Standing around the altar?

[klm120861]

You might want to consider contacting your diocesan (I think I spelled that wrong) offices. If there are irregularities going on during the Mass, they need to know. They can’t correct what they are unaware of. You could even present it as you did here. You know, this is what I saw, this is what happened, and it puzzled me. Could you explain it, please. They may also have some suggestions for getting students and the elderly safely to the other parish. Maybe even someone from the other parish might have some ideas. Maybe someone from there could give rides? It’s often one of the most needed ministeries in a church, and often overlooked because it’s so basic a need.
Praying for you!
Kris

 

[sw85]

And illicit Mass does not mean that the Mass is invalid. People should not be made to feel guilty for attending an illicit Mass under situations such as described by the OP. Sometimes an illicit Mass is the only option available.
ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=352322&Pg=Forum9&Pgnu=6&recnu=141

Err, I didn’t use the word “invalid,” so I’m not sure why you quoted my post. And no one is trying to make the OP feel “guilty.” We are, rather, ratifying the OP’s justifiable feelings of alarm at liturgical abuse.

 

[zab]

Err, I didn’t use the word “invalid,” so I’m not sure why you quoted my post. And no one is trying to make the OP feel “guilty.” We are, rather, ratifying the OP’s justifiable feelings of alarm at liturgical abuse.

The OP had expressed concern in post #11 as to whether the Mass could be invalid. That seemed to be the major concern. So I was making the clarification that an illicit Mass is not automatically an invalid Mass.

 

[ilySHJ]

So today at mass, Fr. had everyone come up and stand in a circle around the altar during the Consecration.
I find this concerning, but don’t want to mistakenly think that Fr. did something wrong if this is acceptable.

There was also a (not assistance) dog… which was brought up to circle the altar with everyone else. I’m like 99.999999% sure THAT is not okay, but if it is, please correct me.

Hi, waanju!

About a year ago, I found myself in your shoes! a weekday Mass in a side chapel, no one kneeling for any part of the Mass, and in fact circling the altar for the Eucharistic prayer and then holding hands in a cirlce around the altar for the Our Father.

Some wonderful priests had previously taught me that gathering around the altar was not permissible and that one must kneel from the end of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Great Amen (after the Eucharistic prayer) … well, thanks to those excellent priests, I stayed put and knelt.

One by one, week by week, others joined me.

Turns out the pastor was following in the footsteps of the one who preceeded him. He has no objections to kneeling and had never asked people to circle the altar - he just didn’t stop it.

fast forward 18 months or so … at this same Mass, those who are physically able to kneel do kneel. NO ONE circles the altar anymore. About half hold hands during the Our Father.

People attending weekday Mass aren’t usually lucy-goosey about their posture. fwiw, I never said a word to anyone.

How wonderful that you have Mass on your campus!!

 

[waanju]

Hi, waanju!

About a year ago, I found myself in your shoes! a weekday Mass in a side chapel, no one kneeling for any part of the Mass, and in fact circling the altar for the Eucharistic prayer and then holding hands in a cirlce around the altar for the Our Father.

Some wonderful priests had previously taught me that gathering around the altar was not permissible and that one must kneel from the end of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) until after the Great Amen (after the Eucharistic prayer) … well, thanks to those excellent priests, I stayed put and knelt.

One by one, week by week, others joined me.

Turns out the pastor was following in the footsteps of the one who preceeded him. He has no objections to kneeling and had never asked people to circle the altar - he just didn’t stop it.

fast forward 18 months or so … at this same Mass, those who are physically able to kneel do kneel. NO ONE circles the altar anymore. About half hold hands during the Our Father.

People attending weekday Mass aren’t usually lucy-goosey about their posture. fwiw, I never said a word to anyone.

How wonderful that you have Mass on your campus!!

Thanks! Maybe people are just going with the low for this too!
And yeah, I feel really lucky to be able to attend mass without risking that walk

 

[OraLabora]

If it was a Roman Catholic parish run by a Benedictine monk, then I’m reasonably sure that it would be allowed. The parish is required to adapt to the customs and liturgy of the religious who run the parish.

I’m not saying it would be prudent, just allowed.

I’m open to correction.

-Tim-

From my experience in the Solesmes congregation, you won’t see non-ordained monks in the sanctuary during the Mass, except for the servers and, at appropriate times, the lectors. At all monasteries of that congregation I’ve been to (including my own), the non-ordained brothers remain in the choir stalls until it is time to come forward for communion. The priest-monks do stand around the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer, as they’re concelebrating and of course the deacon assists (when there is one; of our two last deacons, one was ordained last September and the second one is at a monastery in France studying for 2 years).

On the other hand I’ve seen it for weekday Mass at another Benedictine monastery in the UK. It’s very much up to the abbot and the traditions of a particular place or congregation. Another place I’ve been to that is very “traditional” even though they celebrate the OF Mass, is Monte Cassino in Italy. Although the two times I’ve been there, a group of oblates formed a small schola and we were allowed in the sanctuary to chant (both times I was participating in the World Oblate’s Congress in Rome and we had a field trip to Monte Cassino each time). The Mass there was also celebrated, if I recall correctly, ad orientem.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

We don’t need to worry about such things at the EF Mass.

Not in the manner that virtually all priests celebrate the EF mass today, that is.

It’s easy to forget these days that abuses went on in the Tridentine mass at times in the old days, too.

The fact that there are some priests who practice abuses today in the OF **even though its instructions and rubrics do not permit this **is a separate issue.

In case you are wondering, I usually attend the EF.

I’m sorry the OP has to put up with this. You could perhaps remain in your pew, and tell the priest after mass that you are not comfortable with bending or breaking the rubrics of the mass - you are just trying to “do your job” as a good lay person by playing your part in the Church’s mass the way the Church intends it.