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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Flowers on the altar Mary Friday, May 2, 2008

Question:

Dear Mr Slavek,

Are flowers allowed to remain on the altar during the mass or should they be taken off and replaced later.
Thankyou
Mary

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Mary,

I am guessing that you are asking about a freestanding altar.  No, there must not be any flowers on the altar at all.

"The arrangement of flowers should always be modest, and placed around the altar rather than on top of it" (GIRM, n.305)

"One the mensa of the altar should be placed only those things required for the celebration of the Mass..."(n.306)

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.