The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, October, 1864
History
The Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1, October, 1864
Catholic Church -- Ireland -- Periodicals; Catholic Church -- Periodicals
1. It is usual in certain churches not only to leave the altar-charts
permanently on the altar, but also to place them on it as an ornament
during vespers and other functions, and even to furnish with them
altars at which Mass is not said. Now, it is quite certain that
whatever specially belongs to the Mass should not be on the altar
except during the Holy Sacrifice. The Rubric of the Missal prescribes
that the altar-charts should be prepared before Mass, and does not
suppose that they remain permanently on the altar. Except at Mass
time, and even during the celebration of the divine office, the altar
ought to remain covered. In the _Caeremoniale Episcop._, l. 2, c.
1, n. 13, we read that the acolytes should uncover the altar before
the incensation at the _Magnificat_. "Interim duo acolyti procedunt
ad altare, elevantes hinc inde anteriorem partem superioris tobalae,
seu veli super altare positi, illamque conduplicant usque ad medium".
Nothing is more opposed to the spirit of liturgical rules than objects
for which there is no use. Altar-charts are not a decoration, but are
made to serve a purpose; therefore they should be displayed when they
are wanted. Care should also be taken that they be legible, and not, as
sometimes happens, rather pictures than anything else.
2. The Rubric of the _Caeremon. Episcop._ is clear on this point: "Mox
surgit, et capite coöperto incipit sermonem."--(l. 1, c. 22, n. 3).
According to the Rubric of the Missal, the preacher uncovers his head
as often as he pronounces the holy names of Jesus and Mary, or of the
saint whose feast is being celebrated. In order not to do this too
often, he should avoid a too frequent mention of their names. "Si SS.
nominum Jesu uel Mariæ fiat mentio", says Lohner (_Instr. Pract._, t.
1., p. 50), "caput discoöperire debet (concionator); si tamen saepe
sint repetenda, utatur potius nomine Christi, Redemptoris, Dominæ
nostrae, C[oe]li Reginæ, aut similibus".
We may remark, however, that this regulation of the Rubric is an
exception to the general rule. The general rule is, that ecclesiastics
in church or choir are never covered except when seated, unless those
who, _paramentis induti_, move from place to place without passing
before the clergy. A priest who goes from the sacristy to the choir, or
to any other part of the church, if he do not wear at least the stole,
should not wear his beretta. Much less should he wear the beretta if he
be not in choir habit.
3. No author speaks of this usage. There appears, therefore, no reason
why it should be introduced. We would not venture to say that it ought
to be suppressed. However, it appears more becoming to reserve for Mass
the use of the small bell, and to ring during Benediction the large
bells of the church, as is the custom in Rome.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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