Dancing around the altar

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Can you guys post references to canon law, rubric, tradition, and what the church teaches.
 
We’re not at the foot of the Cross at the Mass.

Jesus isn’t dead on the cross, but is a living sacrifice, just as the Eucharistic III prayer states.

Jim
 
calinorth86 said:
Can a layman approach the altar of a church that has a consecrated Eucharist on it and dance around it in worship. Last year this was done by myself and other catholics at a charismatic renewal event during the day of pentecost. After the celebration I had second thoughts and now wonder if that was right according, to the traditions, canon law, and the teachings of the church. What does the church teach concerning the altar.
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Short answer
Re: Liturgical dance
 
JimR-OCDS said:
The Apostles most likely danced and sang at the last supper.
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Pure conjecture.

Can you provide any references from either Scripture or Tradition about this? Or will you concede that it’s 100% conjecture?

Singing the Psalms yes.

Dancing? I don’t think so. It wasn’t a normal passover meal.
 
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The ultimate What Would Jesus Do.

If Jesus saw you prancing about on the blooming altar where His body was being prayed over, would He say “Hey! Nice moves!”. No, he bloody wouldn’t.

If I saw you doing that in a church, I would be very cross and demand that you stopped.
 
BTW, the sanctuary isn’t around the general area of the altar, but an area where the celebrant stands during the Consecration.

I’ve seen Catholic men refuse to go up around the altar at a retreat, believing this was an abuse.

Fact is, the sanctuary area was about six inches higher than where we stood.

Jim
 
Sure, read about the Seder Meal celebration at the time of Christ.

Heck, watch Jesus of Nazareth, if you want. Not necessarily 100% accurate, but the writers did use Jewish tradition along with the Gospels to write the script.

Jim
 
JimR-OCDS said:
We’re not at the foot of the Cross at the Mass.

Jesus isn’t dead on the cross, but is a living sacrifice, just as the Eucharistic III prayer states.
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Please clarify.

We di not resacrifice Jesus, we represent mystically his sacrifice on the Cross.

@JimR-OCDS is there any particular reason why you enjoy pushing the bounds of orthodoxy so much? Or why you feel the need to be non traditional? Is it a boomer thing?
 
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I really don’t want to see anyone dancing around the altar. That’s kind of distracting from what is really going on.
 
“We believe the sacrifice on that first Good Friday is re-enacted or re-presented in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass. Christ’s blood was shed only once – physically. He died only once, but he dies mystically and spiritually every time mass is offered. His sacrifice is offered to the Father continuously for all men for all eternity.”

Servant of God Father John Hardon SJ

Found in this wonderful writing:
http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Mass/Mass_008.htm
 
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JimR-OCDS said:
Heck, watch Jesus of Nazareth, if you want. Not necessarily 100% accurate, but the writers did use Jewish tradition along with the Gospels to write the script.
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Can you provide a reference from a Father or Doctor about the Apostles dancing at the Last Supper, or is this simply your modern conjecture?
 
I think Jesus telling them that he would be betrayed soon put a dampener on the whole celebration…

I would imagine as the first Eurachrist, Jesus would have ensured a bit of solemnity to have been in order.
 
In Jewish tradition, dancing has long been a part of the services. It’s a form of prayer and praising of God. However, in the west, the church has specifically forbidden liturgical dancing; I wish we could have something like the Jewish prayer dancing, but I understand liturgical dancing hasn’t worked well when western churches have tried it. It is a part of many cultures, and thus they do such a thing. As someone mentioned, they certainly don’t dance around the altar though. That said, I imagine people danced around the Ark of the Covenant when praising God, and that’s more what I see on the altar; I mean, yes, Mary was the new Ark, but the presence of God on the altar is the Presence of God. Since it wasn’t during mass, you didn’t violate any rubrics, but I can definitely understand how some Catholics would think of it as inappropriate. I think we should dance for joy that our God Lives, but maybe save the altar space for those who are serving at the altar.
 
Why does this give me thoughts of some pegan african dance ritual
 
Interestingly, the African Catholics (different cultures, so I can’t say that all of them do) often do include dances in their masses, and they are reminiscent of the pagan dances they used to do. Just like we have turned “El Dia De Los Muertos” into a Catholic holiday in Mexico using Mayan and Aztec traditions in the parades and decorations.
 
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