[Magdalen] Central Aisle?

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/6/2015 9:14:35 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
oppenheimerjw at gmail.com writes:

I note  this is some kind of shrine.  Is there some kind of mystical  stuff
happening at the altar that people are going to want to be close to  it, no
matter what the angle?>>>>>
 
The Western Church (and Eastern Church, for that matter) held the
Canon/Eucharistic Prayer to be mystical, and screened the altar
off from the congregation rather routinely.
 
Beginning at the time of the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-
Reformation, the Jesuits took the lead with an open architectural  style
starting with Il Jesu, Rome.  Though the eastward position was  still
maintained (backs of clergy to congregation) the altar was highly
visible.
 
This openness was intensified at the time of Vatican-2, with its
introduction of clergy facing congregation, and thus all of the  
manipulations
inherent to the Eucharistic Prayer were visible.  The architecture of  some
modern churches reflects the desire to be near the Eucharistic  action.
 
And what stuff is happening at the altar varies among denominations  and
in the case of a RC shrine, the official answer about mystical stuff  would
be that there is Transubstantiation happening:  the realization of  Calvary
in the here and now.
 
Many Anglicans don't spell it out in such detail, and stick to the  "Real
Presence" at the altar.  But even the official document of the USA  United
Methodist Church calls it This Holy Mystery".
 
 
 
David Strang.