Anything wrong with tabernacle behind the altar?

[Ahlman]

Is there anything wrong with placing the tabernacle behind the altar (like it is in the EWTN chapel)? I have heard objections that the priest shouldn’t have his back to the tabernacle during the celebration of Mass. Another objection is that the tabernacle shouldn’t be at the center, in order not to take attention away from the altar during the celebration. Do these objections have any support from official documents, or are they just coming from nowhere (the “spirit” of VII)? I know one church where the tabernacle was moved from behind the altar to outside of the sanctuary in a way that many parishioners described as “vandalization”, and the official motivation by the parish priest is supposed to have been that “These changes will be done according to the guidelines decided by the Church.”

 

[maurin]

Anything right with Tabernacle anywhere else but behind the Altar?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

The GIRM addresses this in part:

The Place for the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist

1. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.125

The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the greatest extent possible.126 Moreover, it is appropriate that, before it is put into liturgical use, it be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.127

1. It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated.128

Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the Diocesan Bishop,

1. Either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration (cf. above, no. 303);
2. Or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer129 and which is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful.

Source]​

In the US there is also a document from the USCCB called Built of Living Stones. While the document is more guidelines than law, it does address issues such as the location of the tabernacle, the chapel of reservation, and the tabernacle in the sanctuary.

 

[buffalo]

Actually the Altar is to be integrated with the Tabernacle. We have turned our back on the Tabernacle and changed the altar to a table.

I believe we will see a shift back to this.

 

[sancte_joseph]

Another objection is that the tabernacle shouldn’t be at the center, in order not to take attention away from the altar during the celebration. QUOTE]

JESUS should always be in the center of every church…aka behind the altar…

I like what that Jesuit priest on EWTN said:

“those churches where the Tabernalce is not in the center should be named after Mary Magdalen because she said
THEY HAVE TAKEN MY LORD AND I KNOW NOT WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM”
buffalo;4056149:

Actually the Altar is to be integrated with the Tabernacle. We have turned our back on the Tabernacle and changed the altar to a table.

I believe we will see a shift back to this.

I still consider the so called “table” an Altar…after all Jesus celebrated the first mass as a meal…and used bread and wine (food) to be made into his body and blood

but

Who are we to be compared to Jesus and how he did it… after all he held himself in that last super…and it would have been weird to use an Altar against a wall

SO…Holy Mother Church…for a LONG time used the altar agaisnt the wall…so that we may all face one way…

The priest was never intended the precided but rather be as his title implies a “PRIEST” offering the Eternal sacrfice of Jesus…the sacrifice that is represented at every mass…

Isn’t that just amazing…that we are at calcary…through the passion of Christ…while we celebrate MASS

Just another reason of why I love God and his Church

 

[Rickwood]

The GIRM addresses this in part:

The Place for the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist

1. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.125

The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the greatest extent possible.126 Moreover, it is appropriate that, before it is put into liturgical use, it be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.127

1. It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated.128

Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the Diocesan Bishop,

1. Either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration (cf. above, no. 303);
2. Or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer129 and which is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful.

Source]​

In the US there is also a document from the USCCB called Built of Living Stones. While the document is more guidelines than law, it does address issues such as the location of the tabernacle, the chapel of reservation, and the tabernacle in the sanctuary.

Thank you for elucidating what the Church actually directs.

 

[Freshman88]

I have heard objections that the priest shouldn’t have his back to the tabernacle during the celebration of Mass.

That’s easy to solve, have the priest facing the right direction - Our Lord.

 

[Ahlman]

That’s easy to solve, have the priest facing the right direction - Our Lord.

However, the GIRM says both that the altar should be freestanding and that the tabernacle should not be on the altar (but, the altar at the pope’s private chapel is against the wall, with the tabernacle on it anyways).

 

[japhy]

However, the GIRM says both that the altar should be freestanding and that the tabernacle should not be on the altar (but, the altar at the pope’s private chapel is against the wall, with the tabernacle on it anyways).

It is possible for the altar to appear “against the wall” when really it is the tabernacle (on a structure of similar height) that is against the wall and the altar is up against it.

And a free-standing altar is strongly preferred, although not necessary. It’s preferred because it allows the priest to walk around it for incensing it (and yes, also for versus populum celebration, but that’s not the primary reason nor is it given preference in the GIRM).

 

[Rickwood]

However, the GIRM says both that the altar should be freestanding and that the tabernacle should not be on the altar (but, the altar at the pope’s private chapel is against the wall, with the tabernacle on it anyways).

Thank you for again for elucidating what the Church actually directs.

 

[Walking_Home]

vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20050707_instrlabor-xi-assembly_en.html
Likewise, the positioning of the tabernacle in an easily seen place is another way of attesting to faith in Christ’s Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. In this regard, the responses to the Lineamenta request that significant thought be given to the proper location of the tabernacle in Churches, with due attention to canonical norms.65 I**t is worth considering whether the removal of the tabernacle from the centre of the sanctuary to an obscure, undignified corner or to a separate chapel, **or whether to have placed the celebrant’s chair in the centre of the sanctuary or in front of the tabernacle—as was done in many renovations of older churches and in new constructions—has contributed in some way to a decrease in faith in the Real Presence.

64
Some responses are very encouraging, however. Based on the guidelines set down in The General Instruction on the Roman Missal, diverse initiatives have been undertaken to ensure that sacred spaces in already existent Churches and those under construction be true places of prayer and adoration, where art and iconography become instruments to serve liturgical needs. For example, in some Churches, kneelers have returned along with the practice of the faithful kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer. Tabernacles, previously not clearly visible, **have again been placed in the sanctuary or in a prominent place. **The planning of new Churches is providing greater prominence to art, decoration, vestments and sacred vessels. This seeks to bring into harmony the nearness of the celebrant to the people and the sacred nature of the divine mysteries which are, at one and the same time, immanent and transcendent.