Virtual Tour

St. Mary Delaware Virtual Tour : Sanctuary

 

 

 

Altar

A table on which the sacrifice of the Mass is offered. The center and focal point of a Church, where the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is made present under sacramental signs in the Mass. Among the Israelites the altar was the place where sacrifices were offered to God. The Christian altar represents two aspects of the mystery of the Eucharist, as the altar of sacrifice where Christ, as the High Priest, offers himself as the sacrificial victim for our sins and as the table of the Lord where Christ gives himself to us as food from heaven.

 

 

 

 

Ambo (Pulpit)

The ambo was originally called the pulpit, which comes from the Latin word "pulpitum", meaning staging platform from which the Scriptures are read, the priest proclaims the Gospel readings of the Mass, and from which the homily is preached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrant Chair

The place where the celebrant sits. It expresses his role of leading the community of the faithful in prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incense

Incense (material used to produce a fragrant odor when burned) is used as a symbol of the Church's offering and prayer going up to God. By its burning, it symbolizes the zeal with which the faithful should be animated; by its sweet fragrance, the odor of Christian virtue; by its rising smoke, the ascent of prayer before the throne of the Almighty. As St. John tells us in the Apocalypse, or Book of Revelations: "The smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended before God from the hand of the Angel."

 

 

 

 

 

Tabernacle

The Tabernacle houses the Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist.  The Tabernacle reflects the Old Testament Ark, which held the Covenant.  Mary became the new Ark, who carried the New Covenant.  Today our tabernacles continue to provide a place for us to pray to and worship the God of the New Covenant.  The two angels holding censor are offering up their prayers and the prayers of the saints before the presence of God. (Rev 8:3-4), which depicts the role of the angels and saints as offering intercessory prayer for the faithful believers.

 

 

 

 

 

Cross Above Tabernacle

A cross is always in the sanctuary of the Church and near to the Tabernacle, as a reminder to all that the means of our salvation came to us through the blood of Christ shed upon his cross.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sanctuary Lamp

A candle or lamp which is kept burning in front of the tabernacle as a sign and a reminder of Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Altar

Madonna and Child and the Holy Angels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ambry

The ambry holds the sacred oils, which are blessed by the Bishop during the Holy Week Chrism Mass to be used by the priests of the Church throughout the year:  the Oil of the Infirmed, the Oil of the Catechumenate, and the Oil of Sacred Chrism. With the Oil of the Catechumenate, the priest anoints the baptismal candidate as a gesture that the Christian will be able to avoid the grasp of the devil throughout his or her life. The newly baptised are “set apart for holy usage.” The priest anoints the person on the crown saying, "(Name) You have been baptised with water, been forgiven of your sins and welcomed into the Lord’s family. He now anoints you with the Oil of Chrism. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King so may you live as a member of his holy body and receive eternal life. Amen.” Chrism is used to consecrate Churches, altars, and liturgical objects. It is used to anoint the hands of those who have entered the sacred priesthood.  Those receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation are anointed with it and it is used at the Coronation Service of a Monarch.

 

 

Baptistry

A font with a bowl of water that is placed at the entrance of the Church, near the sanctuary or the altar.  At it, the priest or deacon pours the water that is used in the Baptism of an adult or child entering the Church.  Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification. Baptism is one of the sacraments of initiation by which a believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ. The rite of Baptism consists of pouring water on the head or in immersing the candidate in water, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Votive Candles

These are called votive candles and indicate that someone is praying about something particular, either for themselves or on behalf of someone else. The word "votive" can also refer to a promise to pray for someone, as well as a wish or desire for a certain outcome on behalf of someone, such as recovery of health. Lighting a candle serves to prolong that prayer beyond our presence in the church. The candle remains behind and symbolizes the desire for the prayer to continue. So when we light candles in prayer, our intentions remain present even when we are gone. The next time you pass a candle rack, help prolong others' prayers by offering one for the intentions of the people who lit them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lecturn

The stand from which the commentator reads the intentions and the announcements and the cantor leads the community in song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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