Churches need to pay more attention for the altar?

[UnityofTrinity]

It just feel to me that modern churches pay more attention to its facilities than the main altar. What bugs me the most is that the tabernacle is no longer in the center, but either on a side or just left hidden in some corner.

I believe it’s time for us to pay more attention to the altar and make it our main focus in and church building.

 

[nicolep]

The tabernacle at my parish was moved from the side (on the right most wall in the main church) to the center behind the altar about two years ago. It took the parish a lot of lobbying of the pastor to get that done.

A few months later, the pastor was moved and a new pastor arrived. His first order of business was to move the tabernacle off to the left side behind the altar. His reason being that he refused to participate in Mass with his back to Our Lord. I can’t really argue with his reasoning.

My only point is that since the priest faces the congregation in the OF Mass, I understand it being off to the side and not in the center.

 

[929dad]

There are some important documents you should explore that provide thoughts about how Churches should be arranged and decorated. The location of the tabernacle was allowed to be relocated, with good reasons.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who are going to post reasons those documents should be changed, but they remain the norms in The Church.

 

[jbarbaretta]

There are some important documents you should explore that provide thoughts about how Churches should be arranged and decorated. The location of the tabernacle was allowed to be relocated, with good reasons.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who are going to post reasons those documents should be changed, but they remain the norms in The Church.

“with good reasons” e.g. your church is a Cathedral that has tourist traffic and there needs to be someplace where worshipers can go not interrupted by the crowd, etc.

Otherwise it should be in the center. I just don’t get the concept of sticking God off in a corner somewhere and putting a man (even a priest) in the center. Shouldn’t God be the center of our faith.

 

[paperwight66]

“with good reasons” e.g. your church is a Cathedral that has tourist traffic and there needs to be someplace where worshipers can go not interrupted by the crowd, etc.

Otherwise it should be in the center. I just don’t get the concept of sticking God off in a corner somewhere and putting a man (even a priest) in the center. Shouldn’t God be the center of our faith.

Errmmm… we couldn’t ‘stick God off in a corner somewhere’ even if we wanted to. He is everywhere, remember?

 

[laszlo]

The tabernacle at my parish was moved from the side (on the right most wall in the main church) to the center behind the altar about two years ago. It took the parish a lot of lobbying of the pastor to get that done.

A few months later, the pastor was moved and a new pastor arrived. His first order of business was to move the tabernacle off to the left side behind the altar. **His reason being that he refused to participate in Mass with his back to Our Lord. ** I can’t really argue with his reasoning.

My only point is that since the priest faces the congregation in the OF Mass, I understand it being off to the side and not in the center.

This is the problem with the free standing Altar.

Except for the Cathedrals and some very old churches, where the regular Mass shall be at the side altar, where the tabernacle is, any way; the tabernacle and the altar shall be in the center.

There are two proper resolutions:

1./ From the Offertory to his communion let the priest face the tabernacle and his back toward the people or

2./ Set the tabernacle between the people facing altar and people, so both are facing either the tabernacle and each other.

The tabernacle in the center with some catechesis could bring back the most important thing to the Mass: the reverence toward God.

 

[nicolep]

This is the problem with the free standing Altar.

Except for the Cathedrals and some very old churches, where the regular Mass shall be at the side altar, where the tabernacle is, any way; the tabernacle and the altar shall be in the center.

There are two proper resolutions:

1./ From the Offertory to his communion let the priest face the tabernacle and his back toward the people or

2./ Set the tabernacle between the people facing altar and people, so both are facing either the tabernacle and each other.

The tabernacle in the center with some catechesis could bring back the most important thing to the Mass: the reverence toward God.

It would not be possible to put the tabernacle in front of the alar due to the layout of the church. I agree that the tabernacle should be in the center. I, however, wouldn’t be comfortable with my back to Him either. You’re welcome to go right ahead and have a chat with my pastor if you’d like!

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

I just don’t get the concept of sticking God off in a corner somewhere and putting a man (even a priest) in the center. Shouldn’t God be the center of our faith.

Actually, the idea of placing the tabernacle to a non-center location has nothing to do with putting man or the priest as the center. The idea is making the altar the center of focus for Mass. Its the same reason that if there’s an adoration chapel attached to a church the chapel is usually closed during Mass times.

The theology of moving the tabernacle to a side prayer chapel is not terrible. It’s just that when the rubber hits the road it causes more problems than it solves…

 

[catholictiger]

Actually, the idea of placing the tabernacle to a non-center location has nothing to do with putting man or the priest as the center. The idea is making the altar the center of focus for Mass. Its the same reason that if there’s an adoration chapel attached to a church the chapel is usually closed during Mass times.

The theology of moving the tabernacle to a side prayer chapel is not terrible. It’s just that when the rubber hits the road it causes more problems than it solves…

you are right and make a very good point, i’m not going to condemn any church who moves their tabernacle vat 2 allows it and to my knowledge there is nothing against it.

but if I was in charge of building a church I would want the set up to be like the way the church is actually build of its people and of Christ.

The Tabernacle should be at the head of the Church to show that Christ is the head of our church and the leader of our church.

The Alter should be right in front of that and kinda at the center of the church, well not the exact center but i think you get the point

then the pews should be in the form of a cross in a way, two pews facing the alter as the hands of the cross

and then the main set of pews in line with the tabernacle.

i think the best type of church should be set up like that.

but i’m not going to condemn a church for not having that or force my opinion on people

 

[jbarbaretta]

Actually, the idea of placing the tabernacle to a non-center location has nothing to do with putting man or the priest as the center. The idea is making the altar the center of focus for Mass. Its the same reason that if there’s an adoration chapel attached to a church the chapel is usually closed during Mass times.

The theology of moving the tabernacle to a side prayer chapel is not terrible. It’s just that when the rubber hits the road it causes more problems than it solves…

Umm, I did not mean that churches moved the tabernacle TO make man the center, but for whatever reason, that is normally the outcome. You’ve taken away the tabernacle and there is a open space. almost always, the chairs for the priest end up in that spot. Therefore the priest becomes the center of the altar, not God.

And, I would argue that in large Cathedrals, having a side prayer chapel is a good thing, as it is often difficult to concentrate while people are walking through the main part of the church. That just isn’t an issue for most churches.

 

[nicolep]

Umm, I did not mean that churches moved the tabernacle TO make man the center, but for whatever reason, that is normally the outcome. You’ve taken away the tabernacle and there is a open space. almost always, the chairs for the priest end up in that spot. Therefore the priest becomes the center of the altar, not God.

And, I would argue that in large Cathedrals, having a side prayer chapel is a good thing, as it is often difficult to concentrate while people are walking through the main part of the church. That just isn’t an issue for most churches.

Really? Hmm…not doubting you. It’s just something I’ve never seen in my various trips to different churches. Typically, the altar is the center and the priests/deacons/servers are also off to the side.

 

[ConstantineTG]

It just feel to me that modern churches pay more attention to its facilities than the main altar. What bugs me the most is that the tabernacle is no longer in the center, but either on a side or just left hidden in some corner.

I believe it’s time for us to pay more attention to the altar and make it our main focus in and church building.

The tabernacle is not part of the altar. In some ways, its good that the focus during Mass is on the altar itself where bread and wine is offered and becomes the Body and Blood of Christ.

 

[Domnall]

Well, here’s what the USCCB has to say about the placement of the tabernacle…

"315. 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,

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);
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."

I’m not going to argue with what our bishops have instructed for all churches in the United States.

 

[Tepeyac]

I agree with the desire to keep the tabernacle in the sanctuary behind the altar (or on the high altar in older churches). I can see why in theory people would want to move it elsewhere but I think in practice it sends the wrong message to both the faithful and the casual visitor

It just feel to me that modern churches pay more attention to its facilities than the main altar.

I don’t blame people for caring about the facilities, though. Nowadays there are so many issues for a parish, like safety, accesibility for the elderly, etc. that if I were building a church I would put a lot of thought into it (while at the same time leaving the tabernacle prominent behind the altar )