Sighting of "Benedictine" altar arrangement in Edinburgh!

At the moment I am not residing at my own house but rather elsewhere in Edinburgh, in a place very very close to a church, St Margaret Mary's. This morning I went to this church for mass and last night I went to the associated parish, Holy Cross, for confession. In both churches I noticed that there was a crucifix on the altar placed so that it was facing the priest. In Holy Cross I think it also had six candles on the altar and in at St Margaret Mary's there were six (lit!) large candles behind the altar, three on either side of the tabernacle. I mention the fact that they were lit because at my own parish there are also six candles beside the tabernacle behind the altar but they are rarely lit. I realised that this was what is often known as the "Benedictine arrangement", so called because it is favoured/required by Pope Benedict at the masses he celebrates. Indeed there was a little contention about the fact that the candles were not placed on the altar at the mass but rather beside the altar on the floor (which did look a bit silly, tbh) at Bellahouston. On further consideration, St Margaret Mary's is just ripe and ready in terms of its architecture and layout of sanctuary for the extraordinary form. It has three steps to the altar, an altar rail and the room for it. Furthermore, the altar on the steps is actually the altar used, meaning there's no stupid secondary altar right in front of it. The only misgiving about it is that it is made from wood. Both churches are similar, and both have a huge message spanning an archway over the sanctuary. At Holy Cross it says "+ Ave Crux Spes Unica +" - "Hail to the Cross, our only hope" and at St Margaret Mary's it says "+ Magister Adest et Vocat Te +" - "The Master is here and He is calling you".

Anyway, many see this Benedictine arrangement as a sort of middle stage towards returning to worship ad orientem - the worship direction of the ages. Let us pray for our priests that they may keep to the holy traditions of Mother Church.

St Margaret Mary, pray for us!

Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death.  These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.  Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the world's hatred and Satan's deadliest snares.  Keep them then, O Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.  May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You.