I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified
-- St. Paul, I Corinthians 2:2
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
New Priest from Russia: Ordination & First Mass
And here are photos from Father Cordonnier's first Mass (thanks to parishioner Nicole Voisard for these). Why, yes, as a matter of fact, Father is offering Holy Mass ad orientem.
Beautiful Church ! Who are the four saints directly above the altar? Ignatius, Therese, Mary Magdelene, and??? - (I'm guessing the Saxon king, St Edmund)
Yes, our venerable former pastor, Father Amberger, was present; you can make him out in the third picture, on the left, facing the camera, holding his biretta.
As far as the altar...I know you mean well, but the term "Cranmer table" is a little irksome. That is a holy altar on which the true sacrifice takes place. I am all for ad orientem, but I'm not for denigrating a consecrated altar.
Father Cordonnier was assigned at Our Lady of Lourdes in Cincinnati, which is where he's been since May as a deacon.
I apologize for the Cranmer remark, Yes it is an altar, however when it becomes an obstacle in the sanctuary it shows up badly, like it was put there as a road block to the sacrifice of the mass and worship of the Blessed Sacrament. I have seen too many priests use it as a stage not an altar. Yes I am jaded. I was surprised to find out that our "substantial" Front Altar at St Johns is on wheels and rolls quite easily I'll bet Fr Amberger was a happy man and has every reason to be a little proud, he did wonders there in his term (not to denigrate you in any way of course) I figured he would go south, I was told many years ago that putting a young priest up here in the northern wasteland is a waste of talent, I pray that changes,we seem to be the last stop for the Precious blood before retirement, the chances of ever getting a TLM up here is non existent
Here's the thing about altars in particular and sacred items in the church in general:
While it is permissible to have a temporary, i.e., a moveable altar, the strong preference is that altars be permanent, i.e., immoveable. I would argue the very same thing regarding all the fixtures in the sanctuary and the church that are prominent in the liturgy and sacraments, such as the pulpit, the celebrant's chair, the baptismal font, the ambry (i.e., where the sacred oils are kept), among other items that might be mentioned.
In one prior parish, we had a baptismal font on wheels. Can you think of a reason this is bad symbolism? And in our Catholic -- i.e., sacramental -- Faith, everything is "symbolic" in the best sense: that is to say, there is some deeper reality being communicated.
Ideally, where Holy Mass is celebrated both "versus populum" (toward the people) and "ad orientem" (toward liturgical East -- i.e., toward the Lord), the same altar would be used, on one side or the other.
However, in our church, the altar stone is located on the "versus populum" side of the main altar, making ad orientem a little awkward on that altar; meanwhile, there is an altar stone in the "high altar" as well. As is so often the case in parishes, you do make some adjustments and adaptations based on what you have to work with.
Oh, about Father A. -- well, if you know him, you know he always directs the honor to God. But the people in this parish have clearly told me how grateful they were to him for all he did here. I'm grateful to inherit his great work.
Father, Love your sense of humor. Ironically, Father Morrissey, an Episcopal priest who comments on Jonathan Turley's blog said just today he knows many clergy who carry guns. He does. He is former military. I proposed a reality show, Pistol Packin' Padres.
14 comments:
Beautiful Church ! Who are the four saints directly above the altar? Ignatius, Therese, Mary Magdelene, and??? - (I'm guessing the Saxon king, St Edmund)
Your Berretta? Priests pack heat? Just kidding.
That brought tears to my eyes.
was Fr Amberger in attendance? congrats and the video is wonderful,
was his first mass in latin or the novis ordo.
btw a project for you, put wheels on the cramner table for such occasions. but all the same the church looked beautiful like a Catholic church should
any idea of his first assignment, probably not anywhere up north I'm sure
Egyptian:
Yes, our venerable former pastor, Father Amberger, was present; you can make him out in the third picture, on the left, facing the camera, holding his biretta.
As far as the altar...I know you mean well, but the term "Cranmer table" is a little irksome. That is a holy altar on which the true sacrifice takes place. I am all for ad orientem, but I'm not for denigrating a consecrated altar.
Father Cordonnier was assigned at Our Lady of Lourdes in Cincinnati, which is where he's been since May as a deacon.
Beautiful! I felt tears coming to my eyes watching the video. :)
I apologize for the Cranmer remark, Yes it is an altar, however when it becomes an obstacle in the sanctuary it shows up badly, like it was put there as a road block to the sacrifice of the mass and worship of the Blessed Sacrament. I have seen too many priests use it as a stage not an altar. Yes I am jaded.
I was surprised to find out that our "substantial" Front Altar at St Johns is on wheels and rolls quite easily
I'll bet Fr Amberger was a happy man and has every reason to be a little proud, he did wonders there in his term (not to denigrate you in any way of course)
I figured he would go south, I was told many years ago that putting a young priest up here in the northern wasteland is a waste of talent, I pray that changes,we seem to be the last stop for the Precious blood before retirement, the chances of ever getting a TLM up here is non existent
Again my apologizes
Egyptian:
No problem.
Here's the thing about altars in particular and sacred items in the church in general:
While it is permissible to have a temporary, i.e., a moveable altar, the strong preference is that altars be permanent, i.e., immoveable. I would argue the very same thing regarding all the fixtures in the sanctuary and the church that are prominent in the liturgy and sacraments, such as the pulpit, the celebrant's chair, the baptismal font, the ambry (i.e., where the sacred oils are kept), among other items that might be mentioned.
In one prior parish, we had a baptismal font on wheels. Can you think of a reason this is bad symbolism? And in our Catholic -- i.e., sacramental -- Faith, everything is "symbolic" in the best sense: that is to say, there is some deeper reality being communicated.
Ideally, where Holy Mass is celebrated both "versus populum" (toward the people) and "ad orientem" (toward liturgical East -- i.e., toward the Lord), the same altar would be used, on one side or the other.
However, in our church, the altar stone is located on the "versus populum" side of the main altar, making ad orientem a little awkward on that altar; meanwhile, there is an altar stone in the "high altar" as well. As is so often the case in parishes, you do make some adjustments and adaptations based on what you have to work with.
Oh, about Father A. -- well, if you know him, you know he always directs the honor to God. But the people in this parish have clearly told me how grateful they were to him for all he did here. I'm grateful to inherit his great work.
Tubbs:
Forgive me for not answering sooner.
The saints, from left to right, are:
Ignatius of Loyola, Therese the Little Flower, Mary Magdalene, and...(drum roll)...
Isidore the Farmer.
NDS:
When a cleric wears a biretta at Holy Mass, he takes it off his head at various times during the liturgy.
But when a cleric wears a beretta during Holy Mass, he keeps it holstered at all times, except where it's use is regrettably demanded.
Egyptian:
Oh, I forgot to answer one of your questions. Father C.'s first Mass was the Ordinary Form, in English. I think some of the music was Latin, however.
Stunningly beautiful! I feel so blessed for you!
Father, Love your sense of humor. Ironically, Father Morrissey, an Episcopal priest who comments on Jonathan Turley's blog said just today he knows many clergy who carry guns. He does. He is former military. I proposed a reality show, Pistol Packin' Padres.
This is beautiful. I hope that some day soon more and more parishes will experience Mass ad orientem in the Ordinary Form.
This posting gives me hope. Thank you for doing this, Father.
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