Felt Banners: Have they jumped the shark?

[Lepanto]

I just don’t see them around as much any more.

(Did PETA stop the killing of mice for their fur?)

 

[Lazerlike42]

My parish, a very orthodox one with a generally very good Liturgy (except for the musical selections) unfortunately had them.

What was the point of them in the first place, anyhow?

 

[chicago]

A lot of the (now) old banners were made of traditional vestments which the “new/hip” priests didn’t want around, anymore. Maybe when they decide to get rid of the newer, cheaper quality vestments of that era we’ll get more banners again.

 

[Sam_Maloney]

In my parish they are gone.

Replaced by printed poyester.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

We don’t have felt banners in my church.

I always assumed felt banners were arts and crafts projects done by the younger religious education kids.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

I just don’t see them around as much any more.

(Did PETA stop the killing of mice for their fur?)

I think it is a fashion not a theological reason. Felt has that 70-ish feel to it. The material is not out of style (except maybe some Catholic School masses/activities), felt is just not seen anywhere in today’s world. Eventually the fad of using the material will return.

 

[SMHW]

Yeah. Felt is gone for the most part. Except at First Communion time when they show up for a weekend or so because each child’s family has a banner. But they tend to stay in the courtyard or the entrance area (not a traditional vestibule) depending on weather.

But hangings in general are still around. They’ve just moved to more sophisticated materials.

 

[tcraig]

In my parish they are gone.

Replaced by printed poyester.

That’s the case in my current parish. We have an absolutely beautiful crucifix behind the altar (with our tabernacle front and center, too) but since Easter we’ve had some goofy polyster lamb banner that covers it completely.

Father must really like them. When he first arrived to this parish, he removed the crucifix competely and replaced it with the banners. Apparently enough parishioners complained that the crucifix was returned … but the banners didn’t disappear.

 

[EasterJoy]

The two-sided iron-on interfacings and superior fabric glues allow using fabrics that would have shown glue marks in the past. As noted, you can also get things printed onto fabric at your local Kinko’s for a reasonable price. There simply isn’t a reason for a textile artist confine themselves to felt, which automatically looks dated as a result.

All of the textile arts, including the art of quilting, have also advanced a great deal in the past 30 years.

As for good taste, it depends on who your pastor and liturgical decorators are, but they didn’t have Martha Stewart or the H&G channel in 1970!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I just don’t see them around as much any more.

(Did PETA stop the killing of mice for their fur?)

Thank goodness!!!

I unfortunately see them at parishes where, believe it or not, “We’ve always had felt banners!” I tend to say, as politely as possible, no, you haven’t, more like maybe 35 years if that.

They actually started in the late 1960s. They are “expressions of our faith” in other words, felt statements to make a point.

Thank goodness for HGTV! In place of felt banners, our parish has very well-made screens where the felt banners used to hang. At Easter, somebody made stained-glass windows (what a concept!).

 

[puzzleannie]

I just don’t see them around as much any more.

(Did PETA stop the killing of mice for their fur?)

the moths have eaten most of them by now, thank goodness, just found a book in our CCD library on how to make banners, I am tempted to shred it. However you no longer have to turn your youth group loose with felt, scissors and glue, you can actually order ready made banners from some companies. gaack. first communion kids still make pew banners, but it is now optional, not a requirement.

 

[EasterJoy]

First communion kids still make pew banners, but it is now optional, not a requirement.

Our kids have their pew banner from their First Communion hanging in their bedroom. It is a nice reminder to them of how important the Eucharist is. It isn’t felt, but it wouldn’t matter if it were.

When it is 1st or 2nd or 3rd graders doing the art, I think felt or markers on cotton are totally acceptable. It isn’t supposed to be Michaelangelo. I wouldn’t leave it up all year, but certainly it is fine for First Communion.

 

[quiet52]

For Pentecost my parish had felt covers for the altar and credence table, and banner over the ambo. Really really gaack.

 

[ethelzguy]

I well remember my son’s confirmation back in the 70’s. He made a felt banner that went on a t-pole that said “The day of the Spirit has come”.

I would concur with prior posts, I think it’s just a matter of screen-print technology, etc…that has put felt in the background, moreso than any issue with the felt itself.

 

[HamtramckSteve]

Question: is it just felt banners that people object to, or banners in general?

I have to wonder if the Banner Brigade doesn’t have long-time roots in the Latin rite.

My parish, Old St. Mary’s in Detroit, has been around since the 1860’s (maybe 1850’s), and the current church building dates to 1884.

In a cabinet in the attic are absolutely gorgeous banners of Mary and of the Eucharist that are made of high-quality fabrics like silk. The embrodiery on them and overall quality are like the priestly vestments before Vatican II.

Old-time parishoners recall them being used for processions in and out of church, especially for Corpus Christi.

Could the maligned felt banners of the 70’s simply be a tragic updating of an old custom, rather than a “new” custom that sprang up in the late 60’s?

 

[rpp]

No more banners, I do not care if it is felt, polyester or burlap.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

Here is one theory: In many churches where altars and statues were ripped out, painted walls covered over, and traditional art generally eliminated, the stark, Puritan result was just too unsettling for many people. Possibly this was tinged by pangs of guilt over the sacrileges just committed in the name of the times. Colorful felt banners provided a “modern” look that made them feel more in touch with their psychedelic brethren outside the parish walls, and also added something to distract attention from the architectural travesties committed in the name of a Vatican council that never asked for such things.

It seems that, along with orange shag carpet, square plywood altars, and ugly pottery vessels, these things are slowly passing away. In my parish, which has ornate Gothic high and side altars left amazingly intact, there is no place for banners. Around First Communion time, the kids will make little banners which are placed on the side walls and promptly removed after the Mass.

 

[SMHW]

Here is one theory: In many churches where altars and statues were ripped out, painted walls covered over, and traditional art generally eliminated, the stark, Puritan result was just too unsettling for many people.

I think this is also the case for the more modern churches that have stark Puritan walls to begin with.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

I just don’t see them around as much any more.

I haven’t seen one in 15 years… The last one I saw a decade and a half ago was from the 70s and predated my birth.

I am sure some are still hanging on the walls they were first hung on 30 years ago. As to kids today making them… I am 31, have never helped make one, have never heard of anyone younger than 40 who made one. I sure as shootin’t have not heard of anyone in the last decade making one.

Understand, where I grew up I was convinced chasuables were only for special occasions, and never heard of a dalmatic for a deacon until I was in my late 20s… the priests and deacons wore “natural fiber” albs and equadoran rainbow stoles of no discenrable liturgical color whatsoever. If any place would have still been making them, it would have been there.

Of course exceptions will prove the rule…

 

[Jennifer_G]

We don’t have felt banners in my church.

I always assumed felt banners were arts and crafts projects done by the younger religious education kids.

Agreed. Even in my old Lutheran church, banners were only placed in the Sunday School classrooms. I know other denominations actually placed them in churches (and a few Catholic churches as well). The parish I go to used to have a banner on the outside of the church, but I don’t think it’s there anymore. There are small felt banners in the church, but it’s only when the kids have some event, like First Holy Communion, or Confirmation.