Moving the altar for holiday concerts

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Could someone point to an official document stating that the altar should not be removed for concerts?
My church does it year after year. I would like to write a letter stating that I do not believe the altar should be removed for concerts. Especially considering we have a hall with an elevated platform that they could use anyway, but they like the way it sounds in the church…
 
Most altars are immovable, fixed to the ground. I don’t know how you could get around that. I know its some sort of requirement for permanent places of worship.

Is your parish currently a temporary structure? I know temporary is loosely used here. I know some parishes where the sanctuary is somewhat like a stage that can be curtained off, and the nave is actually a multi-purpose hall. I think the issue here is the fact that you have a movable altar to begin with. But again it depends on the situation of your parish. Care to share more about that?
 
ConstantineTG said:
Most altars are immovable, fixed to the ground. I don’t know how you could get around that.
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Depends on the parish. In ours the altar is movable and it gets moved for concerts just like the one at the OP’s parish. It annoys me too and I wish they’d just leave it in place. They keep treating it as though it were just any other table that could be shoved out of the way.
 
It is not considered a hall, it is our permanent celebration of the mass. The current hall was our former location of the celebration of mass. I believe the altar is attached to the ground but they just detach it and roll it away. 😊
 
I can’t recall right now but there is something written that the altar must be fixed. And like I said, it depends on the situation, the movable ones are because the structure is temporary (even thought its been the same structure for like 10 years or more).
 
We use our parish for the school concerts. We have to. There is no other place large enough that could fit everyone. The altar is moveable. Our church has been around for 150+ years and undergone many expansions and remodels to accommodate the growing parishioners.
 
FirstCalled said:
Could someone point to an official document stating that the altar should not be removed for concerts?
My church does it year after year. I would like to write a letter stating that I do not believe the altar should be removed for concerts. Especially considering we have a hall with an elevated platform that they could use anyway, but they like the way it sounds in the church…
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I am with you.
 
With effort, the central alters of my two nearest parishes are often moved (pushed back out of the way) for “special events.” 😦

On the other hand, I know a certain pastoral associate who throws (correct term) her keys and books on the alter before and after Mass. :eek:

I get the impression not many people care about reverence, sanctity, or good old fear of God. :crying:
 
Is is possible that moving the altar (temporarily) preserves it as a consecrated item? I’ve been at concerts/rehearsals of a secular choir in my former parish where the back row would routinely put their music on the altar and I’m sure rested their hands and all that… It was really frustrating to me when the Catholic director of the choir (and the church) didn’t say anything about it. I’m thinking that if the altar wasn’t there, that wouldn’t be an issue.

I’m not saying this should be the norm, I’m just trying to see if there’s another viewpoint to consider.
 
zenit.org/article-17019?l=english
In order that the sacred character of a church be conserved in the matter of concerts, the Ordinary can specify that:

"a. Requests are to be made in writing, in good time, indicating the date and time of the proposed concert, the program, giving the works and the names of the composers.

"b. After having received the authorization of the Ordinary, the rectors and parish priests of the churches should arrange details with the choir and orchestra so that the requisite norms are observed.

"c. Entrance to the church must be without payment and open to all.

"d. The performers and the audience must be dressed in a manner which is fitting to the sacred character of the place.

"e. The musicians and the singers should not be placed in the sanctuary. The greatest respect is to be shown to the altar, the president’s chair and the ambo.

"f. The Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place (Cf. C.I.C., can 928, par. 4).

"g. The concert should be presented or introduced not only with historical or technical details, but also in a way that fosters a deeper understanding and an interior participation on the part of the listeners.

"h. The organizer of the concert will declare in writing that he accepts legal responsibilities for expenses involved, for leaving the church in order and for any possible damage incurred.

“11. The above practical directives should be of assistance to the bishops and rectors of churches in their pastoral responsibility to maintain the sacred character of their churches, designed for sacred celebrations, prayer and silence.”
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I don’t believe it is either unusual or irreligious, if the proper steps are taken, as noted above.

The Trappists at Mepkin Abbey outside of Charleston, SC, host concerts in the abbey church which draw large crowds…and introduce visitors to that Catholic monastery. Click on:
mepkinabbey.org/wordpress/ for additional information on the abbey.

We had a very good organ at a parish we helped found in Georgia. The first permanent pastor played the organ. He would invite notable organists from the area, including non-Catholics, to participate in yearly organ recitals, much to our delight.

When I was growing up and attending a minor seminary outside Chicago, the outstanding seminary choir would provide public performances in the seminary chapel.

The gist of all of this is that a major draw is the acoustics and seating (and organ, in our case), and adequate consideration was made to use the site respectfully.

In none of the three cases above was the altar moved.
 
FirstCalled said:
Could someone point to an official document stating that the altar should not be removed for concerts?
My church does it year after year. I would like to write a letter stating that I do not believe the altar should be removed for concerts. Especially considering we have a hall with an elevated platform that they could use anyway, but they like the way it sounds in the church…
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From the General Instruction on the Roman Missal:
  1. The altar on which the Sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs is also the table of the Lord to which the People of God is called together to participate in the Mass, as well as the center of the thanksgiving that is accomplished through the Eucharist.
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  1. The celebration of the Eucharist in a sacred place is to be carried out on an altar; but outside a sacred place, it may be carried out on a suitable table, always with the use of a cloth, a corporal, a cross, and candles.
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  1. It is appropriate to have a fixed altar in every church, since it more clearly and permanently signifies Christ Jesus, the living stone (1 Pt 2:4; cf. Eph 2:20). In other places set aside for sacred celebrations, the altar may be movable.
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An altar is called “fixed” if it is attached to the floor so as not to be irremoveable; otherwise it is called “moveable.”
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Thank you Zab and jcarp! I’ll reference those when drafting my letter. And thanks for all the responses! They are helpful.
 
Phemie said:
Depends on the parish. In ours the altar is movable and it gets moved for concerts just like the one at the OP’s parish. It annoys me too and I wish they’d just leave it in place. They keep treating it as though it were just any other table that could be shoved out of the way.
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The Altar in my parish is made of teak wood. And yes its completely movable even though IMHO I think it shouldn’t be.

I’m not a big fan of any concert no matter how well intentioned Catholic centered or otherwise taking place where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass takes place.

Too me this is absolute abuse and a complete disregard a respect for the Sanctuary and Holy Altar. I’ve been around enough in my day too see many abuses. Absolutely No Excuse.
 
FirstCalled said:
Could someone point to an official document stating that the altar should not be removed for concerts?
My church does it year after year. I would like to write a letter stating that I do not believe the altar should be removed for concerts. Especially considering we have a hall with an elevated platform that they could use anyway, but they like the way it sounds in the church…
Click to expand...
There seem to be a lot of Catholics that think fellowship is the first priority of the Church. It is no wonder since the Holy Eucharist seems to have been put in the background. When we come into Church it sounds like a social hall, so having a concert doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Is the Tabernacle in a separate area? Or has the Blessed Sacrament been removed?
I tell you, I really wonder what percentage of Catholics believe in the Real Presents of our Lord Jesus.
 
The GIRM specifically define 2 types of altars; movable and fixed. The law defines a movable altar as one that can be moved. Therefore, the law explicitly states movable altars are OK, and logic dictates that if it’s okay to have a movable altar then it can licitly be moved.

If a church has 2 altars (high altar and the wooden table), moving the table to the side is in no way irreverant. Especially since the use of the high altar would usually be reserved for the more reverant form of the mass.
 
At our Oratory we have a fixed high altar and a moveable altar. The moveable altar is brought in from the vestment room when needed! Most of those that celebrate use the high altar.
 
It isn’t disrespectful to hold a concert in a Catholic church as long as the above rules are followed…most important ( is not the altar) is the Blessed Sacrment should be removed and placed in a temporary chapel or tabernacle. Also the concert itself should be classical or historical music, not secular pop.
Many beautiful churches hold concerts where the acoustics are perfect…including St Peters Basilica as well as many other lovely church settings in Rome.
 
jaydog77 said:
The GIRM specifically define 2 types of altars; movable and fixed. The law defines a movable altar as one that can be moved. Therefore, the law explicitly states movable altars are OK, and logic dictates that if it’s okay to have a movable altar then it can licitly be moved.

If a church has 2 altars (high altar and the wooden table), moving the table to the side is in no way irreverant. Especially since the use of the high altar would usually be reserved for the more reverant form of the mass.
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Oh Please!!!::confused:
 
Actually, I thought more recently there was a line in the GIRM that churches were not to be used for secular. reasons - for example a “do it yourself Messiah”. I could see a concert by the church choir, or something like that. I once saw a one man show on Blessed Damien (before canonization) that sort of seemed appropriate, yet I don’t like to see churches turned into “halls”.
 
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