| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| Western Antimensium | Fr. Anthony | Wednesday, January 19, 2005 |
Question: Greetings! I was given a corporal for my ordination by a community of Poor Clares. Now, on the upper right hand corner of the cloth is sewn a rectangular patch which, I was told by Mother Prioress, contained a relic of St. Faustinus the Martyr. It is an ordinary linen corporal like we of the western Church use. Now I know our brothers and sisters in the East use an antimensium for their liturgies, so, do we of the Roman Rite have an equivalent to this? I have asked our diocesan liturgist but he knows nothing about it and now thinks I am crazy for worry about such minor unnecessary things. So now I turn to you for help. I thank you and ask God's blessings for you and for your services. Thank you! Fr. Anthony |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Father, The use of the antimensium was not retained in the Latin Rite, rather it was required to place relics in the altar. In the East, use of the antimensium takes the place of relics in the altar The Catholic Encyclopedia has an article on the antimensium. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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