Where do we Celebrate? Liturgical Space

Where do we celebrate?‍

Therefore, churches or other places should be suitable for carrying out the sacred action and for ensuring the active participation of the faithful. Moreover, sacred buildings and requisites for divine worship should be truly worthy and beautiful and be signs and symbols of heavenly realities (GIRM 288).

The liturgy demands a worthy and functional space for sacramental action: a place for people to gather which conveys the image of the gathered assembly as the body of Christ and which is geared to participation. The design needs to be able to cope with the many aspects of the rites. Some features of the space are more important than others.

The use of electronic media needs to be treated with caution in liturgical celebration. Projection of words or pictures should never detract from the main focus of the action.

The following are the main components of this space for public worship:

Altar 

The altar on which the sacrifice of the cross is made present under sacramental signs is also the table of the Lord at which the people of God are called together to participate in the Mass.

The altar represents Christ, the living stone, and is reserved for the actual celebration of Eucharist. It is preferably fixed in place so that it more truly represents Christ. Only those objects used in the Liturgy of the Eucharist are to be placed on it: white cloth, crucifix, containers for bread and wine, the sacramentary, and a discreet microphone. Candles may be put on it or nearby. It has been customary to place relics of martyrs in a stone beneath the altar because the 'sacrifice of its members has its source in the sacrifice of the Head' (Dedication of a Church and an altar Ch 4.5).

Ambo

 The dignity of the word of God requires that in the church there be a suitable place from which it may be and toward which the attention of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word (GIRM 309).

The ambo is the name, originally taken from Greek, for the lectern, from which the Scriptures are proclaimed. It has the meaning of an elevated place. Since Christ is truly present when the Scriptures are proclaimed in the assembly, the ambo is used solely for the readings from scripture including the Responsorial Psalm, the Homily, announcing the General Intercessions, and the singing of the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil. GIRM 28 speaks of it as the table of the word from which the assembly is nourished and instructed by the word. Due to the dignity of its use the ambo should not be a hanger for posters and advertisements, or the place for announcements.

Chair 

 The chair of the priest celebrant must signify his function of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer (GIRM 310).

The chair is the seat reserved for the ordained minister. It is placed so that it is evident that it is for the one who presides in the place of Christ to teach, sanctify and shepherd the faithful (BB 1162). If non-ordained persons are leading liturgical prayer they never sit in the place reserved for the ordained. The cathedra, from which the word cathedral comes, is the chair reserved for the bishop in the cathedral. The bishop of Rome, the pope, is said to sit in the chair of Peter.

Places for the assembly

Places for the faithful should be arranged with appropriate care so that they are able to participate in the sacred celebrations, duly following them with their eyes  and their attention. (GIRM 311).

The whole design of the worship area should convey the image of the community made of living stones, members of the Body of Christ, working together as called for by the very nature of liturgy. Furnishings need to be worthy of their function and enable prayerful participation.

Places for ministers, such as those who serve at the altar, need to be established in such a way as to distinguish them from the presider. Those who lead the assembly in music and song require a designated position. This needs to show their function as ministers in the assembly, never performers for entertainment. Leaders of song must be visible since their role is to gesture so that the people know when they are to sing. Cantors may sing the responsorial psalm from the ambo, or other appropriate place. Microphones, if required, need to be of good quality to ensure audibility.

Baptistry

 The Baptistry or site of the Baptismal Font is rightly considered to be one of the most important parts of a Church. For it is the place of celebrating Baptism.

… Because Baptism is the beginning of the entire Christian life, every cathedral and parish Church ought to have its own baptistry or a special place where the Baptismal font flows. … everything must be arranged in such a way as to bring out the connection of Baptism with the word of God and with the Eucharist, the high point of Christian initiation (BB 1080, 1081, 1083).

The Paschal Candle stands in this space where Baptism takes place because of its relationship to initiation at the Easter Vigil. It is also the appropriate area in which to locate the ambry: the place for reservation and display of the oil of catechumens, oil of the sick and oil of chrism.

Penance

 The practice of reserving a special place in Churches for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance is a clear expression of the truth that sacramental Confession and absolution constitute a liturgical action which involves the entire body of the Church and is intended to renew the participation of the faithful in the Church's offering of the sacrifice of Christ (BB 1203)

The celebration of Eucharist is the hub of all liturgy so the place set aside for Reconciliation needs to show the innate connection between the waters of initiation, the tears of repentance (RP2) and the Eucharist.

Tabernacle

The tabernacle for Eucharistic reservation is a reminder of Christ's presence that comes about in the sacrifice of the Mass. But it is also a reminder of the brothers and sisters we must cherish in charity, since it was in fulfilment of the sacramental ministry received from Christ that the Church first began to reserve the Eucharist for the sake of the sick and dying (BB 1192).

The main purpose for reservation of the blessed sacrament has always been for Communion of the sick and dying. The practice of reserving the Blessed Sacrament for prayer outside the times for liturgy was a later development. The tabernacle may be placed in a chapel suitable for personal prayer or in the main area of the Church. It should be a visible sign of the presence of the real and continuing presence of Christ indicated by a red light burning nearby.

 All artists who, prompted by their talents, desire to serve God’s glory in holy Church, should ever bear in mind that they are engaged in a kind of sacred imitation of God the Creator and are concerned with works intended to be used in Catholic worship, to uplift the faithful, and to foster their own devotion and religious formation (SC 127).

The entire worship space needs to have an artistic quality so that it calls the faithful into the sacred action. Sacred images are to lead the faithful to a deeper appreciation of the paschal mystery in their own lives. Any installation of art or banners must never distract from the central liturgical action but lead the heart of the community into a stronger relationship with God.

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