Dancing around the altar

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The question was asked if the Apostles danced at the Last Supper.

I answered that it was part of Jewish tradition.

You need to read the reply along with the thread it responds to.

Jim
 
It is, but people ask questions as it pertained to the Last Supper.

Jim
 
This is a cultural question. I would say it can only be answered by the chief liturgist of the diocese, which is to say the bishop. If the bishop says “no,” it is a “no.”

I’d also suggest considering what St. Paul had to say about eating meat offered to idols.
Now food will not bring us closer to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better off if we do. But make sure that this liberty of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak. If someone sees you, with your knowledge, reclining at table in the temple of an idol, may not his conscience too, weak as it is, be “built up” to eat the meat sacrificed to idols? Thus through your knowledge, the weak person is brought to destruction, the brother for whom Christ died. When you sin in this way against your brothers and wound their consciences, weak as they are, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to sin. 1 Cor. 8:8-13

We know there are cultures in which dancing is considered an appropriate mode of worship. We also know there are cultures in which dancing is considered unseemly, disrespectful or at best a counter-productive emotional upheaval that causes spiritual disquiet within the context of worship.

For that reason, we know there are times when dancing will wound the weak consciences of some and other times when refusing to dance might wound the weak consciences of others. Know where you are and imitate St. Paul: if you might wound the conscience of a brother or sister by an action that you would otherwise be free to do, refrain from doing it.

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others. Phil 2:3-4
 
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2towers said:
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sko:
This is the Mass: entering into this passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; when we go to Mass it is as if we were to go to Calvary, the same.
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Yes. Imagine dancing at the foot of the cross during and after the Crucifixion, in front of the Mother of God. It makes no difference to me what Protestants incorporate into their services, it makes a huge difference to me what Catholics do.
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It is a banquet, a feast, where the chosen ones are called to the table of the Lord in thanksgiving for the feast to celebrate his victory.

Actually, there are more that we can see in the mass.
 
KMG said:
Bishops can’t simply allow dancing around altars. It’s not envisaged in the Roman Rite.
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Why did Pope St. John Paul II allow it? Because there are cultures within the Church in which dance is not a mere entertaining diversion. There are Roman Catholics whose culture is not Western, after all.

You are right, however, that even though bishops are the chief liturgists for their diocese they can make mistakes in what they allow. They do not have carte blanche to do whatever they want within their culture just because some other bishop on the planet allows it. That is why I chose to write, “when the bishop says ‘no,’ it is ‘no.’” Yes, it is possible that a bishop might say “yes” when in light of his duties he ought to say, “no.”
 
I heard that glass also has the make up of being more porous and will absorb the precious blood over time and then at some point be just thrown away, whereas gold is not. Apologies for getting off of the OPs subject matter.
 
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Spyridon said:
Were the Apostles dancing before or after Jesus was betrayed?
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“Hey Jesus, while you’re telling us about how you’re going to be brutally beaten, allow me to dance around this table for a minute.”


I’m obviously joking here, but really. My worst enemy could be telling me how he is going to die tomorrow and I would be serious and not dance. The apostles knew Jesus was the Christ, and it’s literally impossible they danced while the Son of God was telling them about His death.
 
Very true, good points.
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Actually, for my family’s “Gypsy Christmas” (we’re Ludad) we roast pigs on a spit, over an open flame. No food poisoning.

I wish we had time for dance and celebration right after mass. Dancing is part of who I am.
 
Forgive me, but I do not understand the link (I don’t watch sports much anymore)
 
We are supposed to rejoice like the team winning the SuperBowl, about 10 more priests disagreeing with the modern RCC being ordained to do their own thing.
In other news, water is wet and deserts are full of sand.
 
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