small congregation gathered for Mass to come into the Sanctuary during the Consecration and gather around the Altar. I realize this is irregular, but does it go directly against the GIRM?

I know that my priest’s intent is to build community, not deliberately be disrespectful.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
Click to expand...
It is in direct violation of the GIRM and your Priest knows it. Believe me he knows it. Unfortunately, many people such as yourself believe that the motivation behind this disrespectful as well as unlawful action is to build “community”. It is not.

The entire sequence and purpose of this activity, called a Missa Corona incidentally by those who practice such things is to completely blur the distinction between the ordained priesthood and the laity. Originally trotted out in Life Teen Masses on a grand scale, it moved into other areas as well. However, the Vatican condemned the practice in no uncertain terms.

According to Life Teen advocates the practice no longer occurs at Life Teen events:rotfl: however many are enamored of the practice .

Thats it. Your Priest is in violation of all established norms and guidelines and should be censured.
 
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