Side Altars

[the_rev]

Our parish has a main altar turned the way prescribed after the Second Vatican Council, but then we still have the old back altar, and two side altars under the Mary and Joseph Statue. Now our parish wants to take out the side two altars.

There is no use for them, since priests can now concelebrate (in Novus Ordo) so the side altars just take up space, etc.

I was wondering if there is any document or any text on this matter, saying that side altars are to be done away with.

What does the Pope think?

Thanks for your help in saving tradition.

In HIM,

Ed

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
12/8 - Immaculate Conception of Our Lady

the_rev,

As far as I can tell, there were two reasons for the development of side altars - one, to allow priests to celebrate their daily Mass, and two, for devotional purposes. Though the first one is no longer operative due to concelebration, it may be wise to keep side altars for devotional purposes (just as old sacristies tend to have altars in them for the same reason). It may also be wise to keep them for purely aesthetic reasons, since the church building was designed for them. But, when it comes down to brass tacks, there is nothing that says they can't be removed. As far as the Pope goes, [i]qua[/i] Benedict, he has nothing to say. I've read a number of his works on liturgical theology in the past few months, and he doesn't seem to have anything to say on the issue. Hope this helps. [i]Buona festa[/i]!

Yours,
Pio Nono

[Cam42]

Eddie,

Concelebration is not a reason to remove the altars. Priests still can celebrate private Masses. There is nothing that says that they can't use the side altars to do so.

I know, for instance, that at St. John Cantius in Chicago, they celebrate the St. Monica Sodality's weekly Mass on the Mary Altar.

I know of another priest who will celebrate his Mass in the Maria Hilf Chapel at St. Agnes, as opposed to concelebrating the daily Mass.

So, while Pio Nono is correct, there is nothing that says they can't be removed, but don't blame the lack of use on concelebration.