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Pope wants crucifix at the centre of ALL westward-facing altars during Mass
Telegraph ^ | January 10, 2010 | Damian Thompson

Posted on 01/13/2010 10:43:08 AM PST by NYer

Monsignor Guido Marini, Benedict XVI’s master of ceremonies, this week strongly underlined the Pope’s recommendation that when Mass is celebrated facing westwards, the priest should place a crucifix at the centre of the altar. This was to make clear that the celebrant was not “facing the people”, but facing Christ.

The Holy Father could hardly have made himself clearer on this point. So why do the Bishops of England and Wales allow the vast majority of their priests to ignore his wishes? Why do the bishops themselves routinely ignore the recommendation?

Perhaps someone will ask the bishops when they make their ad limina visit to Rome at the end of this month. One hopes that Archbishop Vincent Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference, will be able to reply that the bishops have drawn up plans to introduce this reform universally – and also to make it easier for the faithful to receive communion kneeling and on the tongue, which is the preference of the Pope. (At the moment, too many parish priests treat anyone wishing to receive the Sacrament in this way as an oddball, rather than a Catholic following the example of the Holy Father.)

Below are some extracts from Mgr Marini’s address to the Year for Priests Clergy Conference in Rome, organised by the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. Hat-tip to that incomparable resource, The New Liturgical Movement website.

Here is Mgr Marini on the question of orientation. Note that he, like the Pope, supports eastward-facing celebration where it is appropriate:

Without recourse to a detailed historical analysis of the development of Christian art, we would like to reaffirm that prayer facing east, more specifically, facing the Lord, is a characteristic expression of the authentic spirit of the liturgy.


(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Worship
KEYWORDS: 1tim47; crucifix; pope
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The Pope incenses an altar that displays a crucifix
1 posted on 01/13/2010 10:43:10 AM PST by NYer
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To: netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; markomalley; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; ...
Let us listen to the words of his Holiness, Benedict XVI, directly, who in the preface to the first book of his Complete Works, dedicated to the liturgy, writes the following: “The idea that the priest and people should stare at one another during prayer was born only in modern Christianity, and is completely alien to the ancient Church. The priest and people most certainly do not pray one to the other, but to the one Lord. Therefore, they stare in the same direction during prayer: either towards the east as a cosmic symbol of the Lord who comes, or, where this is not possible, towards the image of Christ in the apse, towards a crucifix, or simply towards the heavens, as our Lord Himself did in his priestly prayer the night before His Passion (John 17.1)
2 posted on 01/13/2010 10:44:08 AM PST by NYer ("Where Peter is, there is the Church." - St. Ambrose of Milan)
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To: NYer

The Holy Father is right here! God bless him!


3 posted on 01/13/2010 10:44:34 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

One of the proofs of the lunacy of Islam is their requirement to pray with their head facing a certain direction.


4 posted on 01/13/2010 10:48:24 AM PST by RobRoy (The US today: Revelation 18:4)
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To: NYer

God Bless B16! He speaks truth to power. The bad news is that will there be any priests who will listen?


5 posted on 01/13/2010 10:50:50 AM PST by Biggirl (Jim,You Are In My Prayers.=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
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To: Biggirl

**The bad news is that will there be any priests who will listen?**

Our priest changed the ugly “Hanging Cross” over the altar with a beautiful life-size one in wood. It is beautiful.


6 posted on 01/13/2010 10:58:23 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Biggirl
The young priests around here just LOVE BXVI!

He is really playing chess here, with his episcopal appointments, and his pronouncements on liturgical matters, and his splendid weekly homilies.

I wish him Per Cent'anni!

7 posted on 01/13/2010 11:00:15 AM PST by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: Salvation

Good for that priest.


8 posted on 01/13/2010 11:01:53 AM PST by Biggirl (Jim,You Are In My Prayers.=^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^==^..^=)
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To: NYer

I agree with the Pope. But this is an uphill battle in most US parishes. The priests just don’t like facing the wall.


9 posted on 01/13/2010 11:02:33 AM PST by Haiku Guy ("I don't give them Hell / I tell the truth about them / And they think it's Hell" -- Harry Truman)
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To: NYer
Amazing.

BTTT

10 posted on 01/13/2010 11:03:03 AM PST by pyx (Rule#1.The LEFT lies.Rule#2.See Rule#1. IF THE LEFT CONTROLS THE LANGUAGE, IT CONTROLS THE ARGUMENT.)
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To: RobRoy
Ever read Richard Weaver's Ideas Have Consequences? It's conservative staple.
11 posted on 01/13/2010 11:11:59 AM PST by cornelis
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To: RobRoy

Agree completely.


12 posted on 01/13/2010 11:24:20 AM PST by James C. Bennett
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To: RobRoy

>>One of the proofs of the lunacy of Islam is their requirement to pray with their head facing a certain direction.<<

I guess I’m missing how this has anything to do with the article.
Are you posting on the right thread?


13 posted on 01/13/2010 11:27:35 AM PST by netmilsmom (I am Ilk)
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To: NYer

My little sister got married this past Saturday at a traditional Catholic church, Latin mass, etc.. My father, a Baptist minister, was not elated. I was a groomsmen and participated in the genuflecting out of respect for their tradition. For a Baptist like myself it was an interesting experience. The important part is that my sister found a wonderful guy and I approve of him regardless of his religion.

Anyone know what’s the story behind the Catholic split in terms of traditional Latin mass, head coverings, etc. vs. today’s more progressive mass? I was told the sect was actually excommunicated.


14 posted on 01/13/2010 11:29:39 AM PST by TSgt (I long for Norman Rockwell's America.)
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To: netmilsmom

With all due respect this thread was not caucused, i.e. it was open for discussion.


15 posted on 01/13/2010 11:31:38 AM PST by TSgt (I long for Norman Rockwell's America.)
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To: RobRoy

THANK you! Why on EARTH does it matter which direction an altar is facing? JESUS IS RISEN, He ain’t in Jerusalem!

ARGH!!

Colonel, USAFR


16 posted on 01/13/2010 11:34:05 AM PST by jagusafr (Kill the red lizard, Lord! - nod to C.S. Lewis)
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To: NYer

What about my parish’s southward-facing alter? ;-)


17 posted on 01/13/2010 11:36:57 AM PST by al_c (http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
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To: NYer

Now THERE’S an essential doctrine of Christianity./sarc


18 posted on 01/13/2010 11:39:14 AM PST by CalvaryJohn (What is keeping that damned asteroid?)
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To: MikeWUSAF

Was it with the Society of St. Pius X?


19 posted on 01/13/2010 11:40:29 AM PST by Pyro7480 ("If you know how not to pray, take Joseph as your master, and you will not go astray." - St. Teresa)
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To: CalvaryJohn

It was never claimed to be an essential doctrine. This concerns worship. What’s your point?


20 posted on 01/13/2010 11:41:30 AM PST by Pyro7480 ("If you know how not to pray, take Joseph as your master, and you will not go astray." - St. Teresa)
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