22 May 2011

Modern Roman Rite Patrimony?

A photo of deacons ordained by the Bishop of Portsmouth, England, recently from the Ordinariate Portal website. More photos here. The Pimpernel wonders what the ordinands and their fellow-travellers thought of the altar-table? Perhaps they would be best avoiding Modern Roman Rite patrimony in their liturgy. 

An altar?

7 comments:

  1. The inadequacies of the liturgical arrangement are made up for by the warmth of welcome and the assurance of sacramental validity for these chaps - I think it's a case of grin and bear it until they get their own places; at least I hope so...

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  2. What is it? A front hall table for very questionable decorating? A french Probincial tea table? Really, what is it?

    I have never seen anything so unsplendid, so dimminutive, so cramped passing itself off as an altar. I will not even comment on the color scheme. Is this a Cathedral? Mike Forbes+

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  3. I've seen some circular altars much larger and
    perfect for saying mass. This table looks more
    like an end table designed to hold a lamp and an ashtray.

    Why so small and so insignificant and for a concelebrated mass at that? Is this another indication that "the smoke of Satan" is still working in the Church?

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  4. Like numerous 'good ideas' (the font in Salisbury Cathedral being another example), it's a nice thing but in the wrong place serving the wrong purpose (i.e. a church as an altar). The reordering at Portsmouth is pretty good, actually - keeping the Pugin-style colours and shapes. It could have been a lot worse. This is, perhaps, the worst of it.

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  5. The Bishop appears to not being wearing an amice, as his roman collar is visible?

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  6. St John Looks happier then the Bishope does!

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  7. A canopy would be great :)
    Jokes aside - altar-table is historic proto-form of christian altar. The thing is it wasn't circular but square in form, and it was covered to the floor. It either had 4 or 5 legs (4 in corners and one in center - like the present orthodox) or one (in center - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/2537489397/sizes/o/in/set-72157612694892485/ ).

    But yeah, this is a disgrace...

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