Should laity be allowed in the Sanctuary?

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Do you think that laity who are not involved in serving the Mass should be allowed in the Sanctuary with the priests?
 
What reason would they have for being there if they were not serving?

Peace
 
Gosh, no! Let something be sacred! It is awful to go before the tabernacle to pray (depending on the church style, but let’s assume the traditional church lay out where the tabernacle is kept in the sanctuary) and there are ten people between you and Christ gabbing about thier kids’ soccer matches and such.
I think forbidden is too harsh, but they oughtn’t without good reason.
 
If you’re talking about lay people who are not engaging in some liturgical function such as serving, reading, or distributing Communion, NO, laity shouldn’t be allowed in the Sanctuary during Mass… but if they’re not engaged in a liturgical function, what would they be doing there in the first place?

Now if you’re talking about eliminating readers and Communion Distributors, well, we have tons of threads (one which was recently closed) on whether or not we should have lay people doing those things. I think we all know where the bulk of the Foum membership stands on those topics.
 
another worthless poll.
what is the point of expressing an opinion on a topic that is clearly covered by law and rubrics? We have rules governing liturgy. the rules should be followed to the letter, and everyone who is in service of the liturgy should be properly instructed in the rules. Opinion doesn’t count.
 
I’m a 2006 convert from a fundamentalist protestant background – in that tradition, “Sanctuary” means the entire “church” building: altar, pulpit, pews and all. Does it mean something different and more specific in Catholicism, or are you arguing that laity should not be allowed in the presence of the Lord? What about the Eucharist? I’m pretty sure I’m missing something here … what does “Sanctuary” mean in the context of this post?
 
I answered no. At my parish lay people are allowed to aid in preparing the Sanctuary for Holy Mass- and only boys or men are allowed to serve Mass. Yet anyone in the Sanctuary at any time must wear a cassock.

Ken
 
puzzleannie said:
another worthless poll.
what is the point of expressing an opinion on a topic that is clearly covered by law and rubrics? We have rules governing liturgy. the rules should be followed to the letter, and everyone who is in service of the liturgy should be properly instructed in the rules. Opinion doesn’t count.
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Lets remember to be charitble here. 👍
 
kleary said:
I answered no. At my parish lay people are allowed to aid in preparing the Sanctuary for Holy Mass- and only boys or men are allowed to serve Mass. Yet anyone in the Sanctuary at any time must wear a cassock.

Ken
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Can you answer my question? What is the Sanctuary? See above for more detailed question. Thanks …
 
The Sanctuary is the are, normally elevated, or distinguished from the nave of the church (area in which the congregation sits) where the Sacred Liturgy takes place, The altar, ambo, cathedra, crucfix, and often the tabernacle are present. I hope this helps. The Sacristy is the little room in which the priest and the ministers prepare for Holy Mass, and store all the vestments and vessels. May God bless you in your endeavours for holiness!
 
Nicholas_Larkin said:
The Sanctuary is the are, normally elevated, or distinguished from the nave of the church (area in which the congregation sits) where the Sacred Liturgy takes place, The altar, ambo, cathedra, crucfix, and often the tabernacle are present. I hope this helps. The Sacristy is the little room in which the priest and the ministers prepare for Holy Mass, and store all the vestments and vessels. May God bless you in your endeavours for holiness!
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thanks for pointing that out 👍 i didn’t know that.
 
Philothea_2.0 said:
I’m a 2006 convert from a fundamentalist protestant background – in that tradition, “Sanctuary” means the entire “church” building: altar, pulpit, pews and all. Does it mean something different and more specific in Catholicism, or are you arguing that laity should not be allowed in the presence of the Lord? What about the Eucharist? I’m pretty sure I’m missing something here … what does “Sanctuary” mean in the context of this post?
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Sanctuary is the area where the alter and Tabernacle is located behind the alter rail (if your church still has one)

[CR Meyer Manpower Planner]](CR Meyer Manpower Planner])
a verbal tour of the church

ewtn.com
vist the children’s area and there is an overview of the church

request.org.uk/main/churches/buildings/catholic/catholic01.htm
pictures of the various parts of the church

Hope that helps answer your question! I’m a convert, too! Welcome Home!

Jennifer
 
Caesar said:
Do you think that laity who are not involved in serving the Mass should be allowed in the Sanctuary with the priests?
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I am hard pressed to think of a reason anyone would be there if they werent involved with the Mass. Could you give us an example of seeing someone there you dont think should be there.
 
I don’t think this counts as far as the sanctuary question goes, but I just learned this Sunday a substitute priest invited the children to the altar during the consecration. He did not do it at the mass I attended, but I noted quickly the bitterness that rolled off him. After a homily that included a bit about the Church being irrelavent as if Christ and His Church were dichotomous, he went from one accretion (improving before the Our Father) to another (“The mass never ends, if we don’t live it then this is false worship.”)

Bitterness is the fruit of disobedience.

Scott
 
Scottgun said:
I don’t think this counts as far as the sanctuary question goes, but I just learned this Sunday a substitute priest invited the children to the altar during the consecration. He did not do it at the mass I attended, but I noted quickly the bitterness that rolled off him. After a homily that included a bit about the Church being irrelavent as if Christ and His Church were dichotomous, he went from one accretion (improving before the Our Father) to another (“The mass never ends, if we don’t live it then this is false worship.”)

Bitterness is the fruit of disobedience.

Scott
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Our Pastor, who is about as Conservative as they come, surprised us all by inviting the Children to stand around the Altar during the Eucharistic prayer. To top it off he held hands with them during the Our Father -the first time I have ever seen him do so. To be honest, being it was a once in a blue moon type thing, it really didnt bother me.
 
Jennifer_J said:
Sanctuary is the area where the alter and Tabernacle is located behind the alter rail (if your church still has one)

[CR Meyer Manpower Planner]](CR Meyer Manpower Planner])
a verbal tour of the church

ewtn.com
vist the children’s area and there is an overview of the church

request.org.uk/main/churches/buildings/catholic/catholic01.htm
pictures of the various parts of the church

Hope that helps answer your question! I’m a convert, too! Welcome Home!

Jennifer
Click to expand...
Thanks! And thanks to all who answered my question. So the Sanctuary is the raised area (in our parish it looks basically like a stage) where the Mass actually takes place.

I’ve never seen anyone but the people participating in the liturgy go up there at my parish. Just priests, altar boys, cantor and lectors. Even the EMHCs don’t go up there, they come to the edge and the priest brings the consecrated host down to them. I myself have never been up there and wouldn’t dream of it. There is usually a little kneeler set just in front of the Sanctuary area for adoration/holy hour and that’s as close as I get. I often long to get closer, though! :o
 
We ought to build iconastasis like Eastern Churches have. It would solve all these problems.

Only the servers and the deacon and priest are allowed behind the icon screen, period.

Those who read at the Divine Liturgy do so from the body of the Church, they don’t approach the altar area at all.

And of course, they don’t have or allow EMHCs, or women at all behind the icon screen.

God bless,
 
Diaconia said:
We ought to build iconastasis like Eastern Churches have. It would solve all these problems.

Only the servers and the deacon and priest are allowed behind the icon screen, period.
Those who read at the Divine Liturgy do so from the body of the Church, they don’t approach the altar area at all.

And of course, they don’t have or allow EMHCs, or women at all behind the icon screen.

God bless,
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I kinda like that idea. I believe our altar rails used to serve that purpose at one time.
 
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