Position of Advent wreath and Nativity Scene in Sanctuary

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Something has just come up in my parish: in our new sanctuary, the Advent wreath has been put in the *back *of the church, near the entrance by the baptismal pool, and we’ve been informed that the Nativity scene that has traditionally placed at the front of the church, well to the left of the altar, not in the space immediately surrounding it, will now be placed outside the sanctuary altogether in the “gathering space.” A friend of mine asked our priest about this, and he said some liturgy committee or something was requiring this. I haven’t heard anything about this. Is this something new from the Vatican, or something made up? Just wondering
 
I haven’t heard of any new rulings. Since we moved into our present location our parish has always had the Advent wreath near the baptismal pool and the nativity scene near it too. (The baptismal pool is near entrance.) But our church is one of those round designs so it’s not really the ‘back’ of the church.
 
neither one is an essential component of the liturgy, other than the optional blessing and lighting of the Advent wreath, so they can be placed anywhere that is convenient and safe.
 
The Book of Blessings has an approved blessing of an Advent Wreath and Crib. They are only for the USA. The Introductions to these blessings have instructions on the placement of them:

“1512 If the Advent Wreath is to be used in church, it should be of sufficient size to be visible to the congregation. It may be suspended from the ceiling or placed on a stand. If it is placed in the presbyterium, it should not interfere with the celebration of the liturgy, not should it obscure the altar, lectern, or chair.”
(Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 573).

The terms “presbyterium” and “sanctuary” are usually interchangeable. However “technically the sanctuary includes the presbyterium, the ambo and, in some churches, places for the cantor and the choir”. (From Dennis Smolarski, Liturgical Literarcy, Paulist Press, 1990, pages 169-170).

So the wreath can be in the sanctuary, but it depends on how much it obscures things.

The instructions on the crib: “1544 If the manger is set up in the church, it must not be placed in the presbyterium. A place should be chosen that is suitable for prayer and devotion and is easily accessible by the faithful.” (Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 583).
 
In the churches in my neighborhood, the Advent wreath is in the front near the sanctuary. The Crib is usually in the front also. I am interested to know if Advent wreaths are an ancient tradition or if they are a modern innovation. I attended a TLM last Sunday and the Advent wreath was not lit although all the altar candles were lit. because it was a high Mass.
 
Veritas41 said:
Something has just come up in my parish: in our new sanctuary, the Advent wreath has been put in the *back *of the church, near the entrance by the baptismal pool, and we’ve been informed that the Nativity scene that has traditionally placed at the front of the church, well to the left of the altar, not in the space immediately surrounding it, will now be placed outside the sanctuary altogether in the “gathering space.” A friend of mine asked our priest about this, and he said some liturgy committee or something was requiring this. I haven’t heard anything about this. Is this something new from the Vatican, or something made up? Just wondering
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I think that the Nativity scene should be set somewhere where it is clearly visible and can have some chairs and kneelers in front of it. Where people can stop, reflect and pray. Especially with small children before and after Mass or during the day.

The Advent wreath (taking care the candles do get knocked over) shuld be at the inner entrance to the church. This way people are reminded what Sunday it is as they arrive.
 
“Traditionally” the Advent Wreath was never kept in the Sanctuary at all. I believe it was Martin Luther (correct me if I am wrong) who brought the Advent wreath into the Sanctuary. To my knowledge the Advent Wreath traditionally was located in people’s homes and not in the Church.

Our Tridentine Rite parish makes an exception by having an Advent Wreath in the chapel but not in the Sanctuary. It hangs from the ceiling in the rear of the church between the narthex and the chapel itself.

Ken
 
Thank you all for your replies – that cleared up a muddled issue for me!
 
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