Extraordinary Questions #2: Symbolism in the movement of the Missal

The following was posted on St. Stan's Facebook page.  Please share and like if you may from the Facebook account which you can see below:

What is the symbolism of the missal being moved from the left side of the altar to the right side?

Again I would like to thank you all for the questions, and if you have more please feel free to message us or leave a comment below.

During the mass of the catechumen’s you will notice that  after the gradual or the tract is read the altar server will approach the altar, take the missal from the right side and reverently make his way over to the left side of the altar to place it down.

There is much to be said about this discipline, but I wish to focus on just one aspect of it for now. So let us begin with the symbolism that is present in the action.  In his work, The Holy Eucharist, St. Alphonsus de Liguori relates the following:

“The priest leaving the right side of the altar, which represents the Jewish people, passes to the left side, which represents the Gentiles, who accepted the Gospel that was rejected by the Jews.”

Hence, it is often said that the right end of the altar is the Epistle Side (ie: readings from the scriptures outside of the four Gospel writers).  

Fr. Michael Müller CSSR also gives a more detailed treatment of this action saying:

“The server next carries the Missal to the other side of the altar for the reading of the Gospel, at the left, to signify how Our Lord was led about from one iniquitous judge to another. The carrying of the book from the right to the left signifies that when the Jews had rejected the Gospel it passed over to the Gentiles, who received it with joy.” (The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)

After the communion rite has concluded the altar server will again remove the Missal and place it back on the right end of the altar.  This too has wonderful symbolism in that just as the Jews had rejected their messiah and thus the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles, in the end days St. Paul tells us that there will be a great apostasy (particularly among the gentiles) and the Jews would at this time be converted to the true faith once again.

For those accustomed to the ordinary form, this action rarely accompanies the lectionary, but there is nothing stopping its continuance in the ordinary form.  For instance it should be noted that on October 16^th, 2012 the mass celebrated by then Pope Benedict included the lectionary being offered in this manner. (a link to this can be supplied upon request)

+JMJ+

Post by St. Stanislaus Catholic Church (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

New Series for St. Stans Facebook page

Greetings!

So recently I was given a little bit of influencing power over the St. Stans Facebook page...

Not that much but now I am activly involved with the content being shared.

Either sometime later today or tomorrow morning St. Stans Facebook will feature a new series of posts entitled "Extraordinary Questions".  The purpose of these posts will be to explore real honest questions put forth by people within and without Our Holy Mother touching mostly on topics related to the traditional teachings and practices.  Below you will find the unedited (soon to be for the actual posting) first post.  I hope you enjoy and I will likely post them all here as time goes on too.

Why is the Eucharistic prayer of consecration silent to those in the nave?

I would first like to thank you all for sending in the questions for our “Extraordinary Questions” posts.

Our first question is related to the prayer of consecration over the host and the chalice.  Specifically it was asked why can’t people not in the sanctuary hear what is being said like how it is done in the Ordinary Form?

This is a fantastic question and there is much to be said on the matter.  It should first be noted that the prayer is not said to us as if it was a prayer of intercession seeking our help in return.  Instead, the prayer is specifically said with its direction being made toward the host.  When the priest says “This is My Body” he is speaking to the host and the substance (the breadness, for lack of a better term) is transformed into the literal body of Christ, while the accidents (taste and texture of what was once bread) remain. Thus it can be stated that the consecration prayer can be said in a very low tone because the purpose of it is not for our understanding, rather it is for transubstantiation to take effect.

There is another aspect of the question that seems to be implied, that being why is there a sort of shielding or veiling of the words said from the people in church?  Some people may object to the use of Latin or the near silent nature of the spoken prayer saying that when Christ died the temple veil was torn from top to bottom revealing the Holy of Holies, that was once reserved to only the high priest, was now afforded for all to see. 

To this it should be remembered that we veil that which is Holy.  Whether it is the tabernacle which is veiled with the cloth in front or the women’s head with a hat or mantilla, that which is set apart for God is veiled.  When Moses went up on the mountain to talk with God he was so affected by seeing the Lord that his face was shining with the Glory of God (Exodus 34:35). The Jewish people seeing such a wonder asked him to veil himself and he did so.  So too Latin and perceived silence act as a type of veil in the west, while the iconostases veils the prayers among the Eastern Rite Catholics.  In both ancient rites the veil of silence to those assisting at the liturgy is observed.

Our modern day focus on needing to have our senses fulfilled in-order to participate in the sacred can best be re-ordered by hearing the story of Elias:

And he said to him: Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind before the Lord over throwing the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces: the Lord is not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake: the Lord is not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire: the Lord is not in the fire, and after the fire a whistling of a gentle air. And when Elias heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and coming forth stood in the entering in of the cave, and behold a voice unto him, saying: What dost thou here, Elias? And he answered: With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant: they have destroyed thy altars, they have slain thy prophets with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it away.”

Silence and gentleness is of God, who is Meek and Humble of Heart. Let us pray that we too may learn to be virtuous and submit our desires and wills to him daily.

+JMJ+

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Update: Its now up!

Post by St. Stanislaus Catholic Church (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).