Want to be an altar server? Think you were a good one when you were younger? Here is a little quiz. (Yes, I am too tired to come up with anything thoughtful today!)
What are the names of the these three pieces of cloth used at every mass?
If you got it above you should be able to get it again here. What is this cloth called? Where is it used during the mass? Why is it divided into 9 squares?
What should happen to them after use at mass?
Answers tomorrow on Symbolic Saturday!
IN OTHER NEWS: Thus far there has been three thumbs up and one definite thumbs down on the new ADAM'S ALE picture. Is anyone offended? Should it stay or should it go?
20 comments:
Love the photo!
I love the photo, too!
A friend at my last job, after Benedict XVI was chosen, brought a picture to my cube showing Papa at the altar during the consecration, but in place of the chalice was a large pitcher of beer.
My friend had written in a caption: "When the Pope is German..."
LOL!
I'm sorry, but it WAS funny, and the intent was NOT to make fun of our beliefs, but rather, to play on the Pope's background. Nuthin' wrong with that.
We HAVE to have a sense of humor when the fun is good-natured.
~ Adoro
Oh gosh, Adoro, maybe I shouldn't even say this.. take it from whence it comes, and please first know that my years span some pre-Conciliar times so that I am rather orthodox about all this, but I'd have been offended by that graphic on behalf of Jesus, His mother, Peter, all the clergy, all the martyrs, all the persecuted, all those with Stigmata seen and unseen, all the Rites, all catechists, all who revere and live for this moment of the Precious Species, and all converts and converts-to-be and all who've fallen away, all who were, are, and are to come, all victims of clerical failure whose only solace is that the Body and Blood of Him did not harm them, on behalf also of the angels, and not least of all, on behalf of the Poor Souls.
The worst humor I've ever seen or heard is that which tries--like Pilate--to reduce Jesus to a manageable man. That non-Chalice seems even worse than a life-sized chocolate Jesus.. but not as horrible as crucifixion jokes, and only less friendly than South Park's depiction of Him. Man is clever about Jesus at the expense of others' souls or hope or strength, along with his own. Many Trads are justified in their wrath, by such as that. Honestly, I can't laugh at stuff that crosses a sacred line, like the line of Mary's ever-virgin-ness.
Fr. V., by now, perhaps you are getting the new paint ready, but I'm actually not offended by this graphic. If one views this schmoozing Pope at Adam's Ale in light of St. Bridget's wanting to provide a lake of beer for Jesus and His friends, and if one appreciates the content under it so much that one's interior face lights up at its bold line in one's RSS feeds, I can live with it.
(BoanergesFan)
I love the picture. I think G.K. Chesterton would agree.
I like it in general. Beer is a perfectly normal and good beverage. We have been tainted somewhat with the fundamentalist teetotaling culture that is mixed in with the modernism that surrounds us, and thus look at alcohol as a "tool of the devil".
There is no question people can misuse alcohol, but they also misuse food itself and become grossly fat, or they misuse rest and become slothful, etc. Noah planted vineyards after the Flood and we drink wine at mass (well, not at the extraodinary form, but anyway). And I hope he is drinking real German beer and not Budweiser!
I am not sure it is the best headliner for your blog, though (style comments from a guy with a very creative black and white blog!)
I like it in general. Beer is a perfectly normal and good beverage. We have been tainted somewhat with the fundamentalist teetotaling culture that is mixed in with the modernism that surrounds us, and thus look at alcohol as a "tool of the devil".
There is no question people can misuse alcohol, but they also misuse food itself and become grossly fat, or they misuse rest and become slothful, etc. Noah planted vineyards after the Flood and we drink wine at mass (well, not at the extraodinary form, but anyway). And I hope he is drinking real German beer and not Budweiser!
I am not sure it is the best headliner for your blog, though (style comments from a guy with a very creative black and white blog!)
Keep it.
Already long time not serving mass. I already forgot those names. First picture from left to right, first one should be purificator, second should be corporal, and third one should be finger-towel. I'm not sure correct or not.
Purificator is used after Holy Communion, the priest will use it to clean the chalice and paten.
Corporal is the cloth that, during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the chalice and the paten are put on it.
Finger-towel is the cloth that, during the preparation of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest will say a prayer and wash his hands, then the cloth is used.
I am not sure why the corporal is divided into 9 square. I guess, it is because it is 3x3, which is the symbol of Holy Trinity.
Am I correct?
I'm not offended by the picture but it is hard to read the text that is on top of the image. That would be my only complaint about it.
Keep the picture! I agree with allen's answers and would guess that the cloth is divided into nine sections--the number nine represents three times three the number of perfect unity---hmmm.
The cloth is the corporal.It is placed front center on the altar.It's purpose is to catch any fragments of the Body of Christ. For that reason it should never be picked up when it is open and never shook out. When the altar is cleared it should be refolded exactly as it was unfolded. It should be placed in the sacristy with the other used altar linen (still folded) to be laundered. I don't know why the 9 squares.
Love the picture but agree with Barb sfo, the text is hard to read. Maybe put the text off to the side.
BoanergesFan)
The probability that something is offensive to Catholics is directly proportional to its use by the secular media. The probability that something is merely humorous to Catholics but not offensive is directly proportional to the use of it by Catholic bloggers.
I understand what you're saying, but that's not how the picture was intended, nor was it detrimental to anyone's faith. The fact is that the liturgy is the face of the Catholic Church. So is the Pope. And since the Pope is German, and Germany is KNOWN for great beer, well....the picture is simply not offensive. It's funny. And it's also so blatantly ridiculous in that the whole world KNOWS that Catholics use wine on the altar, and WINE, not beer, comes from grapes, etc...well, it's like a caricature drawn of a beloved family member...and even the one being caricatured is in on the joke.
People who are literalists, I'll admit, won't like it. And I'm quite orthodox myself...definitely lean towards the trad end of spectrum. So we'll just have to differ in our taste in humor.
I also find it very telling that the image of the Pope with the beer on the altar was not used by the secular media; it actually came from a solid Catholic who photoshopped the image. I'd seen it in other places, in CATHOLIC places since my friend printed it and gave it to me.
I've never ONCE seen the image used by secular media. They tend to like things that are actually blasphemous and sacrilegious and have a mean spirit of some sort involved.
Re: the nine squares
In the traditional liturgy, the kyrie is done nine times (kyrie x 3, christe x 3, kyrie x 3). Relevance?
I find the picture in poor taste. When I first saw it shortly after Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as pope I thought it was amusing but to put it as the header of your blog when Benedict XVI is the vicar of Christ on earth is quite disrespectful to the office he holds.
Picture... love it! The Cardinal (as seen in the picture), in fact is German. Hey, if he's not embarrassed about the picture being taken of him drinking a pint, why should you be of posting it on a very Catholic blog? The Monks started making beer way, way back when. It's also part of our Catholic heritage...and the Pope's. Embrace it!
Hmmm... the purifcator looks very familiar (love the embroidery) *grin*
I agree w/Allen's post on each type of altar linen.
Regarding the Corporal, it's folded into 3rds & 3rds again to catch any fragments of the Precious Body & Blood & keep these fragments inside the corporal when folded. It's also ironed & folded right side in so when it is unfolded on the altar, it is ready to use. I think it is also symbolic of the shroud of Jesus (??).
BTW - great pic!
Lillian Marie
Boy, you sure got a lot of comment on the picture. I wonder if that means we can't answer the other questions.
Well, Uncle Jim, we gals will never become Deacon or Priest, and thus, wouldn't dream of serving the altar; nor should lay-hands ever touch the Body and Blood (I know, I know..I'm 2 days older and fussier than Moses), so I, for one, don't know much about the cloths, but look forward to the answers.
Adoro - All I can say is, I don't think Francis nor Pio would've chuckled at a Chalice of beer, and least of all now, when the Real Presence receives less and less credence. My sense of humor is a priceless gift, but when it comes to His agonizingly pouring out every drop of blood for our sins, via 100% violence and hatred, I will always rear up against that sort of humor no matter from whom it comes. There are Orders that spend their whole conventual lives making reparation for such things.
Fr. V's pic is alright -obviously it is a casual social event. The greatest concern is what Islam, Judaism and the Orthodox may think of it.
(JustMe)
There's no doubt about it. If you want a lot of hits on your blog, post pictures of major religious figures imbibing alcohol!
Allen and MJ good job, especially with Lillian Marie playing clean-up!
Tara - good use of interpreting numeric symbolism, but I never heard of it being attributed specifically to this case.
Uncle Jim - HA! You're right!
Rob - Thanks for the LOL once again. (I'm a day behind on you - I'll try to catch up today.
Sunday will be the day of judgement for the ADAM'S ALE header.
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