Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Cochabamba Cathedral. Cochabamba, Bolivia
Considering art and architecture, why don't we feast our eyes on the Cathedral in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Time before Lent.
Lent is a time of renewal, a time to prepare ourselves to remember the gift of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. This of course means that time is slowly burning away to prepare liturgically for Lent.
The Extraordinary Form affords us a wonderful opportunity to remind us Lent is around the corner. Septuagesma, the roughly three weeks before Ash Wednesday, helps us to get into the motion of Lent. The Gloria disappears, not to be heard until Holy Thursday, and the Alleluia leaves us until the Great Vigil of Easter.
The Ordinary Form however, does not afford us the weekly reminders. However we should keep in front of us the fact that Ash Wednesday is about three weeks away, we should take some example from the Extraordinary Form and begin to enter into the spirituality of Lent.
With either Form, there is planning to do. Music needs to be finalized (ideally into the Easter Season), Art and Environment should be planned, choirs need preparation, and those who excercise leadership in the communal worship of the church should begin to ease their congregations into Lent.
If you're seeking assistance with planning, I am avaliable for consultation and advising.
The Extraordinary Form affords us a wonderful opportunity to remind us Lent is around the corner. Septuagesma, the roughly three weeks before Ash Wednesday, helps us to get into the motion of Lent. The Gloria disappears, not to be heard until Holy Thursday, and the Alleluia leaves us until the Great Vigil of Easter.
The Ordinary Form however, does not afford us the weekly reminders. However we should keep in front of us the fact that Ash Wednesday is about three weeks away, we should take some example from the Extraordinary Form and begin to enter into the spirituality of Lent.
With either Form, there is planning to do. Music needs to be finalized (ideally into the Easter Season), Art and Environment should be planned, choirs need preparation, and those who excercise leadership in the communal worship of the church should begin to ease their congregations into Lent.
If you're seeking assistance with planning, I am avaliable for consultation and advising.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Improving a sactuary.
Today, I would like to think about how to improve a sanctuary. First though, we must ask what is sanctuary defined as?
To define a sanctuary,let us think about the elements of a sanctuary first. We have, an altar, a pulpit, a tabernacle, a set of chairs, a sanctuary lamp, a credence table, a communion rail (in some places), an altar cross, candlesticks. This is the most basic list of things you would find in a sanctuary. Because of what takes place in the sanctuary, it is usually elevated with steps, and visibly set apart from the rest of the building.
Now, how do we improve upon this? One way is to add sacred imagery, if your denomination allows for that. Another way is to improve upon what you already have, perhaps by refurbishing candlesticks, or polychroming a wood crucifix. Maybe to highlight the altar we could add an oriental rug. Of course, lighting could be added, or redirected. Another potential might be the addition of a hanging tester or canopy, and if you have an altar which is ad orientem, the addition of a damask fabric can be employed to highlight the sacred space, focusing attention on the altar itself.
Included in this schema, would be to move around liturgical elements to highlight some things while reducing our focus on others, perhaps moving chairs off to the side, placing the tabernacle in the center of the sanctuary, and lastly working with the space available, creating better spaces for movement in the sanctuary.
Some thoughts to consider. Is your congregation considering a renovation? I am available for consultation. Please contact via e-mail
To define a sanctuary,let us think about the elements of a sanctuary first. We have, an altar, a pulpit, a tabernacle, a set of chairs, a sanctuary lamp, a credence table, a communion rail (in some places), an altar cross, candlesticks. This is the most basic list of things you would find in a sanctuary. Because of what takes place in the sanctuary, it is usually elevated with steps, and visibly set apart from the rest of the building.
Now, how do we improve upon this? One way is to add sacred imagery, if your denomination allows for that. Another way is to improve upon what you already have, perhaps by refurbishing candlesticks, or polychroming a wood crucifix. Maybe to highlight the altar we could add an oriental rug. Of course, lighting could be added, or redirected. Another potential might be the addition of a hanging tester or canopy, and if you have an altar which is ad orientem, the addition of a damask fabric can be employed to highlight the sacred space, focusing attention on the altar itself.
Included in this schema, would be to move around liturgical elements to highlight some things while reducing our focus on others, perhaps moving chairs off to the side, placing the tabernacle in the center of the sanctuary, and lastly working with the space available, creating better spaces for movement in the sanctuary.
Some thoughts to consider. Is your congregation considering a renovation? I am available for consultation. Please contact via e-mail
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A forthcoming New Liturgical Movement
Not to distant from now, Benedict XVI will issue a Moto Proprio, reconstructing the Congregation for Divine Worship. With this will include a road map for a New Liturgical Movement. We should be grateful to the Holy Father for guiding the Catholic Church with a loving hand. We also should give thanks to God in a fitting way for this opportunity to implement the liturgical reforms on Vatican II in a more fitting manner.
Parishes who struggle with implementing these reforms should not be afraid to contact someone learned in liturgical matters to assist them with implementation. I think it would be wise for parishes to hold a short series of talks about the Sacred Liturgy. They should consult with individuals about their particular artistic needs when retrofitting a building. Parishes should seek counsel from an outside individual when music is involved of changed.
In short, we may not know the full extent of these forthcoming reforms. However we should look at this as an opportunity for renewal of the Church's spiritual and liturgical life. Giving thanks to Almighty God for His goodness and bountiful blessings.
Parishes seeking outside help with implementing the Revised Roman Missal should feel free to contact me for an initial consultation.
Parishes who struggle with implementing these reforms should not be afraid to contact someone learned in liturgical matters to assist them with implementation. I think it would be wise for parishes to hold a short series of talks about the Sacred Liturgy. They should consult with individuals about their particular artistic needs when retrofitting a building. Parishes should seek counsel from an outside individual when music is involved of changed.
In short, we may not know the full extent of these forthcoming reforms. However we should look at this as an opportunity for renewal of the Church's spiritual and liturgical life. Giving thanks to Almighty God for His goodness and bountiful blessings.
Parishes seeking outside help with implementing the Revised Roman Missal should feel free to contact me for an initial consultation.
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