The Liturgical Altar
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- Geoffrey Webb
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ROMANITAS PRESS Romanitas Press Kansas City, Missouri www.romanitaspress.com [email protected] First reprinting 2010 Revised reprinting 2014 Cover image High Altar, Westminster, London Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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REPRINT PREFACE It is a pleasure to republish this indispensable book, too long out of print, in order to further the understanding—and thereby hopefully the implementation—of the Church’s symbolism, prescriptions, traditions and liturgical spirit in regards to the correct building, vesting and decorating of the center of Catholic life: the altar. This book is also valuable in presenting ideas for how to erect a decorous altar that fulfills all of the Church’s liturgical laws, while not exhausting the parish coffers. Accordingly, the tongue-incheek subtitle of this book could easily be: How to Attain a Proper Altar, Cheaply. A brief word is in order to explain why Mr. Geoffrey Webb gives credence to a misconception in his account about the historical development of the altar: that in ancient times, it was orientated so Mass was celebrated facing the people. This idea innocently originated from some liturgical archeologists based upon what seemed to be historical proofs (e.g., the orientation of certain ancient Roman basilicas). Thus during the 20th century, it became readily accepted that ancient altars were often situated so the priest was orientated towards the congregation. More recent research though has revealed some previously unknown crucial points of context (e.g., the rubric for the deacon to announce that the
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congregation should turn from the altar and face East during the most important prayers), which prove that “Mass facing the people” is a historical fallacy. Unfortunately during the post-conciliar liturgical crisis of the Novus Ordo Missae, the liberals implemented the re-orientation of altars to enable “Mass facing the people” and thereby promote an ecumenical and humanistic agenda. A comprehensive treatment of this subject can be found in The Reform of the Roman Liturgy: Its Problems and Background (Una Voce Press, 1993) by Msgr. Klaus Gamber, in chapter XIV, “The Altar Facing the People,” pp 137-179. It should be noted that this “reform of the reform” critique of the New Mass contains a streak of anti-romanitas. Still, Msgr. Gamber has many orthodox opinions and his work is worth reading. Another recommended reference is The Barbarians Have Taken Over (Vandalism in the Sanctuary) by Mr. Michael Davies (Angelus Press, 1985), pp 15-26. Hopefully, with the aid of this book, The Liturgical Altar, the liturgical crisis will not only be ameliorated, but a fortiori brought to a successful restoration of the Roman Mass, appropriately called the “Mass of All Time.”
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LOUIS J. TOFARI
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