Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Life Faith Liturgy Lines

Instructions about sacred furnishings

byStaff writers
11 August 2013
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

THE General Instruction of the Roman Missal has a chapter about the arrangement and ornamentation of churches for the celebration of the Eucharist.

It begins by spelling out clearly the sacred nature and symbolic significance of the altar:

• The altar is the table of the Lord to which the People of God is called together to participate in the Mass and the centre of the thanksgiving that is accomplished in the Eucharist. (296)

• The altar signifies Christ Jesus, the Living Stone. (298)
Therefore:

• Moderation should be observed in the decoration of the altar. Floral decorations should always be done with moderation and placed around the altar rather than on the altar table. (305)

• Only what is required for the celebration may be placed on the altar table. (306)

• Candles are to be appropriately placed either on or around the altar in a way suited to the design of the altar and the sanctuary and so as not to interfere with the faithful’s clear view of what takes place at the altar or what is placed on it. (307)

Floral arrangements, nativity scenes, flags, books and papers often clutter the altar area and distract from the ritual actions that occur there.

Heavily coloured or decorated altar cloths, especially when draped to the floor, can detract from the dignity of the altar. Even candles are best placed beside the altar rather than on it.

The altar should be used only for the Liturgy of the Eucharist and never for preaching or making announcements.

Related Stories

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Readers and cantors show respect for the altar as the table of the Lord and a symbol of Christ by pausing and making a profound bow towards the altar when approaching the ambo.

Either on the altar or near it, there is to be a cross, with upon it the figure of Christ crucified, which is clearly visible to the assembled people.

It is desirable that such a cross should remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations, so as to call to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord. (308)

The Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass explains that at Mass we are fed from two tables: “The Church is nourished spiritually at the table of God’s word and at the table of the Eucharist: from the one it grows in wisdom and from the other in holiness.” (10)

So what is said about respecting the altar applies also to the ambo, the table of the word:

“The dignity of the word of God requires that in the church there be a suitable place from which it may be proclaimed and toward which the attention of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.

“From the ambo only the readings, the Responsorial Psalm, and the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) are to be proclaimed; likewise it may be used for giving the homily and for announcing the intentions of the Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful). The dignity of the ambo requires that only a minister of the word should stand at it.”

As central liturgical symbols, the altar and ambo need to be noble and worthy pieces of art in their own right.

Elizabeth Harrington is the education officer with Liturgy Brisbane.

 

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Pope tells youth to play for Christ

Next Post

Prayers of our Lady of Fatima

Staff writers

Related Posts

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

27 May 2022
Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria
World

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Next Post

Prayers of our Lady of Fatima

Rebecca St. James – Yes, I believe in God

Visual feast brings classic to life

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Brothers’ community mourn the passing of Brother Tony White

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Abdallah family launch forgiveness campaign one year on from crash that killed four children

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping