I am delighted when parishioners want to give God presents, or even give me presents for God, well here is the latest gift, a set of Altar Cards.Just to encourage anyone who might like to give their parish priest something nice, you might like to look here.
I must pray that God sends us someone who can iron altar cloths.
9 comments:
Wow! Does this mean what I think it means or am I 'jumping the gun?'
Very beautiful.
Pelerin,
I wouldn't call it "jumping the gun."
I would rather call it "joyful anticipation."
I hope this spurs you to brush up your Latin and learn the extraordinary form!
Why can't they just print the words in the missal then we wouldn't need picture frames leaning up against the big six and tabernacle or hiding half the crucifix. The abolition of all this altar cards nonsense was very sensible, I just don't understand it. It looks like clutter; like a menu, wine list and dessert list on the altar to me. As a child from the 60's who never saw this done, I find it all beyond noble simplicity. Why aren't the words in the missal? Surely the eucharistic prayers etc aren't secret any more so there's no need to restrict widespread printing or knowledge of them. Was this part of the original thinking behind their development?
Maybe some company will allow english versions of the altar cards when the EF is permitted in the venacular?
Big Benny,
Have a look in the Missal of John XIII or earlier, the words are indeed in there. The cards are to aid memory.
You are right if they are not in themselve attractive they are an ignoble complexity.
The altar cards are an aid to the priest when he moves from side to side, for various functions in the Holy Mass. To expect the priest to memorize every single prayer on those altar cards is ridiculous and hence why they are there.
And yes, the prayers on the cards are already in the missal. I suppose it helps if they are right in front of the priest, rather than having to to tilt his head all the time to look at the missal.
What a beautiful set of altar cards. Congratulations. They are exceptional.
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