Mass at St. Peter's

[Vox_Borealis]

I am not sure if this is the correct place for this thread, but…I have visited St.Peter’s a number of times, but teh masses I attended were always held in the chapel in the main apse. I have watched a number of the novendiales masses on EWTN, which are being said from the main altar under the baldechino, and I just noticed that there is no altar rail separating the main altar from the nave. This does not pose a problem in the novus ordo mass, but I wonder how communion was distributed at St. Peter’s before the novus ordo? Were there altar rails that have been removed (as I said, I have been to St. Peter’s and did not notice any evidence of this)? Has the altar under the baldechino been redesigned since the 1960s or 1970s?

Another one of my strange, curious questions…

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Vox Borealis:

I am not sure if this is the correct place for this thread, but…I have visited St.Peter’s a number of times, but teh masses I attended were always held in the chapel in the main apse. I have watched a number of the novendiales masses on EWTN, which are being said from the main altar under the baldechino, and I just noticed that there is no altar rail separating the main altar from the nave. This does not pose a problem in the novus ordo mass, but I wonder how communion was distributed at St. Peter’s before the novus ordo? Were there altar rails that have been removed (as I said, I have been to St. Peter’s and did not notice any evidence of this)? Has the altar under the baldechino been redesigned since the 1960s or 1970s?

Another one of my strange, curious questions…

I believe that I have some pictures from the 50’s, I’ll look tomorrow.