What is in a name?

Have you ever considered what an altar is? The word altar typically refers to place upon which a sacrifice is offered. In our Catholic Tradition, there has, for a very long time, been a tradition of celebrating Mass facing East. Why east? East in the tradition has been believed to be the direction from which Christ will return. As well, it reminds us of the hope we have in Christ, as the Sun (being a natural symbol of the Risen Christ & our eventual possible rising with him) rises in the East.

If you have never, or haven't for a long time, seen a Mass celebrated towards the East or at least where the priest faces away from the people then you may find that there is something very significant about it. I, personally, have visited and really come to love the Latin Mass celebrated facing away from the people. As the Cardinal Ratzinger noted before he became Pope, it is more fitting with our theology for the priest to lead the prayer of the Mass facing ad orientam, which is only fancy Latin for "facing east." More than just facing east, however, I think it is important for the Church to reassess the dignity of the altars we celebrate on. Prior to the Second Vatican Council (1963-1965) there were very significant altars built across the face of the planet. After the council, many of the altars built since then, though not all, seem to be little more than tables.

There is a great book called "The Roman Liturgy: its background and problems" written by Msgr. Klaus Gamber, which, I think, makes a convincing case for a return to the priest facing the altar. This book has no small weight, as none other than Cardinal Ratzinger himself wrote a preface for the German edition praising Msgr. Gamber's work.

Further, it seems that the religious order known as the Priestly Confraternity of St. Peter (a.k.a. F.S.S.P.) has recently taken over a Church in France. They had a typical post-Vatican II altar when they moved in, but apparently they decided it could be more beautiful. In fifteen minutes (apparently) here are their results. You decide which is more beautiful and more fitting for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?