What goes on the altar during Mass?

[burningheart]

I’m a new convert so I’m uncertain about many things in the Liturgy. I also recently moved and there are some differences between my old church and my new one. For instance at my old church during the Mass there were a crucifix and candles present on the altar. At my new church the altar is bare except for the vessels containing the hosts and wine. No bells are ever used either. Is this a matter of preference for the priest or should the crucifix, etc. be present?

I’m so glad to have a place to ask this! Thanks!

 

[puzzleannie]

welcome home, and welcome to the forums

there should be a crucifix and candles somewhere near the altar, but not necessarily on it. a very good first book on the Mass that answers the question what is going on, and why is the priest doing it, is the How To Book of the Mass from Our Sunday Visitor

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“306. Only what is required for the celebration of the Mass may be placed on the mensa of the altar: namely, from the beginning of the celebration until the proclamation of the Gospel, the Book of the Gospels; then from the Presentation of the Gifts until the purification of the vessels, the chalice with the paten, a ciborium if necessary, and, finally, the corporal, the purificator, the pall, and the Missal.
In addition, microphones that may be needed to amplify the priest’s voice should be arranged discreetly.
307. The candles, which are required at every liturgical service out of reverence and on account of the festiveness of the celebration (cf. above, no. 117), are to be appropriately placed either on or around the altar in a way suited to the design of the altar and the sanctuary so that the whole may be well balanced and not interfere with the faithful’s clear view of what takes place at the altar or what is placed on it.
308. There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations.”

See also GIRM 305, about altar cloths, and GIRM 306, about flowers. More about the number of candles is at GIRM 117.

 

[burningheart]

There are two candles to the right of the ambo, which is to the right of the altar. The altar servers hold these on either side of the ambo when the Gospel is read. Of course, right now, the Paschal Candle is lit. Behind the ambo is the procession cross (St. ? Damiano). About 15 or more feet to the left of the the altar is the large wall crucifix that most churches have. That’s it. Another thing is that the offering is brought up and placed in front of the altar. I once heard a priest say that the offering is to be no where near the altar.

Anyway, thanks for the book recommendation. I will try to find it.

Bless you!

 

[John_Lilburne]

Regarding bells, from the GIRM:
“150. A little before the consecration, when appropriate, a server rings a bell as a signal to the faithful. According to local custom, the server also rings the bell as the priest shows the host and then the chalice.”

 

[EasterJoy]

It is very important that the altar be kept clear of anything not necessary for the Mass.

It is OK to elect to have candles on the altar when it is not absolutely necessary to have them there–that is, when free-standing candleholders that could be placed near the altar were available–as these are items that are necessary for the Mass. It is OK to have more altar linens than the minimum (for instance, having more than one altar cloth or having some extra purificators) or to use the top of the altar to make a colored frontal piece secure, as long as the top cloth covering the flat surface of the altar is white and made of a durable fabric (not paper). Other than the necessary items, though, which can include handwritten notes the priest makes to himself, there should be no items on the altar that the priest doesn’t find necessary to say the Mass. There should be a crucifix–a cross with a corpus–obviously visible somewhere in the sanctuary, but that need not be on the altar.

I like bells, too, but those are optional.

 

[burningheart]

I really appreciate all the (name removed by moderator)ut! I came from a church in a small town and it is a beautiful limestone edifice with amazing stained glass windows of Biblical scenes built in the 1800’s. The altar servers wear black with the white toppers (I don’t know what these are called!). They are lacy at the bottom. There were usually several candles and a crucifix on the altar and the bells were rung at the consecration of the hosts. The wall crucifix (same as in my new church) was closer to the altar in the old one, due to the older shape of the church (rectangle). The candlesticks and vessels were all gold and the sanctuary altar…well amazingly beautiful. My new church is modern, wooden altar, though beautifully carved with the last supper relief, silver vessels, the altar servers wear what looks like beige nightgowns. It’s just different. God meets me there. As hard as it has been for me to adjust to the changes I can’t imagine how it must have been for those who went through radical changes after Vat II. There is a story that the priest at my old church was going to take a chain saw to the altar rail but was stopped by a wealthy angry parishioner who threatened to never darken the door again if he proceeded. The altar rail is still there today.

I have already ordered a Missal and I will try to obtain the other books mentioned. Thanks again for all your (name removed by moderator)ut!

 

[boatbearer]

I really appreciate all the (name removed by moderator)ut! I came from a church in a small town and it is a beautiful limestone edifice with amazing stained glass windows of Biblical scenes built in the 1800’s. The altar servers wear black with the white toppers (I don’t know what these are called!). They are lacy at the bottom. There were usually several candles and a crucifix on the altar and the bells were rung at the consecration of the hosts. The wall crucifix (same as in my new church) was closer to the altar in the old one, due to the older shape of the church (rectangle). The candlesticks and vessels were all gold and the sanctuary altar…well amazingly beautiful. My new church is modern, wooden altar, though beautifully carved with the last supper relief, silver vessels, the altar servers wear what looks like beige nightgowns. **It’s just different. God meets me there. ** As hard as it has been for me to adjust to the changes I can’t imagine how it must have been for those who went through radical changes after Vat II. There is a story that the priest at my old church was going to take a chain saw to the altar rail but was stopped by a wealthy angry parishioner who threatened to never darken the door again if he proceeded. The altar rail is still there today.

I have already ordered a Missal and I will try to obtain the other books mentioned. Thanks again for all your (name removed by moderator)ut!

I’m glad you realize that. Those “beige nightgowns” (albs) for example were in use as common tunics centuries before the black (cassocks) and whites (surplice or cotta.)

Some people DO get overly obsessed about things like altar railings and it clearly DOES impact their experiences at Mass. While it really bothers me to hear about such “chainsaw” stories it’s also wrong if we allow them to become the focus of our liturgical lives.

Does your new parish have more than one Mass? If it does, why not form a small group (working very closely with your pastor) to buy a second set of sacred vessels, new altar server garb, etc. etc. to use at one of your parish’s Masses?

 

[diggerdomer]

I’m a new convert so I’m uncertain about many things in the Liturgy. I also recently moved and there are some differences between my old church and my new one. For instance at my old church during the Mass there were a crucifix and candles present on the altar. At my new church the altar is bare except for the vessels containing the hosts and wine. No bells are ever used either. Is this a matter of preference for the priest or should the crucifix, etc. be present?

I’m so glad to have a place to ask this! Thanks!

preference. Candles can be on or near the altar.