Why 3 Altars in Church?

[Bullfighter]

After Mass today, I spent sometime talking to a woman who attends my Church regularly and we were discussing the way the Church used to be “in the good old days” many years ago.

My Church was built around 1916 and is of the European style with 2 huge gothic spires climbing up to heaven. We also have 2 smaller altars, one on each side of the Church at the front by the main altar.

I questioned the woman as to what she thought they were used for and she thought that one was dedicated to Mary and the other to Joseph and used on feast days that were named for them. I’ve never seen them in use but she might be right as the one on the left had a statue of Mary in the center of the altar, and the one on the right featured Joseph in that location.

Any ideas folks?

 

[AJV]

There are multiple reasons why it could be so. One main reason is that at that time concelebration was not allowed, so priest could say Masses as these altars. There were also other regulations which could prevent the main altar being used - for exmaple, if the Sacrament was exposed, then most of the time, one could not celebrate Mass at that altar. Side altars also provided a focus for devotion and devotional exercises. I’m not sure about using them on the feast days - for really prominent Marian feasts for example, it seems more likely that the high altar would be used

 

[malphono]

There are multiple reasons why it could be so. One main reason is that at that time concelebration was not allowed, so priest could say Masses as these altars. There were also other regulations which could prevent the main altar being used - for exmaple, if the Sacrament was exposed, then most of the time, one could not celebrate Mass at that altar. Side altars also provided a focus for devotion and devotional exercises. I’m not sure about using them on the feast days - for really prominent Marian feasts for example, it seems more likely that the high altar would be used

Without going into a discussion of the post-conciliar issue of concelebration in the Latin Rite, I agree. I actually recall a few instances when all 3 altars were in use simultaneously, but never on a Sunday or Holy Day. It was often the case that a “private” Requiem Mass would be offered on a side altar. There was an excerpt of the missale romanum called missale defunctorum (the altar boys used to call it the “black Mass book” because the cover was invariably black) which included only the various Requiem Masses, which was normally in position at at least one of the side altars.

 

[zab]

I have only seen our side altar used twice. It happened that on those days, I was making a visit in church, when a visiting priest came into the church to celebrate his daily Mass. It was not a scheduled Mass. He used the altar under the statue of St. Joseph instead of the main altar. He invited the 5 or six of us who were in church to attend Mass.

 

[Evan]

I remember serving at side altars before vatican II. On special holy days, the bishop would give permission for priests to offer 3 masses (rather than just 1) in a day because there was a need in the small parishes for multple masses.

Our parish had 2 priests. We only added 3 masses so each priest would still have extra masses. The importance of the mass and privaledge of offering a mass was such that each priest wanted to offer 3 masses that day. They would use the side alter while the main alter was also in use for the scheduled mass.

 

[Aramis]

Any ideas folks?

Not ideas, but known history.

Most major parishes would have at least one, usually two, sometimes four or even six side altars, plus one, or sometimes two for cathedrals, altars on the main dais.

When two altars were present in a cathedral on the dais, one was the Altar of Sacrifice, and the other the Altar of Repose (for the tabernacle).

The side altars, each dedicated for various saints, were used for several things…

1. missae privata. Private masses. From the 1400s to 1970, concelebration was restricted to a bishop as the celebrant. Priests had a duty to say mass weekly, and in many places and times, daily. So they would say their private masses simultaneously with the main mass.
2. smaller masses. In many places, the side altars were used for smaller masses, as the people could get closer to the celebrant. Several smaller special intention or special purpose masses could happen at the same time. EG: Funerals and Weddings.
3. Stational Services. in a few places, certain processions went from one Altar to another, with specific commemorations at each.
4. Special Masses. The Marian altar would often be used for Marian feasts.

It should also be noted that side altars were not a requirement, but in cruciform churches, the high altar was usually at the “head”, and the first two side altars at the ends of the arms.

 

[FrDavid96]

After Mass today, I spent sometime talking to a woman who attends my Church regularly and we were discussing the way the Church used to be “in the good old days” many years ago.

My Church was built around 1916 and is of the European style with 2 huge gothic spires climbing up to heaven. We also have 2 smaller altars, one on each side of the Church at the front by the main altar.

I questioned the woman as to what she thought they were used for and she thought that one was dedicated to Mary and the other to Joseph and used on feast days that were named for them. I’ve never seen them in use but she might be right as the one on the left had a statue of Mary in the center of the altar, and the one on the right featured Joseph in that location.

Any ideas folks?

Bullfighter,
Until recently, it was possible to have more than one Mass happening in a given church at the same time. These side altars were for so-called “private” Masses with often only the priest and an altar boy. They were all seperate Masses, so they might be starting at different times. On rare occasions, sometimes several priests would celebrate Masses on these altars and “coordinate” them so that everything was happening at the same time–although each one was considered a distinct Mass. If a parish Mass was happening (or had already started) sometimes a priest would be at one of the side altars, quietly saying a Mass while everyone else was participating in the “main” Mass. If this sounds a bit awkward, that’s one of the reasons why the Church saw a need to re-institute concelebration. Although never a strict requirement of canon law, it was considered an unofficial requirement (so much so that most thought it was in fact the law) that a priest was obligated to say a Mass every day. In places with a large number of priests, like big parishes or monastic communities, one might find altars all over the church. Three in front was the “tradition” but there were often altars all around the perimeter of the Church, and even many more in places most people never saw them. I once visited a basilica that had about 16 altars in the church proper, and another 20 tiny “private” altars in the basement (they looked like a row of phone booths with privacy screens). Obviously, this was not ideal. If you visit a historic church today (and this may even be the case in your own church) look for little alcoves on the side walls. They probably contained such “private” altars, and might still today, although unfortunately many of those altars have been relegated to the function of places to put statues, flowers or other decorations.

Sometimes these side altars were used for daily Masses or even Sunday Masses if the usual attendance at that particular Mass was small.

Traditionally, the 2 principle side altars were dedicated to the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, but this was a custom and not (that I have ever heard) any kind of rule.

The one dedicated to the Blessed Mary was on the left side (from the congregation’s point of view) which was the women’s side and that on the right to St Joseph, the men’s side.

 

[IrishAm]

Bullfighter,
Until recently, it was possible to have more than one Mass happening in a given church at the same time.

Isn’t it still possible to have more than one Mass happening in a given church at the same time? When I was at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe last year, there were multiple Masses occuring throughout the church – at the main altar and in the assorted smaller altars throughout the building. It was quite magnificent.

I assume, logistically, that is not happening in our local parish churches, of course . . .

 

[FrDavid96]

Isn’t it still possible to have more than one Mass happening in a given church at the same time? When I was at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe last year, there were multiple Masses occuring throughout the church – at the main altar and in the assorted smaller altars throughout the building. It was quite magnificent.

I assume, logistically, that is not happening in our local parish churches, of course . . .

Well, it is possible, but it is also illicit. Canon 902 forbids an individual priest to celebrate a “private” Mass while there is a concelebrated Mass occurring in the “same church”

Granted, the qualification “concelebrated” is used, and therefore one might make the argument that if the parish community Mass is only celebrated by a single priest, then other priests may say private Masses at the same time. So it would be illicit only if the main Mass has more than one priest. If there’s a single priest presiding, it’s not violating the letter of the law, but I believe it goes against the intent of the law.

On the other hand, if the different places are distinct chapels which simply happen to be under the same roof, but each area is distinct from the other, I don’t think that would be a problem.

 

[bpbasilphx]

At the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Our Lady, Joy of All Who Sorrow in San Francisco on Geary, there are three full altars behind the iconostas, with 9 doors!

However, the Orthodox tradition and liturgical law permit only ONE liturgy to be celebrated at a given altar in a 24 hour period (or by one priest, for that matter).

Of course, it’s a big cathedral, so that is customary. Daily Matins and Vespers are celebrated at one or the other side altars. I think (and I may be wrong) that the main altar is where all Divine Liturgies are celebrated.

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Well, it is possible, but it is also illicit. Canon 902 forbids an individual priest to celebrate a “private” Mass while there is a concelebrated Mass occurring in the “same church”

Granted, the qualification “concelebrated” is used, and therefore one might make the argument that if the parish community Mass is only celebrated by a single priest, then other priests may say private Masses at the same time. So it would be illicit only if the main Mass has more than one priest. If there’s a single priest presiding, it’s not violating the letter of the law, but I believe it goes against the intent of the law.

On the other hand, if the different places are distinct chapels which simply happen to be under the same roof, but each area is distinct from the other, I don’t think that would be a problem.

I’m glad you provided the qualification yourself, Father, because I think that qualification is very important. While it’s true that the architects of the new liturgy saw concelebration as the ideal, I don’t think we can assume from the face of the canon that the legislator - John Paul II - had the intention of effectively abolishing simultaneous Masses. There are two reasons for this:

1. The canons are full of instances which say, X is the rule but for a just(/grave) reason Y can be done. The writers of the canons, then, knew just how to establish an ideal, but didn’t do it in this case.
2. Rights are to be interpreted as broadly as possible, restrictions as strictly as possible. So if the canon restricts simultaneous Masses in a church under a specific condition, we can’t say “but it’s really meant to restrict that and then some.” We have to assume “it’s meant to restrict that and only that.”

 

[FrDavid96]

At the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Our Lady, Joy of All Who Sorrow in San Francisco on Geary, there are three full altars behind the iconostas, with 9 doors!

However, the Orthodox tradition and liturgical law permit only ONE liturgy to be celebrated at a given altar in a 24 hour period (or by one priest, for that matter).

Of course, it’s a big cathedral, so that is customary. Daily Matins and Vespers are celebrated at one or the other side altars. I think (and I may be wrong) that the main altar is where all Divine Liturgies are celebrated.

Those side “altars” are called the “deacons’ altars” but they are not altars as such. The one on your left is for the bread and wine before they are brought to the Holy Table (the altar as we in the West use the word). It’s a slightly different concept than what we have in the west, but to use our vocabulary, the Mass would only be celebrated on the main altar in the center.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I was told there are in fact THREE full scale Holy Tables and three Protheses and that the early Liturgy is celebrated on Sunday at one of the side altars.

Otherwise, why would there be NINE doors in the Iconastas?

I might add that when I was there for daily Vespers, the Priest stood before the Royal Doors at the SOUTH altar, and came in and out of its proper Deacon’s doors.

 

[Evan]

I remember many masses occurring in St Peter’s in Rome when I was there in the 80’s. There were signs overhead indicating which language each mass was using. I assume this still goes on today. I also assume it is a licit practice

 

[FrDavid96]

I remember many masses occurring in St Peter’s in Rome when I was there in the 80’s. There were signs overhead indicating which language each mass was using. I assume this still goes on today. I also assume it is a licit practice

Evan,

Sure it’s licit. The only thing that would make it illicit would be if there is a concelebrated Mass happening in the same church at the same time.

I also think there’s a difference between on the one hand, several places in the same church where distinct Masses are being offered, and each one is seen as a distinct event…
…and on the other hand, having the parish Mass celebrated on the main altar with another private Mass going on at another altar just a few feet away from that one, and in full view of the main congregation. This used to happen in the past. I think that particular practice would be going against the spirit of the law, only because it would cause confusion, although it would not be illicit.