Side altars

[corsair]

Well, YoungMonk, Thats why I prefer the FSSP.

 

[lizaanne]

Was it common prior to Vatican II for multiple Masses to be going on simultaneously? Was this just for a priests private Mass?

I’ve heard this was the case, that a priest could be saying is private Mass while the main Mass for the people was happening at the same time, but we would need someone else to confirm this who knows this for sure.

I do know that “mixed marriages” (a Catholic and a non-Catholic) would often occur only at the side altar, and not the main altar. I’ve heard of this happening quite often, but I do not know the reason for doing so.

~Liza

 

[malphono]

It is sad that the new code of Canon Law (Can: 902) prohibits Mass being said simutaniously and instead mandates concelebration sighs It would be lovely to see it more oftern.

Well … let’s look at the Canon:

Can. 902 - Nisi utilitas christifidelium aliud requirat aut suadeat, sacerdotes Eucharistiam concelebrare possunt, integra tamen pro singulis libertate manente Eucharistiam individuali modo celebrandi, non vero eo tempore, quo in eadem ecclesia aut oratorio concelebratio habetur.

Can. 902 Unless the welfare of the Christian faithful requires or suggests otherwise, priests can concelebrate the Eucharist. They are completely free to celebrate the Eucharist individually, however, but not while a concelebration is taking place in the same church or oratory.

I don’t see anything there that requires a priest to concelebrate.

What I do see, though, is that concelebration is recommended (and obviously that doesn’t pertain to the Usus Antiquior). Nonetheless, a priest is always free to celebrate on his own but not while a concelebrated Mass is in progress in the same church. That’s not a particularly huge restriction.

 

[YoungTradCath]

According to the web site for that church those “remains” are statues, NOT skeletons.

From the Archdiocese:

archlou.org/article125640.htm?img=1&imgsize=large&imgalign=right&wraptext=1&body=1

Read the history. It’s the very last paragraph. They are skeletons.

 

[YoungTradCath]

What I do see, though, is that concelebration is recommended (and obviously that doesn’t pertain to the Usus Antiquior). Nonetheless, a priest is always free to celebrate on his own but not while a concelebrated Mass is in progress in the same church. That’s not a particularly huge restriction.

But then if in an Ordinary Form mass, only one priest is celebrating, and no other priests are concelebrating with him, then this wording of the canon implies that a priest MAY celebrate his own private mass at a side altar. Even if, like I said, another, main celebration is going on, as long as that main celebration is not being concelebrated by other priests, right?

 

[malphono]

But then if in an Ordinary Form mass, only one priest is celebrating, and no other priests are concelebrating with him, then this wording of the canon implies that a priest MAY celebrate his own private mass at a side altar. Even if, like I said, another, main celebration is going on, as long as that main celebration is not being concelebrated by other priests, right?

So it would seem. Perhaps Mark (our resident Latin scholar) will weigh-in with his take.

 

[Windmill]

Weren’t these other altars used for Low Mass and the High Altar for High Mass?

 

[Filioque]

There were actually two occasions where concelebration occured prior to Vatican II in the West. Consecrations of Bishops, where the newly consecrated bishop(s) the Consecrating Bishop and his two co-consecrators would each celebrate at individual altars, and the ordination of priests where the bishop ordaining would celebrate the Mass, and from the Offretory forward the newly ordained priests would kneel around the foot of the altar and pray the Mass in unison with the bishop. All other priests and prelates would follow the mass in the Sanctuary.

In mixed marriages, the couple was married outside the altar rail, sometimes in the sacristy, while when both parties were Catholic they had the right to be married within the sanctuary.

During the early Middle ages with the rise of prvate Masses outside the conventual Mass in Monastic Communities, the need for side altars arose. Also in Churches which attracted large numbers of pilgrims.

At St. Peter’s Church in the Chicago Loop, it was not uncommon for many priests who were travelling, to visit the church, and offer a private Mass at a side altar. There was such a demand that the side altar and altars in the Franciscan Friar’s residence (outside the Church) were usually filled, and as one priest was finished with his mass, another priest was waiting to offer the next Mass. It was also the case that a priest could not start a Mass after 12 noon except during the Triduum or Christmas Eve. Priests were and are not required to offer Mass daily, but are obliged to pray the office daily, except under certain circumstances, usually related to health or travelling (the rule harkens from the days when travel was either by foot or horseback.)

 

[Filioque]

Weren’t these other altars used for Low Mass and the High Altar for High Mass?

High or low Masses can be offered at the Main altar. Side altars were usually used for private Masses, or Mass offered during the 40 hrs devotion, or other times when the Most Blessed Sacrament was exposed. There is a special set of rubrics for offering Mass where the Most Blessed Sacrament is exposed, ( in Coro Ssme. Sacramentum).

 

[ConstantineTG]

It is sad that the new code of Canon Law (Can: 902) prohibits Mass being said simutaniously and instead mandates concelebration sighs It would be lovely to see it more oftern.

Why is concelebration any different? Concelebration is a more traditional way to do things.

 

[Filioque]

While Concelebration is the more ancient manner, what developed in both the east and west as the church grew was a trend where priests would offer Mass for congregations. Originally a priest would celebrate the Mysteries with the Bishop, as the Church grew and there was a need for multiple sites where the Mass was offered, the Bishop would celebrate and a portion of the consecrated bread would be taken by deacons to the priests of the city who would admix it to the chalice prior to communion. This was a symbolic way of showing communion with the bishop. While concelebration remained the practice in east and west, it fell out of use (except at ordinations and consecrations of new bishops) in the west as the Church grew and the territories of the bishops became larger. With the rise of Monastic communities where devotional Masses were offered by priests in the community after the conventual Mass, side altars proliferated.

Up to the reforms of Pope Paul VI which re-introduced concelbration on a more frequent basis, the custom was only preserved in the west in the circumstances above, but also it was reflected in the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, where multiple priests and deacons took an active role alongside the bishop in the blessings and consecration of the Holy Oils. A much shorter and less elaborate rite than that of the Eastern Church, it preserved some of the early customs of the Church.

The history development of the Liturgy in the west was only only really only revived in the mid to latter 1800’s much of the ancient history was lost or forgotten. It was “re-discovered” by modern scholars. Unfortunatly there are those among the clergy and laity who don’t know it was an ancient practice, and assume that it was just invented by modern liturgists. There are those too who feel that it falls under the prohibition of Pope Pius XII to re-insititute ancient practices that fell into disuse because they no longer served the needs of the Church. While it is true that not understanding the reason why something fell into disuse, and re-introducing it without proper instruction and guidelines can lead to false practices, (I know priests in communities where private masses were banned and labeled as invalid, because they did not incorporate the entire community) when seen in the proper perspective as an ancient practice revived to promote unity of faith, but not to supplant private Masses, (in the west at least) it is not as frightening to many Traditionalists.

On another note, there were many priests who prior to Vatican II would rush through Mass at a side altar in order to allow the next priest waiting for the altar to offer Mass so the noon cut off could be met. I know priests who recall having “competitions” to see who could offer Mass the fastest without omitting rubrics. All before Vatican II, and all good reasons why reforms were needed, (which does not always mean liturgical changes). I would hope this is what Pope John was looking at when he wanted some fresh air to come into the Church.