Restoration and Meaning of the Altar Rail a Young Adult from Our Parish, Elaborate Screen, Called a ‘Rood Holiness Is
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JULY 14, 2019 15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME NOTES FROM FATHER TOM Restoration and Meaning of the Altar Rail A young adult from our parish, elaborate screen, called a ‘rood holiness is. The sanctuary is sym- Ethan Hayes, has taken upon screen’. This was done for practi- bolically the head of the church himself the painstaking task of cal as well as theological reasons. and represents Christ as the restoring the symbols of faith The rood screen protected the head.”1 Some theologians trace found on our altar rail. We are Blessed Sacrament from anyone this aspect of Church architecture blessed to still have the original or any dog wandering into the to the Jewish Temple, where the altar rail from years past, when it sanctuary. (Apparently in those ‘Holy of Holies’ which contained was in regular use for receiving days pets were allowed in the the ark was separated from the Holy Communion. As I under- nave! Please don’t tell Chester!) larger room in the temple by stand it, the altar rail sat in the The screen marked where the a great veil, which was torn when rectory garage for a long time, ordained clergy would sit for the Jesus died. Denis McNamara, until our previous pastor brought Mass and where the laity sat. a scholar of liturgy and Church it back! In recent years, more and More importantly the screen was architecture, says that, like in more parishes have brought their a barrier for the sanctuary. The Jewish times, the altar rail “is still altar rails back or installed new word ‘sanctuary’ comes from the a marker of the place where heav- ones where the old cannot be word ‘holy’ which means: ‘set en and earth meet, indicating that found. Interestingly, the Second apart.’ As one priest put it: “The they are not yet completely Vatican Council never mentioned sanctuary is set apart from the united.” the removal of altar rails in any rest of the church because it rein- of its own or post-conciliar forces our understanding of what At the time of the 16th century documents. Protestant Refor- Something about mation, the tall the practice and rood screens were the deeper lowered, so that meaning of the people could better altar rail strikes see the liturgy, and at people’s became the altar hearts! rail. It was crucial to delineate the The altar rail has sanctuary; as it is a long history in the place where the Church. In the priest offers medieval the Mass on behalf Europe, the of the people, sanctuary was acting as an inter- separated from mediary between the nave by a tall, heaven and continued on inside cover continued from front earth. As one homeschooling writes.4 When I received my First commandments on the left) and mother and writer put it: “When Holy Communion in Poland, I the New Covenant (the New Tes- we receive Communion at the vaguely remember kneeling and tament on the right). In ages altar rail on the edge of the sanc- waiting at the altar rail, dressing past, most people were illiterate tuary, the priest brings Heaven up, receiving a candle, taking and the Church relied on sacred to us on Earth, and it is a beauti- pictures (I have black and white art, statues, and symbols to teach ful, humbling experience to photograph to prove it!) It was the faith. The chalice and host kneel, wait, and receive Our all a beautiful experience, and symbol represents the Consecra- Lord.”2 the altar rail helped make it so! tion, it points to the centrality of the Lord’s Supper, it symbolizes Moreover, the Baltimore Cate- Old St. Patrick’s altar rail con- the Eucharist and the blood shed chism teaches that the altar rail tains 10 symbols, 5 on each of by Jesus on the cross, finally it is not just a divider from the the two sections and as Ethan teaches us that Jesus’ body, sanctuary but actually an exten- Hayes noticed, they seem blood, soul, and divinity are fully sion of the altar to the people: to correspond to each other. The present in every fragment of the the place where “Our Lord comes inner symbols on each side rep- host and every drop of the chal- to us.”3 This is where “we bring resent the Blessed Sacrament ice. our own sacrifices as we wait to (the ciborium on the left and the 1 https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/ be united in communion with chalice and the host on the library/view.cfm?recnum=9669 Our Lord and with each other, right). The outermost symbols 2http://www.ncregister.com/blog/sspencer/the -deeper-meaning-of-receiving-at-the-altar-rail the Church,” Susanna Spencer represent the Old Covenant (the 3Ibid 4Ibid needed, Sept. 18. Everyone is a pro-life message, so be sure to welcome! Please contact Sandie at get your balloon and help spread [email protected] or 734- the message that Life is Precious Have you been inspired by the 657-1936 or visit 40daysforlife. throughout the fair. To volunteer movie Unplanned? Are you eager com/annarbor for a shift at the booth, please go to to end abortion and want to plug Sign Up Genius: in? The planning meetings for the Volunteers Needed www.signupgenius.com/ Fall 2019 Ann Arbor 40 Days For Seeking volunteers to staff the go/30E0C45AFAE2DA13-artfair1. Life Campaign will be held on pro-life booth at the Ann Arbor Art For more information, contact Wednesday evenings at Bob Evans, Fair from Thursday, July 18, Sandie Weathers 2411 Carpenter Road at 7pm on through Sunday, July 21. We will ([email protected]) or July 24, Aug. 28, Sept. 11, and, if hand out helium balloons with Barbara Grant-Yopko MASS INTENTIONS TO PRAY IS TO LOVE TUE 700: Marcie Brcic • Please pray for those in Rodgers, Pam Wiitala, Larry Workman, Daniel need, including: Dan Chris Dreffs, Caroline Scott Brown, Mark WED 830: Sr. Mary Johnathon Krebs, Patricia Fuller, Lisa Pribble, Emma Thompson, Richard, Philip Maxwell, Ann Kozakowski, John Howard Pease, Kelli Tony Phillips, Anthony THU 830: Nancy Fox LaRock Sr., Michael Merlo, Shirley Dreffs, Darket, Samuel Chase FRI 830: Pauline LeTarte Cooper, Phil Rutledge, Bryan Eaton, Phillip Johnson, William Godfrey, Kathy Cooley, Robin Campbell Sr., Glenn Bill Lott, Mike Nelson, SAT 400: Catherine Freije Fahmie, Karen Prins, Klecker, Paul Massimilla, Frank Snaith, Allan Sandra Adams, Richard Patricia Dawson, Lois Fletcher, Noah Kranz, SUN 800: Parishioners Pelkey, Tom Dawson, Pete Roth, Tony Ragazzo, Scott Chas & Holly Carter, Tony Siebertz, Nicole Brcic, Simon, Mary Boudreaux, DeLellis 1030: Tom Pellican John Dziuban, Jim Clara Peterson, Marieke Pray for vocations to Stephensen, Mason Carter Rutledge, Georgiana the priesthood and Please pray for those in religious life. Bruen, Wayne DeForest, Ron Fuller, Ann Mary the military, including: Michael Kunitz: Byzantine Catholic “Nancy” Phillips, Katie Adam Draves, Nathan Hutton, Betsy & Charlie Baker, Garette Moore, Dcn. David Pellican: AOD ST. PATRICK PARISH CALENDAR OLD ST. PATRICK PARISH DIRECTORY MONDAY, July 15 WEDNESDAY, July 24 Reconciliation 6:30 Knights of Columbus Rosary 2:30 Mass @ Regency Home in W.L. Tuesday 5:30PM - 6:40PM 7:00 Knights of Columbus Meeting Saturday 2:30PM or by appointment; Don’t hesitate to call for an appointment! THURSDAY, July 25 TUESDAY, July 16 6:30 American Heritage Girls Weekend Schedule for Holy Mass 7:30 Young Adult Group Saturday 4:00PM Sunday 8:00AM & 10:30AM SUNDAY, July 28 EF/TLM Latin Mass SUNDAY, July 21 9:00 K of C Rosary 2nd Sunday of Month 12:30pm Donut Sunday 11:30 Parish Rosary 11:45 Freedom and Friendship Talk Weekday Schedule for Holy Mass First Saturday of the month 9:00AM Series with Benjamin Eriksen Tuesday 7:00PM Wed. & Fri. 8:15AM School Year, 8:30AM Summer Thur. 8:30AM Eucharistic Adoration of Our Lord ALTAR SERVERS Tuesday 5:30PM– 6:45PM Why do ants fight First Friday 7:00PM– Saturday 8:45AM SATURDAY 4:00/July 20 P. Schloss Baptisms infections so well? Baptism Preparation classes as required by the J. Schloss Diocese of Lansing may be scheduled to accom- J. Schloss modate your family’s needs. Contact Dcn. Frank- Joseph Papp, 734-426-1070 or email SUNDAY 8:00/July 21 [email protected] to arrange date, time and J. Hayes location. Marriages SUNDAY 10:30/July 21 Arrangements are to be made at least nine J.P. Deemer months prior to the wedding. B. Deemer Funerals Funeral arrangements are made by M. Lizzio contacting the parish office. M. Lizzio Parish Registration N. Perrydore Contact the office for a registration form. They have Antibodies A. Russell Office hours Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM Office: 734-662-8141 Emergency: 734-663-1851 Address: 5671 Whitmore Lake Rd, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Ann Arbor, 48105 Website: www.stpatricka2.org IN SERVICE TO ONE, IN SERVICE TO ALL E-mail: [email protected] Pastor Family of enrolled in SSA. Thank you John, Annie Fr. Thomas Wasilewski (#24) the Month and your family for all the time and effort [email protected] you devote to Old St. Patrick’s and our Our Family Deacon of the community. May God Bless You. Dcn. Frank-Joseph Papp, [email protected] Month for Dcn. Gary Perrydore, [email protected] July is the Knight of the Month Our Knight of the Month for Parish Secretary John DeJak Family. John is an Army Veter- Debbie Welch (#21) [email protected] an, attorney, Latin teacher, member of our July is Doug Nelson. He is a DRE / Youth Minister Parish Council and President of Father member of the Parish Finance Tom Merlo (#30) [email protected] Gabriel Richard High School (FGR).