tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963786638529359207.post3607945700722201675..comments2023-06-02T23:44:44.191-04:00Comments on men like wine: There are reasons why only 30% of Catholics believe in the Real PresenceAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12106712076039240848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963786638529359207.post-83044821429617253072012-08-26T12:39:30.909-04:002012-08-26T12:39:30.909-04:00It's not just a matter of looking at the congr...It's not just a matter of looking at the congregation. The real point is to turn towed the Lord and for all of us, priest and congregation, to direct our gaze toward Him. <br /><br />Our Holy Father has repeated the importance for there to be a crucifix on the altar. If there was a crucifix on the altar the priest would never have a need to look anywhere, during the Eucharistic prayer, other than either the crucifix, missal, or Blessed Sacrament. <br /><br />During the Our Father, Christ is present on the altar so why should the priest look anywhere other than with gazing directly at the God he is addressing? For the congregation, it's a slightly different matter. When Mass is said ad orientam, we can't direct our gaze at the Blessed Sacrament, and most of the time , for many of us, it's hard to see the Blessed Sacrament anyway. So where should we look? Simple answer: toward the Lord. The crucifix is an image of God and therefore, the most appropriate place to look. Other places, such as the ceiling or upward, aren't images. <br /><br />In Catholic theology the word image has a very specific meaning and prayer to images has a priority. I'd recommend praying toward an image of God. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12106712076039240848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3963786638529359207.post-50904544692087133452012-08-25T13:03:38.344-04:002012-08-25T13:03:38.344-04:00I have a priest-friend who has made a similar comm...I have a priest-friend who has made a similar comment about not looking at the congregation while he prays to God. He intentionally avoids making eye contact with any of them so that it's clear he's praying to God, not just talking to them.<br /><br />On the subject of hand-holding, it wasn't until I decided to stop doing it that I realized the Lord's Prayer at Mass doesn't end until well after the "kingdom, power, glory" part---not until we respond "Amen." It helps me pay attention to not hold hands!<br /><br />As far as looking up or at the crucifix goes, though, could those priests (and other people) be looking up at God, so to speak? Churches are built with high vaulted ceilings to draw our eyes (and hopefully our hearts) towards God. When I can't see the vessels or altar, I look at the crucifix so I keep my eyes focused on what I can see rather than what I can't. Thoughts?Lindsay @ Lindsay Loveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17851651248359760680noreply@blogger.com