St. Mary of the Assumption Parish
Northampton, MA
The worship "in Spirit and in truth" of the New Covenant is not tied exclusively to any one place. The whole earth is sacred and entrusted to the children of men. What matters above all is that, when the faithful assemble in the same place, they are "living stones" gathered to be "built into a spiritual house." For the Body of the risen Christ is a spiritual temple from which the source of the living water springs forth: incorporated into Christ by the Holy Spirit, "we are the temple of the living God."
The Catechism 1179
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The altar of the New Covenant
is the Lord's Cross, from which the sacraments of the Pascal mystery flow.
On the altar, which is the center of the church, the sacrifice of the cross
is made present under sacramental signs. The altar is
also the table of the Lord, to which the People of God are invited. In
certain Eastern liturgies, the altar is also the symbol of the tomb (Christ
truly died and is truly risen.) The Catechism 1182 |
| The chair of the bishop or
priest "should express his office of presiding over the assembly and of
directing prayer." The Catechism 1184 |
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The lectern: "The dignity of the Word of God requires the church to have a suitable place for announcing his message so that the attention of the people may be easily directed to that place during the liturgy of the Word." The Catechism 1185/1278 |
| The tabernacle is to be
situated "in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor." The
dignity of placing, and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster
adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the
altar. The Catechism 1183 |
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The gathering of the People of God begins with Baptism; a church must have a place for the celebration of baptism. The essential rite of Baptism consists of immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Catechism 1278 |
