Dancing around the altar

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During a time when sacrilege is so rampant, and given we are a church that observes tradition, I think it is more than ok to revere our sanctuaries, chapels, and alters. To paint people who feel this way as being zealots, off base, etc, I think is just uncalled for.
 
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Just a point of clarification.The subject of the link you posted is a about liturgical dance (IE. within the mass). The OP was not talking about within the mass.
 
It’s also a commemoration of His resurrection. The Mass is solemn but also joyful. That’s why the Church forbids the celebration of Mass on Good Friday and Holy Saturday (prior to the Vigil).

Note that I am not advocating for liturgical dance (other than contexts where it’s approved such as the solemn, rhythmic “sway” found in the Ethiopic Rite).
 
Kaliaa said:
Just a point of clarification.The subject of the link you posted is a about liturgical dance (IE. within the mass). The OP was not talking about within the mass.
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Thanks.

I’ll make the correction 😉

Note that the dancing was not done during the liturgy it was done whIle the Eucharist was exposed at the altar.

In the 50’s I was an Altar boy. I was trained by a Polish priest who thanks to the American invasion of Germany, he was saved while in a Nazi death camp at the end of WWII.

I give all credit for my formation as an Altar boy and what to do on the Altar and how to regard it, in every aspect, to this great priest.

The Altar is sacred. period dot end of sentence.

When I was at San Giovanni Rotondo, (Italy), Padre Pio’s resting place, Fr Alessio Parente, who took care of Padre Pio in his final years, rest in peace Fr Alessio as well, gave us a great recap of Padre Pio’s life when I was there… He told us a story of a sacristan there at this location, who died some 70+ years prior to the time Pio was saying Mass on a particular day… The sacristan came to Pio during Mass, saying he had been in purgatory all that time for NOT paying enough respect to the Altar. If Pio would say his Mass for the sacristan’s intention, in that Mass, God would allow him entrance to heaven. Pio offered that Mass for the sacristan.

As you might guess, I won’t ever be a part of even observing the Altar in the way the op described.
 
Thx Steve-b I truly appreciate your insight. I have had this nagging sense that it wasn’t right even if it wasn’t done during mass.
 
I stand with those men. They have a sense of the sacred.
 
Song and dance are things that bring us joy. I love to hear song during the time that we are accepting the sacrament. At times I have felt joy after receiving the sacrament that made me feel like dancing back to my pew.
Is what you did proper or not? I don’t know.
 
Some people just can not contain their love of God … what is the problem?
 
I don’t think you read my first reply to you. I clearly said that I am not advocating for dancing around the altar.

But it is important to remember that Mass is joyful, not only solemn.

Why is it forbidden on Good Friday?
 
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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
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This is very irreverent. I would repent of this and treat it as sinful behavior.
calinorth86 said:
. 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.
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Cool! I see the charismatic catholic stuff as playing with fire; even though it is technically Catholic, those protestant things happen and it can be disgusting. Note I have no problem who just like to focus on glorification to God, it’s just that stuff like this happens. Because you are interested in tradition, I would suggest checking out some classic Catholic spirituality such as Ignatian or Dominican.

Blessings to you!
 
Didn’t King David dance before the Ark of the Covenant? That’s what the OP reminded me of. Not that I’d ever dance around the altar. Sometimes I feel like it, but as Latin Catholics I’m under the impression we’re supposed to keep that to ourselves.
 
In America, dancing is not associated with worship or religion. In Africa it is, so I can see somewhat of a leniency there.

But in America, dancing is associated with secular things and if we introduce “secular” things into the Mass (Secular things in the eyes of Westerners), the liturgy will become more of a show and less of a time of worship.
 
We’re ‘not at the foot of the Cross’ at the Mass? Really? You’re contradicting everything from Bishop Barron to LifeTeen (yes, LifeTeen!) when you say that.

Jim, this ‘either-or-’ attitude of yours is making you prone to a lot of errors.

Of course Jesus has died and risen, but that doesn’t mean that because it happened near Jerusalem around approximately 28-33 A.D. ‘in time’ that we cannot participate in it at every single Mass. Jesus does miracles, remember? Not just ‘did’ on earth, does them now. He enables us to share the Cross with Him; He doesn’t ‘limit’ to those few physically present ‘then’.
 
Then the Eucharistic Prayers are wrong, because it is not an reenactment of Jesus Crucifixion and Death, but a memorial and we now offer Jesus living body and blood to the Father in Sacrifice.

Eucharistic Prayer III
Therefore, O Lord, we celebrate the memorial of the saving Passion of your Son, his wondrous Resurrection and Ascension into heaven, and as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
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The other two Eucharistic Prayers also say we celebrate the “memorial,” not a reenactment.

Jim
 
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Dancing and singing are part of Jewish Tradition at the Passover Meal.

I don’t need to go google some doctor of the Church to prove this point.

Jim
 
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