Mary

[altarboi20]

Why is Mary always placed on the left side of the church?

 

[Corki]

She isn’t. In my Church, the statue is on the left, in my mother’s Church, it’s on the right and in another Church in my town, it is in the back.

 

[CB_Catholic]

She’s on the right side in my church.

 

[eo_chibears]

She’s on the right side in my church.

Left side in mine.

 

[cheese_puff]

She is on the right AND in the back in my church

 

[PeaceSerenity]

In Orthodoxy (at least traditionally) women stand on the left side of church and men on the right, and the icon of the Mother of God is on the left as well. According to Wikipedia:

Because the church building is a direct extension of its Jewish roots where men and women stand separately, the Orthodox Church continues this practice, with men standing on the right and women on the left.

and also:

separation of the sexes in church is common to many Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Christians and not unique to Judaism.

I also found this:

The Forth Canonic Law. Men should always stand in the church on the right side and women on the left. And this is the way to stand in the church: older men in the front, the one less older men behind them, the young ones behind those, teenagers and children likewise. The same thing for women. Between men and women leave room so that anyone who comes to church can go to the Holy Altar to cross himself and bring his gift.

I assume this has something to do with why, at least traditionally, icons of Mary are placed on the left side of the church (she’s standing with the women ). Unfortunately, none of these quotes explain why this is so, aside from it’s origin in Judaic tradition…

 

[ConstantineTG]

In Orthodoxy (at least traditionally) women stand on the left side of church and men on the right, and the icon of the Mother of God is on the left as well. According to Wikipedia:

Because the church building is a direct extension of its Jewish roots where men and women stand separately, the Orthodox Church continues this practice, with men standing on the right and women on the left.

and also:

separation of the sexes in church is common to many Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Christians and not unique to Judaism.

I also found this:

The Forth Canonic Law. Men should always stand in the church on the right side and women on the left. And this is the way to stand in the church: older men in the front, the one less older men behind them, the young ones behind those, teenagers and children likewise. The same thing for women. Between men and women leave room so that anyone who comes to church can go to the Holy Altar to cross himself and bring his gift.

I assume this has something to do with why, at least traditionally, icons of Mary are placed on the left side of the church (she’s standing with the women ). Unfortunately, none of these quotes explain why this is so, aside from it’s origin in Judaic tradition…

You beat me to it! But yeah, in the Byzantine Rite is standard for the icon of the Theotokos to be on the left of the Royal Doors, and the icon of Christ on the right. Always, all the time.

I wish the RC Church makes it standard that the statues of the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart are on the right and left of every sanctuary of every RC parish. Its something we all true Christians can share.

 

[LilHomemaker]

Why is Mary always placed on the left side of the church?

The left side of the Church is informally called the “Mary” side of the Church. She is usually placed there. The left side of the church is also called the Gospel side of the church because that is where the Gospel is read. It is kind of neat because you can think about Mary being the ark and carrying the Word. In some places you will note Joseph is placed on the right . From Jesus’ view on the crucifix Mary is on the right and Joseph is on the left.

After reading this post I stopped and thought about it and I can think of five parishes in my area where Mary is on the left. Pretty cool. :yup:

These are some of the things I love about the Catholic church.

Sue

 

[Immaculata90]

I asked a priest about it once as I was curious (RCC just to be rite-conscious)…

He told me that Mary is on our left, but she is on the right side of Jesus who is present in the tabernacle. That is because traditionally, the King would sit on His throne, and his mother would be on His right side. I have also read things that say that Mary sits at the table on the right side of Christ in Heaven.

 

[JimmytheButcher]

The left-side is the Mary side of a church.

I have an old (elderly perhaps) uncle-priest who bemoaned a few years ago violence done to Mary by putting her likeness on the right-side. He is too kind of a fellow to say it too explicitly but there was suspicion in his voice that it was done on purpose by certain non-traditional minded people.

 

[Irish_Polock]

Most newer parishes will not have her on the on the left or right, they often put her somewhere near the narthex - at least, that is how they do it around Austin.

As others have mentioned already, I have always been told, that in the older churches, the “Mary” side was the Gospel side, and the “Joseph” side was the Epistle side, and we were to sit accordingly. - the older folks being allowed to take the front seats.

These traditions have apparently been thrown out the window, and replaced by amphitheaters and organized chaos.

 

[TimothyH]

Uh… guys…

Mary is in heaven with Jesus.

We don’t put Mary in our Churches. We put statues which represent Mary in our Churches.

It’s no wonder Evangelicals accuse us of worshipping satues.

-Tim-

 

[Irish_Polock]

Uh… guys…

Mary is in heaven with Jesus.

We don’t put Mary in our Churches. We put statues which represent Mary in our Churches.

It’s no wonder Evangelicals accuse us of worshipping satues.

-Tim-

For real?

Gosh, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Irish_Polock]

The left-side is the Mary side of a church.

I have an old (elderly perhaps) uncle-priest who bemoaned a few years ago violence done to Mary by putting her likeness on the right-side. He is too kind of a fellow to say it too explicitly but there was suspicion in his voice that it was done on purpose by certain non-traditional minded people.

I believe, that if there is a statue of Christ in said church, {then the statue that represents} Christ would go to the Gospel side, and {the statue that represents} Mary would then be put on the Epistle side… {the statue that represents} Joseph often went to the back near the narthex I guess. I have seen this at St. Hedwigs, which is a very architecturally traditional church.

 

[GaryTaylor]

The vision of the Sr at Tuy, Spain, also deplicts Our Lady on the Right side of the Lord. I’ve seen this often at older CCs. Not so much at the modern. Immaculata90 would be my understanding also.

Peace

 

[LilHomemaker]

Uh… guys…

Mary is in heaven with Jesus.

We don’t put Mary in our Churches. We put statues which represent Mary in our Churches.

It’s no wonder Evangelicals accuse us of worshipping satues.

-Tim-

I think that we all understood we were talking about the statues of Mary and not really Mary.

Sue

 

[jesuspsr]

She’s on the right side in my church.

Mine also. Even outside as you walk in, she’s on the right side. The sacred heart of Jesus is on the left, even inside. Now that I think about it, inside on the left thiers only a statue Jesus were we can light candles. Mary and all others are on the right were we can light candle for them.

God bless

jesus g

 

[Lamafacaja]

Most newer parishes will not have her on the on the left or right, they often put her somewhere near the narthex - at least, that is how they do it around Austin.

As others have mentioned already, I have always been told, that in the older churches, the “Mary” side was the Gospel side, and the “Joseph” side was the Epistle side, and we were to sit accordingly. - the older folks being allowed to take the front seats.

These traditions have apparently been thrown out the window, and replaced by amphitheaters and organized chaos.

Yes, this is how it is at my church. The Blessed Mother on the Gospel side, St. Joseph on the Epistle side.