credence table

[inmaddfox]

I have looked in the GIRM and cannot find anything on the Credence Table as far as where it is supposed to be located or where it can be located.At my Parish, we don’t use a Chalice Vail, we don’t use a pall, and we don’t put the chalice on the alter until the offertory. I know that this is all okay, but it’s my thought that if the Credence Table was in a position where all the Sacred Vessels, and the Vailed Chalice can be viewed by the congrigation it would highten the anticipation of what is o come, The Holy Eucharist. Bring more awareness of the Holy Eucharist.

 

[Phemie]

I have looked in the GIRM and cannot find anything on the Credence Table as far as where it is supposed to be located or where it can be located.At my Parish, we don’t use a Chalice Veil, we don’t use a pall, and we don’t put the chalice on the alter until the offertory. I know that this is all okay, but it’s my thought that if the Credence Table was in a position where all the Sacred Vessels, and the Veiled Chalice can be viewed by the congregation it would heighten the anticipation of what is to come, The Holy Eucharist. Bring more awareness of the Holy Eucharist.

But that’s not the focus of the Mass before the Offertory, the Word is. The credence table is just there as a convenience.

On Sundays, in my parish, the credence table is against the back wall of the sanctuary. At daily Mass it’s by the altar to make it more convenient for the celebrant who doesn’t have an altar server. In neither case is it a focus, it’s simply there.

 

[inmaddfox]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. He is still amoung us in the Holy Eucharist and I am affraid that there are too many Catholics that don’t really understand this. It wasn’t the table that was my focus, it was the Sacred Vessels that would soon be holding the Holy Eucharst. The table isn’t to interfere with the Word, it would be there only as a visual aid for the people to become more aware of why they are there. Yes we have the liturgy of the Word, but the main focus should always be Jesus in the Eucharist.
Mike

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“207. In the sanctuary there should be prepared
a. Seats and texts for the concelebrating priests;
b. On the credence table: a chalice of sufficient size or else several chalices.”

So this requires that the credence table be in the sanctuary. What is the sanctuary?
“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.”

 

[Phemie]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

"207. In the sanctuary there should be prepareda. Seats and texts for the concelebrating priests;
b. On the credence table: a chalice of sufficient size or else several chalices."So this requires that the credence table be in the sanctuary. What is the sanctuary?
“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.”

But that doesn’t say anything about the credence table being visible. It’s just a table to hold the vessels until they are needed. Yes, it’s in the sanctuary but it’s usually not very noticeable because it doesn’t have to be.

 

[jpjd]

inmaddfox, your heart is in the right place, but you are looking to the wrong thing to heighten anticipation. The Church in her Wisdom knows that the anticipation comes from the events of the Mass itself.

The credence table is simply a place to hold the vessels until they are needed on the altar. There should be no focus on the vessels per se. The focus is on the readings, homily, responsorial psalm, etc., in order to prepare our hearts to receive the Eucharist.

Once the gifts have been brought up, the vessels are put on the altar. That is the time we shift our focus to the vessels, or more properly, to what (or Who) is in the vessels.

 

[inmaddfox]

inmaddfox, your heart is in the right place, but you are looking to the wrong thing to heighten anticipation. The Church in her Wisdom knows that the anticipation comes from the events of the Mass itself.

The credence table is simply a place to hold the vessels until they are needed on the altar. There should be no focus on the vessels per se. The focus is on the readings, homily, responsorial psalm, etc., in order to prepare our hearts to receive the Eucharist.

Once the gifts have been brought up, the vessels are put on the altar. That is the time we shift our focus to the vessels, or more properly, to what (or Who) is in the vessels.

Please don’t misunderstand what I am trying to say. I know that the Liturgy of the word and the Liturgy of the Holy Euchrist is of most importance, this is the Mass. I just feel the Church needs to do everything it can do to foster the most devout atmosphere it can during the Mass. We all have five sences to use inform us of our surroundings. As far as I am concerned they can bring out all the stops to make us more aware that the mericle of the Holy Eucharist is about to happen. I beleive I am thinking most of the children so they can see things happening at the alter that may induce them to ask questions. I am 67 years old and I usually have three Grandaughters in the pew with me along with my son, his wife and their Grandmother. They see grandpa Lecter and help with Communion as an EMHC, they also see their mother being a Lector. When my kids were little, we would always sit in the front pew so they could see well.
As far as a lot of folks that received their Caticesus (sp) in the 1970’s and 1980’s, they need help also, it just wasn’t a good time for the Church. I feel that a lot of Catholics became confused or maybe better, never understood what we have in the Catholic Church, that any church is okay.
Mike