![]() In the First Book of Maccabees, the stones of the altar in the Temple that had been desecrated by false worship were removed and placed in a hidden place until a prophet should arise to determine their ultimate disposition (cf. However, if an altar or some other sacred furnishing or vessel is desecrated, it is deemed more appropriate and practical to remove and replace the desecrated thing. So, reconsecrating a deserted place is deemed sufficient. In cases like this, it would be too much to tear a whole church down or move an entire cemetery. This is also true when Catholic cemeteries are desecrated. If a murder or some other very scandalous or indecent act occurs in a church, it must be reconsecrated. Why couldn’t the altar be reconsecrated? That would save lots of money.Īnswer: Let’s first step back and look at the bigger picture. Question: A priest committed indecent sexual acts on an altar, and the archbishop removed it. It is highly unlikely that he means any offense. It is often the case in times like these that many traditions and understandings of traditions have been dropped or are never taught. It is also possible that a priest does not know the tradition stated above. Some priests are incapable of genuflecting at all and must substitute a deep bow. If your priest is using his left knee, there may be a reason related to age or injury. Arthritis and inflammatory conditions may make genuflecting on one or the other knee painful or impractical. Priests are human and, in some cases, especially as they age, a full genuflection on the right knee may become difficult. That being said, we do well to be careful in judging the clergy, or others, too quickly in this matter, as I am sure you are. Hence it is most proper to genuflect on the right knee. ![]() For this reason, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal says, “a genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil” (No. However the right knee is reserved for God alone and is a sign of divine worship. In the Middle Ages the tradition developed that genuflection on the left knee was used to pay honor to kings, queens, emperors and prelates. Is either knee optional, or is one or the other recommended, and why?Īnswer: To genuflect on the right knee is the correct way. At this time, I have seen some priests genuflect on the right knee and some on the left knee. Question: During consecration at Mass, the priest genuflects after each elevation of the body and blood. In the end, the shroud is of endless fascination and presents the scientific community with a puzzle as to its origins and features. Carbon dating methods have yielded differing opinions as to its age, but there are complicating factors such as a fire that scorched the shroud in 1532. How the image was made on the cloth, its 3D effect and photo negative image, long before the invention of photography, it’s faithful depiction of the details of crucifixion, the pollen samples from the holy land and, frankly, how this cloth has survived so long are all tantalizing indicators of something truly amazing and even miraculous. However, the Shroud of Turin remains an amazing and mysterious artifact. Our faith in the Resurrection does not depend on the authenticity of the shroud but on the testimony of the apostles. However, the shroud is not part of the deposit of faith in which Catholics must give full assent of the mind and will. ![]() The faithful are permitted to venerate the shroud, study its details and view it when it is displayed. Question: Does the holy Church have an official position on the legitimacy of the Shroud of Turin?Īnswer: The Church permits the faithful to come to their own conclusions on the shroud.
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