"Whether it was a feast day or not, we always had nice flowers on the altar. I have a peculiar quirk about high altars. I dislike seeing one without flowers. In Rome, where flowers are so beautiful and so inexpensive, I made sure our altar was always properly adorned."
-Fr. James Cunningham (former pastor of Santa Susanna's).
On the table altars, why are there always one flower arrangement off to the right? CJA
ReplyDeleteFor the record, flowers should never been on the altar mensa itself; indeed, in the GIRM they are forbidden explicitly. Flowers surrounding the altar or placed upon the gradines of a liturgically oriented altar are very suitable and pleasing (outside of penitential seasons, of course). To be true to the economy and practicality of the Roman rite, no gratuitous objects should ever be placed on the altar, but only what's liturgically necessary. What's there of course should be clean, orderly, noble, and beautiful. But it must have a purpose beyond mere decoration.
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