I visited home for Thanksgiving and ran across the copyright 1974 children’s hand missal I was given when I received my first Holy Communion in 1976. I hadn’t seen it in years, and after all the talk about the “Benedictine” altar arrangements, I saw the missal’s photos in a new light. Here’s something of an “in between” stage in the development of altar arrangements. Tall floor candlesticks stand on the sides of the altar. The altar cross, supported by a stand on the floor, remains in front facing the priest-celebrant. The one extra candle on the altar in front of the cross is a bit perplexing. The only thing I can think of is that it is the seventh candle intended for pontifical masses. Any ideas out there?
Interesting to note also is that this is a pretty nice church, despite its obvious Modernist simplicity. The hanging crown-shaped tester over the altar is custom-designed with carved angels all around it. The round skylight above shines right through the tester, suggesting an opening from the heavenly realm derived from the baroque. Even the little can lights in the ceiling are arranged in a circular pattern around the tester. There is a natural focus on the altar rather than the congregation, and the screen behind has low relief carved plaques with images of angels in adoration.
My guess is that the choir was located behind the screen and its curtain, something which was pretty common in the better churches of the 1960s. The idea was to reconnect with the placement of the choir near the altar found in some early Christian basilicas. The walls of the church are covered in large sheets of marble on the lower level. The altar rail is present even as it becomes the least possible barrier. Even the priest’s obviously modern vestments are pretty darn well-made. The servers are vested properly.
What we see here is good liturgical modern… one might say it shows a hermeneutic of reform rather than discontinuity. The liturgy and the church are seen here as important and sacral. Even though modern, the church building has not been redefined as a meeting house. This is an important distinction. Though its symbolism is minimal, the fundamental understanding is still intact. This is a whole different animal from the “skin for liturgical action” that was promoted in the late 70s through the 90s. I think as time goes on we will have to become more discerning about “modern” and “traditional” and realize that a church building either brings due honor and dignity to the rites or it does not. I think this one does.
At least until the folk choir showed up:
December 8, 2008 at 12:55 am
THE BLAIR CHOIR PROJECT!
— Mack
December 8, 2008 at 2:33 am
It would be great if someone would recognise this church and tell us where it is. I wonder what it looks like now. Even more, I wonder where those kids are now in their faith…
Jacqueline Y.
December 8, 2008 at 2:54 am
They really are cute kids, and I hope they are good and true despite the poor mentoring of the time.
— Mack
December 8, 2008 at 3:44 am
The candle in the altar was a Sanctus candle, lit during the “Sanctus” to honor the Trnasubstantiation soon to happen, thus, our Lord’s presence.
December 8, 2008 at 3:44 am
I mean, Transubstantiation. . .
December 8, 2008 at 10:14 pm
This was the missal given to my first communion class (May 1975), and I still have a copy. I remain pleasantly surprised at its orthodoxy and pleasantly amused by the fashions the children are wearing. Thanks for bringing back some happy memories.
December 8, 2008 at 11:28 pm
The Protestantization of the Church is easier to see when viewed in process.
December 9, 2008 at 7:21 pm
My wife has a similar little handmissal from her First Holy Communion in 1981. Totally modernistic sanctuary, but with altar cross and two candles on the altar and a young lady helping to bring up the oblations wearing a Catholic school uniform and a chapel cap with a ribbon. Weird.
My daughter made her First Holy Communion last year and got a little handmissal as part of what might be called a “First Holy Communion gift kit” from the parish’s Knights of Columbus. The first half of the book has the ordinary of the Mass (the Novus ordo) along with some drawings of the modern Mass (IIRC, altar girls are not present however), while the latter half has traditional pictures and describes the Sacrament of Penance and various devotions.
December 10, 2008 at 12:56 am
FYI: The photos are in the “Marian Children’s Mass Book” by Sister Mary Theola ssnd. Published by Regina Press. Imprimatur: August 30, 1965. New Printing-1966.
December 10, 2008 at 2:08 am
The missal from my first communion had the same pictures, and that was back in 1994.
December 10, 2008 at 3:39 pm
As Anonymous said, these pics were taken in the mid 1960’s. If you look carefully, the priest is wearing a maniple.
December 11, 2008 at 8:44 pm
With altar cards too….