Critical Mass: The Longest Journey...

My colleague Shawn Tribe, over at The New Liturgical Movement, has a plan for restoring the sacred to the parish Mass:

"Move the chair of the priest from behind the altar, to the side of the altar..."

"Place a substantial crucifix back on the centre of your altar, facing toward the celebrant..."

"Begin to slowly re-introduce Gregorian chant into the Ordinary parts of the Mass..."

"After a time, you can then consider placing the tabernacle in the centre of the church again..."

These things should not be interpreted as mere piece-meal. Also suggested is a more substantive role for the acolyte (altar server), beyond the mere window-dressing that they have become in many parishes, even those which limit the role to males.