E
ElToro
Guest
Here are the liturgical changes and advice – my “Top Ten List” – I give to Bp. Todd Brown should his Diocese be lucky enough to purchase the famed Crystal Cathedral:
1.) Make the Eucharist the focus of the Crystal Cathedral. Don’t hide the reposed Blessed Sacrament in a side chapel! Commission a stunningly beautiful and huge tabernacle and place it at the base of the banks of organ pipes where the choral section is today after relocating the organ console. The tabernacle must not only be beautiful and huge, it must also be immediately identifiable as a tabernacle – please, no modern art! This tabernacle should be so beautiful and huge that it becomes known world-wide.
2.) Suspend a beautiful and huge crucifix over the tabernacle between the two banks of organ pipes. The CrysCath is built for rigging so this should be simple. Make it from wood that blends well with the pipe organ cabinets. Perhaps a muted, more refined version of the San Damiano crucifix would be most appropriate given the history of the Franciscans in OC? Please no stylized and expensive Lucite crosses.
3.) Place the altar of sacrifice in front of the tabernacle. The altar should be large and stunningly beautiful yet simple. Like the tabernacle and the main crucifix it should harmonize well with its surroundings. It too must be immediately recognizable as the main altar of sacrifice.
4.) The ambo should match the altar. In a departure from current church design I would have both an ambo and a pulpit (or depending on how you looked at it, an ambo and a lectern.) One would be used for reading the OT and NT Epistles and singing the responsorial psalm. The other would be a large bronze or brass (or nickel?) eagle reserved only for the proclamation of the Gospel and for preaching. While a touch incongruent perhaps with the surrounding architecture, the eagle is an important symbol (use of such lecterns began in Catholicism and not Anglicanism so settle down) and would hammer-home the importance of the word of God each week.
5.) The credence table, cathedra and related chairs should be dignified and in accord with the altar.
6.) Retain the “processional fountain.” Modify it at the end closest to the altar so that it can be used as the baptismal font.
7.) Keep the stadium seating but add kneelers wherever possible.
8.) Retain the Sony Jumbotron but use it judiciously. When it’s not being used it should be veiled by a copy of Juan Diego’s famous tilma or perhaps an image of the tilma can be displayed on its screen?
9.) Maintain the existing elevations for the new altar, ambo and pulpit. There’s nothing wrong with looking up at the altar.
10.) Show respect for the history of the Crystal Cathedral by maintaining as much of it as you can, beginning with the name itself – even if you have to buy it and their website address. Though it was designed as a Protestant worship space, they pretty much got things right and changes must be done in a way that acknowledges and preserves their gift to spreading the Gospel.
11.) (Sorry I just can’t stop!) Copy the world famous and huge Botafumeiro (incense thurible) that swings from the ceiling at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain. Imagine the experience of that huge thurible swinging through the Crystal Cathedral!
1.) Make the Eucharist the focus of the Crystal Cathedral. Don’t hide the reposed Blessed Sacrament in a side chapel! Commission a stunningly beautiful and huge tabernacle and place it at the base of the banks of organ pipes where the choral section is today after relocating the organ console. The tabernacle must not only be beautiful and huge, it must also be immediately identifiable as a tabernacle – please, no modern art! This tabernacle should be so beautiful and huge that it becomes known world-wide.
2.) Suspend a beautiful and huge crucifix over the tabernacle between the two banks of organ pipes. The CrysCath is built for rigging so this should be simple. Make it from wood that blends well with the pipe organ cabinets. Perhaps a muted, more refined version of the San Damiano crucifix would be most appropriate given the history of the Franciscans in OC? Please no stylized and expensive Lucite crosses.
3.) Place the altar of sacrifice in front of the tabernacle. The altar should be large and stunningly beautiful yet simple. Like the tabernacle and the main crucifix it should harmonize well with its surroundings. It too must be immediately recognizable as the main altar of sacrifice.
4.) The ambo should match the altar. In a departure from current church design I would have both an ambo and a pulpit (or depending on how you looked at it, an ambo and a lectern.) One would be used for reading the OT and NT Epistles and singing the responsorial psalm. The other would be a large bronze or brass (or nickel?) eagle reserved only for the proclamation of the Gospel and for preaching. While a touch incongruent perhaps with the surrounding architecture, the eagle is an important symbol (use of such lecterns began in Catholicism and not Anglicanism so settle down) and would hammer-home the importance of the word of God each week.
5.) The credence table, cathedra and related chairs should be dignified and in accord with the altar.
6.) Retain the “processional fountain.” Modify it at the end closest to the altar so that it can be used as the baptismal font.
7.) Keep the stadium seating but add kneelers wherever possible.
8.) Retain the Sony Jumbotron but use it judiciously. When it’s not being used it should be veiled by a copy of Juan Diego’s famous tilma or perhaps an image of the tilma can be displayed on its screen?
9.) Maintain the existing elevations for the new altar, ambo and pulpit. There’s nothing wrong with looking up at the altar.
10.) Show respect for the history of the Crystal Cathedral by maintaining as much of it as you can, beginning with the name itself – even if you have to buy it and their website address. Though it was designed as a Protestant worship space, they pretty much got things right and changes must be done in a way that acknowledges and preserves their gift to spreading the Gospel.
11.) (Sorry I just can’t stop!) Copy the world famous and huge Botafumeiro (incense thurible) that swings from the ceiling at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain. Imagine the experience of that huge thurible swinging through the Crystal Cathedral!