Crystal Cathedral board endorses offer from Diocese of Orange

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Muzhik said:
All I can say is that they’re going to need a HUGE altar – not one of these modern ones of wood, but something solid and marble to contrast with the fluid nature of glass and light.

I’d have to say no to a Jumbotron, though. It might seem like a good idea in order to focus on the action at the lectern and the altar, but I’d keep expecting to see the latest sports scores scroll across it during the Offertory.

Can’t WAIT to hear that organ with a full choir singing the Mass in Latin!
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A Missa Solemnis there would be so great yet so ironic.
 
Muzhik said:
Why ironic? :hmmm:
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Beauty and tradition of the liturgy vastly larger than that of the setting it would be in. Besides, it wouldn’t make sense given the “statement” it’s clear the diocese is trying to make with buying such a structure.
 
Muzhik said:
All I can say is that they’re going to need a HUGE altar – not one of these modern ones of wood, but something solid and marble to contrast with the fluid nature of glass and light.

I’d have to say no to a Jumbotron, though. It might seem like a good idea in order to focus on the action at the lectern and the altar, but I’d keep expecting to see the latest sports scores scroll across it during the Offertory.

Can’t WAIT to hear that organ with a full choir singing the Mass in Latin!
Click to expand...
I similarly was thinking that a large solid marble or granite altar would be ideal. Even cubical (square) in shape. One reason for that is the celebrant would be able to celebrate “ad orientem” in the literal sense (to the East) by facing “sideways” by the perspective of the congregation (it would also make the structure “longer than it is wide” to be a more true cruciform).

Dale’s linked image earlier illustrates this nicely:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

(I never really noticed that “bump” in the middle of one side before - it might be a good place for the Tabernacle)
YoungTradCath said:
Beauty and tradition of the liturgy vastly larger than that of the setting it would be in. Besides, it wouldn’t make sense given the “statement” it’s clear the diocese is trying to make with buying such a structure.
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Actually, the immense magnitude of such a liturgy in such a building would seem more iconic than ironic to me. I suspect that Mass at dawn, Easter Vigil and Midnight Mass could be especially impactful.
 
This purchase just makes you think more about the sad sad state of modern Catholic church archetecture. This subject does not get enough attention. I hope it does from now on. There are many posts against what is happening here so that is a good sign for me that there is awareness.
 
SonCatcher said:
I similarly was thinking that a large solid marble or granite altar would be ideal. Even cubical (square) in shape. One reason for that is the celebrant would be able to celebrate “ad orientem” in the literal sense (to the East) by facing “sideways” by the perspective of the congregation (it would also make the structure “longer than it is wide” to be a more true cruciform).

Dale’s linked image earlier illustrates this nicely:
http://data.greatbuildings.com/gbc/drawings/Garden_Grove_Lower.jpg

(I never really noticed that “bump” in the middle of one side before - it might be a good place for the Tabernacle)
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As for the “bump”, that has to do with the organ, so it can’t be used for the tabernacle.

Your comment about a “square” altar got me wondering. After a long search, I found a document from the USCCB titled “Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship” The link points to where you can buy the document from the USCCB. It’s also available in PDF format at catholic-doc.org/br/files/g-stones.pdf .

Paragraph 58 of the document states:

Although there is no specified size or shape for an altar, it should be in proportion to the church. The shape and size should reflect the nature of the altar as the place of sacrifice and the table around which Christ gathers the community to nourish them. In considering the dimensions of the altar, parishes will also want to insure that the other major furnishings in the sanctuary are in harmony and proportion to the altar. The mensa should be large enough to accommodate the priest celebrant, the deacon, and the acolytes who minister there and should be able to hold The Sacramentary [The Roman Missal] and the vessels with the bread and wine. Impact and focal quality are not only related to placement, size, or shape, but also especially to the quality of the altar’s design and worthiness of its construction. The altar should be centrally located in the sanctuary and the center of attention in the church.

(The “mensa” is the top of the altar and should be made of stone.)

So while a square altar may be canonically acceptable, the main question is if it would fit in with the rest of the church.
 
Muzhik said:
As for the “bump”, that has to do with the organ, so it can’t be used for the tabernacle.

Your comment about a “square” altar got me wondering. After a long search, I found a document from the USCCB titled “Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship” The link points to where you can buy the document from the USCCB. It’s also available in PDF format at catholic-doc.org/br/files/g-stones.pdf .

Paragraph 58 of the document states:

Although there is no specified size or shape for an altar, it should be in proportion to the church. The shape and size should reflect the nature of the altar as the place of sacrifice and the table around which Christ gathers the community to nourish them. In considering the dimensions of the altar, parishes will also want to insure that the other major furnishings in the sanctuary are in harmony and proportion to the altar. The mensa should be large enough to accommodate the priest celebrant, the deacon, and the acolytes who minister there and should be able to hold The Sacramentary [The Roman Missal] and the vessels with the bread and wine. Impact and focal quality are not only related to placement, size, or shape, but also especially to the quality of the altar’s design and worthiness of its construction. The altar should be centrally located in the sanctuary and the center of attention in the church.

(The “mensa” is the top of the altar and should be made of stone.)

So while a square altar may be canonically acceptable, the main question is if it would fit in with the rest of the church.
Click to expand...
For such a church… would it be too innovative to have an altar in the shape of an arch - like this?
http://www.garyweeks.com/images/curved_entry_table.jpg
Except, you know… made out of stone?
 
I think Bishop Brown just wanted to go out in a blaze of his kind of “glory”…you do remember he turned 75 on November 15 of last year…I really thought his resignation would be accepted much sooner…

Either way, the man God has in mind to be his successor is in my prayers…maybe once he’s installed, he’ll call up Chatman University and say “Let’s talk…”
 
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