Confused by the Blessed Sacrament

[japhy]

Father gave me the USCCB book on church design, called “Built of Living Stones” at Mass this morning, and I just finished it.

One thing I am very confused about in this book is a constant reference to the congregation being “distracted” or “confused” by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament on or near the altar during Mass.

The issue is that, according to some interpretations of the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, Jesus should not be sacramentally present on the altar until the moment of consecration. Having a tabernacle placed on the altar (as it was before the new liturgy) is opposed to that mentality. I don’t see why it should be a problem, though.

Anyway, “Built on Living Stones” and its predecessor, “Environment and Art in Catholic Worship” are all hung up on people seeing each one another and interacting with one another.

 

[Al_Masetti]

There was a trend some years ago (that may still be going on).

One church that I know of tried to replace the altar with the choir and the organ pipes [huge job … hundreds of thousands of dollars] (relocated from the choir loft). Folks protested. About a third of the parish “walked out” [went to other parishes]. Turned into a big political (and financial) mess.

A number of churches that I have visited have made the Tabernacle invisible. One was absolutely impossible to find; but I found myself being “drawn” to a wall … with wood paneling and vertical closely-spaced grooves. For “whatever reason” I pressed in on the wall in one place, and a doorway popped open. In cabinet making these are called “touch latches”… no visible hardware or joinery. It was a broom closet. And there was My Lord Jesus!

At least one Catholic newspaper (The Wanderer) referred to these renovations as “wreckovations”.

You might want to contact the editor of The Wanderer and ask if they know of a book on “wreckovations” or perhaps a series of articles describing what has gone on elsewhere in terms of what parishioners have done in these situations.

On the other hand, one pastor asked the parishioners how they would prefer to deal with the dictates of the diocesean letter on renovations. After a lot of study and prayer, … They ended up with the Tabernacle on a side altar, a separate Blessed Sacrament Chapel near the entrance of the church, and the old tiny church converted to a daily Mass chapel … three tabernacles … and the diocese apparently was satisfied.

 

[John_Lilburne]

…Father gave me the USCCB book on church design, called “Built of Living Stones” at Mass this morning, and I just finished it.

One thing I am very confused about in this book is a constant reference to the congregation being “distracted” or “confused” by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament on or near the altar during Mass.

We have our tabernacle right in the Sanctuary. This has certainly never been an issue for me - can anyone clue me in on this?

Built of Living Stones is at usccb.org/liturgy/livingstones.shtml . The word “distracted” only appears in footnotes 72 and 201. In both cases it is quoting from the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 303:

"In the building of new churches, it is especially important that a single altar be erected which signifies to the assembly of the faithful the one Christ and the one Eucharist of the Church.

“However, in churches already built, when an old altar is already so positioned that it makes the participation of the people difficult, or it is impossible to move it without detriment to its artistic value, then another fixed altar may be erected. It should be artfully made and dedicated according to the rite. The sacred celebrations should be performed upon it alone; and in order that the attention of the faithful not be distracted from the new altar, the old altar should not be decorated in any special way.”

A slightly different translation has been approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“303. In building new churches, it is preferable to erect a single altar which in the gathering of the faithful will signify the one Christ and the one Eucharist of the Church.
In already existing churches, however, when the old altar is positioned so that it makes the people’s participation difficult but cannot be moved without damage to its artistic value, another fixed altar, of artistic merit and duly dedicated, should be erected and sacred rites celebrated on it alone. In order not to distract the attention of the faithful from the new altar, the old altar should not be decorated in any special way.”

Before 1970 the altar was usually against a wall. It was not freestanding, so that ministers could walk around it. The 1970 GIRM had: “262. The main altar should be freestanding to allow the ministers to walk around it easily and Mass to be celebrated facing the people.” (Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 518).

 

[Cathryn]

Decisions on where to locate a tabernacle should not be based on the misunderstandings of poorly catechized Catholics.

At the two parishes in my neck of the woods, the tabernacle has finally returned front and center just recently.

 

[palmas85]

My parish priest has asked me to participate in a group that will recommend some changes to our Church. We had a big re-model about 5 years ago that did a tremendous job, in my opinion, but the money ran out and they did not get to do everything, so this phase II plan is being built.

Father gave me the USCCB book on church design, called “Built of Living Stones” at Mass this morning, and I just finished it.

One thing I am very confused about in this book is a constant reference to the congregation being “distracted” or “confused” by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament on or near the altar during Mass.

We have our tabernacle right in the Sanctuary. This has certainly never been an issue for me - can anyone clue me in on this?

There is at least in modern theology a very good explanation for this statement. You see, in the Pauline Mass we are called upon to be aware of and to focus on Christ present in the Community and NOT Christ present on the altar. Thats it in a nutshell. You are to see your neighbor as Christ and he to see you the same way. It is felt by many that having the Tabernacle front and center where it actually dominates things would distract you from seeing Christ in the person next to you as your mind would be drawn to the Real Presence of Christ on the Altar.

Simple, logical to a degree and very very progressive in thought. Actually in the years immediately following Vatican II and actually up to the present in many areas, such devotions as Adorations, Expositions etc were pretty much done away with for the same reason. You were not supposed to focus on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. That was thought to actually be kind of superstitious and old fashioned. Luckily, as the new Spring matures into summer, such practices are making a big comeback:thumbsup: and tabernacles are slowly returning to the Altar where they had been before.

The wails, moaning and gnashing of teeth you hear are from the progressives who see all the good hard work of the past forty years being swept away. Sad, so sad.:crying:

Oh well.

 

[scaron]

RomanRite - Translation of General Instruction

:
“303. In building new churches, it is preferable to erect a single altar which in the gathering of the faithful will signify the one Christ and the one Eucharist of the Church.
In already existing churches, however, when the old altar is positioned so that it makes the people’s participation difficult but cannot be moved without damage to its artistic value, another fixed altar, of artistic merit and duly dedicated, should be erected and sacred rites celebrated on it alone. In order not to distract the attention of the faithful from the new altar, the old altar should not be decorated in any special way.”

Before 1970 the altar was usually against a wall. It was not freestanding, so that ministers could walk around it. The 1970 GIRM had: “262. The main altar should be freestanding to allow the ministers to walk around it easily and Mass to be celebrated facing the people.” (Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 518).

Thanks John - perhaps “constantly” was an overstatement on my part - this is the particular reference I had in mind.

We have a newer church (mid-60’s in design) and do not have a high altar or side altars - just a walk-around altar as described in your quote.

We presently have the tabernacle in the sanctuary, to one side of the altar, and prominently displayed and lit. I think it is perfect as is, and hope there is not a move to change it.

 

[scaron]

To the OP, I found this article, which very directly addresses your confusion!

home.catholicweb.com/catholicmessagesusa/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=101715&From=Home

Thank you for this excellent link. I will print it and keep it with the set of notes I am putting together for this committee.

 

[Phemie]

We presently have the tabernacle in the sanctuary, to one side of the altar, and prominently displayed and lit. I think it is perfect as is, and hope there is not a move to change it.

That’s where we have ours. You can’t miss it when you walk into the church. There are some who would have it moved out and into its own chapel, luckily we have no such space so unless someone wins the lotto and gives money for structural changes the Tabernacle is going to stay right where it is.

 

[jmcrae]

My parish priest has asked me to participate in a group that will recommend some changes to our Church. We had a big re-model about 5 years ago that did a tremendous job, in my opinion, but the money ran out and they did not get to do everything, so this phase II plan is being built.

Father gave me the USCCB book on church design, called “Built of Living Stones” at Mass this morning, and I just finished it.

One thing I am very confused about in this book is a constant reference to the congregation being “distracted” or “confused” by the presence of the Blessed Sacrament on or near the altar during Mass.

We have our tabernacle right in the Sanctuary. This has certainly never been an issue for me - can anyone clue me in on this?

“Lose” the book. The Tabernacle belongs in the Sanctuary. (It should be moveable so that it can be taken out and put some place safe when non-liturgical events are taking place in the Church. But it’s “home” should be right underneath the Crucifix that hangs on the back (front) wall of your Sanctuary, and right behind the Altar.)

If they want to have an Adoration Chapel, the neatest solution I’ve ever seen (at St. Albert the Great here in Calgary) was to have the Adoration Chapel behind the back wall of the Altar, with the Tabernacle on a window-like ledge crossing between the Sanctuary and the Adoration Chapel.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

scaron

Well, regardless of what you read in this forum, or the book that your pastor gave you, it will be the Bishop of your dioceses who decides where you can place the tabernacle.

Better check with the chancery first.

Jim

 

[Phemie]

“Lose” the book. The Tabernacle belongs in the Sanctuary. (It should be moveable so that it can be taken out and put some place safe when non-liturgical events are taking place in the Church.
Er, no, Canon Law mandates that it be fixed.

 

[DJgang]

One problem that I have seen come up is folks thinking having reserved sacrament on hand makes the mass valid.

A sacramental starters yeast so to speak.

It’s the Boby of Christ not mama’s sourdough bread.

Where did you hear that?