The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-07-02
ALTAR DECORATIONS

ALTAR DECORATIONS
In our last instruction it was ex-
planned that the altar in the New Law
is the table on which the Holy Sac
rifice of the Mass is offered up, hence
it is the most sacred place in the
Church. Our love for Our Lord in
the Holy Eucharist should impe! the
Christians to adorn the altar with the
cosiest and most beautiful decora-
tons. How lovely are Thy Taber
nacles, o Lord of Hosts" exclaims
the psalmist. The Church in her lit
urgy prescribes certain things which
are necessary for the celebration of
the Holy Sacrifice, others are recon-
mended for the ornamentation and
establishment of the altar
Covering Of Altar.
The altar must be covered with three
white linen cloths, which are blessed
by the bishop, or by someone who has
the faculty, before they can be used
for the celebration of the Mass. The
reason of the three cloths is,that il
the Precious Blood should by accident
be spilled it might be absorbed by the
altar cloths before 1t reaches the altar
stone. Symbolically, the altar cloths
signify the linens in which the Body
of Christ was wrapped when 1t was
laid in the sepulcher. The altar is
covered with these three linen cloths
throughout the entire year, with, the
exception of Holy Thursday, when,
after Mass they are removed, tc re-
mind us, of the stripping of Our Say
tours Sacred Body, during His Pas
sion.
Use of Candles.
On the altar upon which the Holy
Sacrifice is offered, there must be
two, four or six candle-sticks with
wax candles. Two candles are used
for Low Mass, four for High Mass
and six for a Solemn High Mass. In
the early days of the Church. the can
dle-sticks were of the most precious
metals, and even at the present day,
In some churches golden candle-sticks
containing precious stones adcrE the
altar.
During the celebration of the Mass
there must be at least two lightei can
les. The church prescribes that the
candles used during the Holy Sacri-
flee be of wax. The pure wax ex-
tracted by bees from flowers symbo-
lies the pure flesh of Christ, Who
was born in the womb Of the Flower
of Nazareth, Mary the Immaculate
Virgin. The wick signifies the Soul of
Christ, and the flame represent, His
Divinity. AS the bright flame Cutters
from the pure wax candle, so did the
Divinity of Christ shine forth in His
life, in His doctrine and in His mira
cles. The burning wax candle is also
symbol of our hope. Light is risen
to the just, and joy to the light of
heart" (P. sxcyi. III. We all, dear
brethren, know too well and have ex,
perienced too often, what life is, and
what the world is, to expect any real
happiness here on earth. Man born
Of woman" says Holy Job, 'is fill
ed with many miseries." We have a
body, subject to a thousand evils,
such as pain, sickness and death.
The temptations that constantly as.
sail us, both from within and from
without are so severe and the enemies
of our soul SO strong and numerous.
that at times it almost seems as if the
Divine Providence had abandoned us;
but, my dear brethren, it is in the
midst of these hours of gloom and
darkness that the true Christian aises
his heart. to God, his Father, the .Au
thor of all hope and of all consolation
Lastly the lighted candle is also a
symbol of love. Christ was love itself
His whole life here upon earth is
one long story of love. nseknese
and tender sympathy. Every word
He spoke was message of mercy and
love. This fire of love still burns up
On our affairs. Come all to Me-
He says, You, that are burdened and
heavily laden, and will refresh you,
and when VIC turn to Him to beg His
mercy and constant protection, it is
not to a stranger we turn who is .ig
S3rant of our wants, or unwilling tt
relieve them, but to cur very best
Friend.
Crucifix and Images.
Next on the altar we have the cru
eifix. The crucifix is the principa
ornament of the altar. 1t is PLACED
there to recall to the mind Of the cele
brant and the people that the Victim
offered is the same as. was offered OF
the Cross The cross is the STANDARD
of our redemption, for upon it wert
expiated the. sins of men. Another
requisite on the altar for the vceiebra
ton OF. the Holy Sacrifice are the relics
and images. Every altar upon which
the Mass is celebrated must contain
the relics of martyrs. These relics
teach us that the saints have won theil
glorious crown of Immortality, chief
~ because they were nourished AMI
strengthed with the Food of the Sacri
flee of the altar.
It is also fitting to place on the ALTA
images of the saints, especially O
those in whose honor the altar is con
secrated. These images excite in u.
good thoughts, they stimulate us t.
initiate the examples and virtues o
the saints, to follow in their foot-stepl
90 that one day we also may obtain thu
glorious crown of victory. From tim,
immemorial, it has been the custom Il
decorate tie altar mon which thu