|
|
|
A view of the altar from the
back of the Church during the season of Advent.
|
|
Tabernacle 
A close-up of the
tabernacle. This is the receptacle where the vessels containing the Blessed
Sacrament are placed.
This currently resides
in a prominent position beneath the main altar cross.
|
|
Cross of Christ Risen
The
mystery of faith is reflected in the crucifix that is found near the altar
where that mystery is celebrated. The history of its placement near the
altar was a long and gradual one. For the early Christian, the cross was a
means of execution. The earliest crosses where emblems of suffering and
victory. They remain so today. Crucifixes occur in three forms, a crucifix
bearing the body of the suffering Jesus, a crucifix bearing a resurrected,
robed Jesus, and a crucifix bearing the body of a living, crowned Jesus.
The crucifix is a powerful symbol for Catholics, recalling in its three
forms the mystery of faith -- "Christ has died, Christ is risen,
Christ will come again."
St.
Martin of Tours Church has a large hanging crucifix above the sanctuary.
The body on the crucifix is a resurrected Jesus -- clothed.
|
|
Processional Crucifix
 
We
use a processional crucifix which stands in the Sanctuary during Mass. Our
processional crucifix has a corpus of the crucified Jesus. The processional
cross is simply a crucifix which is carried at the head of a procession,
and which, that it may be more easily seen, is usually mounted upon a long
staff or handle.
A
processional cross of sufficient size, placed in a stand visible to the
people following the entrance procession is another option. If the
processional cross is to be used for this purpose, the size and weight of
the cross should not preclude its being carried in procession. If there is
already a cross in the sanctuary, the processional cross is placed out of
view of the congregation following the procession. Built of Living
Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship, Chapter Two: The Church
Building and the Sacred Rites Celebrated There, Guidelines of the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops, NCCB/USCC, November 16, 2000.
|
|
Altar  
The
Christian altar consists of an elevated surface, tabular in form, of which
the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Our altar is made of marble. The
earliest Scripture reference to the altar is in St. Paul (I Cor. x 21); the
Apostle contrasts the "table of the Lord" on which the Eucharist
is offered, with the "table of devils", or pagan altars.
The
altar pictured here was consecrated at the Solemn Dedication Mass on
November 4, 1990. Bishop James C. Timlin, D.D. presided. Entombed in the
altar pedestal are the altar stone and relics extracted from the original
high altar of St. Martin of Tour, the origin steeple cross of the first
bell tower, and personal religious relics of the donor and parishioners. Father
Fundalewicz graciously donated the marble altar itself.
|
|
Blessed Virgin Mary and
Holy Spirit  
"Come
Holy Spirit, come by means of the Immaculate Heart of Mary your well
beloved spouse"
"Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed art though amongst women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for
us now and at the hour of our death."
|
|
Presidential Chair  
The
chair of the priest celebrant stands "as a symbol of his office of presiding
over the assembly and of directing prayer."85 An appropriate placement
of the chair allows the priest celebrant to be visible to all in the
congregation. The chair reflects the dignity of the one who leads the
community in the person of Christ, but is never intended to be remote or
grandiose. The priest celebrant's chair is distinguished from the seating
for other ministers by its design and placement. -- Built of Living
Stones: Art, Architecture, and Worship, Guidelines of the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops
|
|
  A
framed woven tapestry depicting the crucifixion is framed above the presidential
chair. The tapestry shows Jesus hanging on the cross with St. John, the
apostle Jesus loved, and Mary, his mother standing on either side. Kneeling
at the foot of the cross is one of the two Mary's (presumably Mary
Magdeline) who were with the Mother of Jesus. (But Jesus cried out again
in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the
sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were
split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen
asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his
resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The
centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared
greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they
said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" There were many women
there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of
James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee -- Mathew
27:50-56.)
At St.
Martin of Tours' Church, the presidential chair is located to the left of the
tabernacle (when facing the tabernacle). The chair has one smaller chair on
either side for altar servers. The picture of the crucifixion was created
by framing an intricately woven garment from a cope created in France many
decades ago.
|
|
Lectern  
The
lectern is used to read from the Epistle, to proclaim the Gospel, and on occasion
to read proclamations, offer the prayers of the faithful, deliver homilies
and closing remarks. The lectern at St. Martin of Tours' Church is made of
marble and is adorned with a symbol of a dove representing the Holy Spirit.
The
liturgy of the Word is an integral part of sacramental celebrations. To
nourish the faith of believers, the signs which accompany the Word of God
should be emphasized: the book of the Word (a lectionary or a book of the
Gospels), its veneration (procession, incense, candles), the place of its
proclamation (lectern or ambo), its audible and intelligible
reading, the minister's homily which extends its proclamation, and the
responses of the assembly (acclamations, meditation psalms, litanies, and
profession of faith). -- Para 1154, Catechism of the Catholic Church
At
St. Martin of Tours' Church, the lectern is located on raised area on the
south side and in front of the altar.
|
|
Ambry for Holy Oils 
When
our Church wishes to use any material object for sacred functions she
usually sets it apart from other things by giving it a special blessing;
thus it is distinguished from substances intended only for ordinary
purposes. As regards oil, such blessings are recorded in the rituals of
very early times, and do not differ greatly from those given at the present
day. Even as far back as the fourth century two kinds of oil were solemnly
blessed on Holy Thursday for sacramental uses, one being pure and the other
mixed with balsam; the first was what we now call the Oil of Catechumens,
and the other was the Chrism. The third kind, the Oil of the Sick, was
consecrated by a more simple formula either on that day or at other times,
and in some parts of the world it was customary to have this oil blessed as
needed, by priests.
A
service of great solemnity and beauty takes place in every cathedral church
at the chrism mass each year on Holy Thursday. The Bishop blesses the oils,
which are to be used during the ensuing year in the administration of the
Sacraments, as well as in various consecrations and blessings of persons
and things. The Bishop pronounces an exorcism over the oil to banish
Satan's influence. He then prays that the Holy Spirit may come upon the oil.
Later in the day, parish priests obtain oil for their use during the year.
Unused oils from the last year are used in the sanctuary lamp as ordinary
oil.
The
ceremony of the Blessing of the Oils is full of significant symbolism. It
requires the presence of a large number of the clergy, for the sacred oils
are considered by the Church to be of such importance as to call for... an
imposing ceremonial. Few inanimate things receive more ... honor than the oils,
which are to be used so often during the year in the imparting of God's
grace through Sacraments and blessings.
Oil
of the catechumens is used for blessing the baptismal font, consecration of
a church, blessing altars, in the ordination of a priest and the coronation
of Catholic kings and queens. It gets its name because it is used in
Baptism.
Chrism
is used for Confirmation, consecration of a Bishop, and blessing chalices,
patens and church bells.
Oil
of the Sick is used for Extreme Unction.
The
Oil of Catechumens is usually labeled O. C. or O. S. (" Oleum
Catechumenorum" or "Oleum Sanctum"); the Chrism is
distinguished by the letters S. C. (" Sanctum Chrisma"); and the
Oil of the Sick (" Oleum Infirmorum") bears the initials O. I.
The oils are kept in a secure location known as the Ambry.
At St.
Martin of Tours' Church, the Ambry is located on the south wall adjacent to
the presidential chair on the raised altar.
Tabernacle Lamp 
In
the Old Testament God commanded that a lamp filled with the purest oil of
olives should always burn in the Tabernacle of the Testimony without the
veil (Exod., xxvii, 20, 21). The Church prescribes that at least one lamp
should continually burn before the tabernacle (Rit. Rom. iv, 6), not only
as an ornament of the altar, but for the purpose of worship. It is also a
mark of honor. It is to remind the faithful of the presence of Christ, and
is a profession of their love and affection. Mystically it signifies
Christ, for by this material light He is represented who is the "true
light which enlightens every man" (John, i, 9). The lamp is usually
suspended before the tabernacle by means of a chain or rope, and it should
hang sufficiently high and removed from the altar-steps to cause no
inconvenience to those who are engaged in the sanctuary. It may also be
suspended from, or placed in a bracket at the side of the altar, provided it
is always in front of the altar within the sanctuary proper (Cong. Sac. Rit.,
2 June, I883). The altar-lamp may be made of any kind of metal, and of any
shape or form.
It is
an ancient and universal rule that a lamp shall be kept burning always
before the Blessed Sacrament, wherever It is reserved. This is known as the
sanctuary lamp. "Can. 940 A special lamp is to burn continuously
before the tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved, to
indicate and to honor the presence of Christ.", 1983 Code of Canon
Law. Since the word lamp in the canon is not defined, a candle is often
used. It is inserted into a red glass container.
At
St. Martin of Tours' Church, the Tabernacle Lamp is located to the right of
the tabernacle in the area of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and
Holy Spirit on the west wall in the sanctuary area.
Tabernacle
Cross of Christ
Risen
Processional
Crucifix
Altar
Blessed Virgin Mary
and Holy Spirit
Presidential Chair
Lectern
Holy Oils
Tabernacle Lamp
|
|
