Next door to the Campo Verano is the paleo-Christian basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura. This was an important stopping place on our pilgrimage because the crypt houses the body of Blessed Pope Pius IX. His memory seems to become more important by the day as democratic governments trample on basic human dignity. Only yesterday the British parliament voted to extend the lethal abuse of the most vulnerable members of our society. (See John Smeaton's report)I cannot resist pointing out again the way in which this basilica gives the lie to much of what passes for the justification of "modern liturgy". We are told that in the early Church, the proclamation of the word was terribly important, as was the Paschal candle. Hence the lectern for the word of God:
And hence the paschal candle:
Yet the actual ambo and paschal candle stand from an earlier Christian era, which we are supposed to be beholden to, are unused:
There are several Churches in Rome which replicate this unanswerable demonstration of the poverty of the modern liturgy.
10 comments:
...poverty of the modern liturgy.
Thank you, Father, for saying what many have been thinking but have not dared to say out loud.
This seems more a point about church architecture than about the liturgy as such. The architecture speaks for itself, but I'm saddened by the reference to the "... poverty of the modern liturgy" with the implication that even in its authentic modern form, it has no value or merit with respect to the traditional form.
There is a replica of the pascal candle stick in the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Sepulcher here in Washington, DC. It was donated by the architect, the Ven. Servant of God Aristide Leonori. It goes unused as well, but only because the sacristan can't figure out how to place the candle in the candlestick.
Verity - the modern liturgy makes great play on the importance of the word and of the paschal mystery. Yet in Rome where magnificent examples of ambos and paschal candlesticks abound, the preference is to use cheap and minimalist substitutes. This says a lot about the modern liturgy as it is commonly celebrated.
'This seems more a point about church architecture than about the liturgy as such.'
Surely architecture is part of the liturgy?
Where is the ambo situated with respect to the ciborium magnum and the nave? I can't quite tell from the photographs.
It's a dead straight line from Pio Nono's I am Tradition! to the Missal of Paul VI. Pius IX is the "patron saint" of the Novus Ordo.
the ambo I photo'd is on the epistle side. There is another on the gospel side.
Moretben - Pio Nono to the NO? Hmmm.
Thank you Father for the clarification, and in that context I would agree with Paul.
I'd say Pius XII is the "patron saint" of the Novus Ordo.
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