The Catholic Sanctuary

[LoyalViews]

I found this really good bookon my favourite blog, Cleansing Fire. It is called “the Catholic Sanctuary”. It shows how Vatican II never implemented any changes to the Sanctuary, and how these “liturgical experts” (who weren’t experts at all – they were just old liberal hippies) changes the church to what Pope Paul IV never wanted it to be. Her never did say to face the people, he never did say to change the placement of the tabernacle, her never did say to have, ugh, “altar girls”.

You can read it online catholictradition.org/Eucharist/sanctuary.htm

 

[bpbasilphx]

And as we all know, liturgical practices and disciplines of the Church always remain frozen in time, don’t they?

Did you know there was a time when reserving the Sacrament in a tabernacle on the altar was an innovation? It was introduced by the Franciscans.

 

[Filioque]

While there are many good arguments for what has become that traditional layout of the sanctuary in the Latin Church, it is not universal.

Major Churches, Basilicas and Cathedrals have usually had a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and not reserved the Eucharist on the main altar. The Caeremoniale Episcoporum in fact mentioned that the bishop before a Solemn Mass should go to the BS Chapel with the Chapter and sing Matins, then vest in the Chapel, vesting at the main altar was an option. In Churches that had historical or tourist attraction, the Blessed Sacrament was to be in a side chapel to prevent disrespect by non-catholic tourists who toured the church as they would a museum.

There are any number of artistic styles that existed before Vatican II. I’ve got a few books filled with pictures that depict very modern churches in which the priest or bishop could celebrate either facing eastward or the people. Many who had the Blessed Sacrament removed from the Main altar, and some in a position that was behind the main altar in an alcove or other area.

There were many Masses that were done (ad experementum) for decades before the Council, (See “The Mass of the Future” Fr. Gerald Ellard 1948) if I can find a couple of the books on Church Architecture I’ll post them too.

Now I’m no fan of Fr. Ellard, although there are a precious few of his books that I do agree with. (Say what you mean, mean what you say) which encourages the dialogue Mass, and discusses the meaning of the priest and people’s parts of the Mass is one of the books I think made sense.

The point being that the changes of the sanctuary did not just happen after the Council. There were churches that were appointed in the “modern” manner prior to the Council, and accepted as fully Catholic at that time.