Unconsecrated altar and the sacraments

[NetNuncio]

My fiance and I have been told we have to move our wedding because the parish is building a new church and the altar will not be consecrated in time. My question is: Can Mass be celebrated on an unconsecrated altar (if not, than what about outside altars, or altars that are used when Mass is celebrated in the home)?

The only place I have found that may substantiate the parish’s claim is the De Defectibus of John XXIII, but I see nothing from Paul VI on. Are we being told the truth? And if it is licit and valid to celebrate Mass on an unconsecrated altar, what documents can I use to prove it?

Thanks!

Adam

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

My fiance and I have been told we have to move our wedding because the parish is building a new church and the altar will not be consecrated in time. My question is: Can Mass be celebrated on an unconsecrated altar (if not, than what about outside altars, or altars that are used when Mass is celebrated in the home)?

The only place I have found that may substantiate the parish’s claim is the De Defectibus of John XXIII, but I see nothing from Paul VI on. Are we being told the truth? And if it is licit and valid to celebrate Mass on an unconsecrated altar, what documents can I use to prove it?

Thanks!

Adam

Mass can be celebrated on a temporary or moveable altar that is blessed when necessary. Each church is to have a fixed altar, attached to the floor and not movable, that is consecrated by the Bishop.

 

[NetNuncio]

Thank you, Brother.

Is it appropriate to celebrate Mass on the main altar of a church BEFORE a bishop has consecrated it?

Adam

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Can. 932 §1. The eucharistic celebration is to be carried out in a sacred place unless in a particular case necessity requires otherwise; in such a case the celebration must be done in a decent place.
§2. The eucharistic sacrifice must be carried out on a dedicated or blessed altar; outside a sacred place a suitable table can be used, always with a cloth and a corporal.

It would appear that an unconsecrated altar may not be used in a church, though it may be used elsewhere.

 

[LilyM]

Mass can be celebrated on a temporary or moveable altar that is blessed when necessary. Each church is to have a fixed altar, attached to the floor and not movable, that is consecrated by the Bishop.

I know travelling priests used to have ‘altar cloths’ with relics of the saints sewn into them and such - if you used one of these on the unconsecrated altar I wonder if that would be OK :hmm:

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the Rite of the Dedication of a Church and Altar (the Latin edition was decreed for use in 1977):

“Since an altar becomes sacred principally by the celebration of the eucharist, in fidelity to this truth the celebration of Mass on a new altar before it has been dedicated is to be carefully avoided, so that the Mass of dedication may also be the first eucharist celebrated on the altar.”

(Chapter IV, Dedication of an Altar, n. 13. From The Rites Volume Two, Liturgical Press, 1991, ISBN: 0-8146-6037-1, page 409.)

 

[SMHW]

My fiance and I have been told we have to move our wedding because the parish is building a new church and the altar will not be consecrated in time. My question is: Can Mass be celebrated on an unconsecrated altar (if not, than what about outside altars, or altars that are used when Mass is celebrated in the home)?

Where does your parish celebrate its regular Sunday masses? Is it a temporary/borrowed location that would not be suitable/available for a wedding?

 

[hopefull]

In my parish we have summer picnic Masses and I know those are on an unconsecrated altar. During the winter to save a few dollars (I hate that argument) the pastor moved the Mass from the church (from the consecrated altar) onto a plastic table in the parish hall, just a few steps away. This felt very wrong to me, but apparently he had the right to do so. Because weddings are also a sacrament, I am not sure how this applies to your situation.