Confused by the Blessed Sacrament

[scaron]

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?

 

[PatienceAndLove]

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?

Excuse me?

The Tabernacle is to be placed on the High Altar beneath the Crucifix. Your tabernacle is right where it needs to be. Ignore the book.

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

Why does the tabernacle need to be on the ‘high’ altar?

One sense of confusion I have seen regarding the tabernacle is the reason for its use.

I have had folks explain to me that Jesus ‘lives there’ and ‘comes out’ for the consecration.

I have had folks tell me it is the new Ark of the Covenant.

The purpose it to have a proper, safe and secure location to store any reserved sacrament. No ‘extra’ hosts at the end of mass? Then, in theory, you would have an empty tabernacle.

We keep reserved sacrament for private adoration and for taking to homebound/hospital bound.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Why does the tabernacle need to be on the ‘high’ altar?

Because the Tabernacle is what houses Jesus and therefore, needs to be in a place of great notice and reverence.

One sense of confusion I have seen regarding the tabernacle is the reason for its use.

I have had folks explain to me that Jesus ‘lives there’ and ‘comes out’ for the consecration.

Yes, Jesus lives there. The consecrated hosts that are kept in the tabernacle are taken out for communion after the consecration.

I have had folks tell me it is the new Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark of the New Covenant is Mary, not the Tabernacle.

The purpose it to have a proper, safe and secure location to store any reserved sacrament. No ‘extra’ hosts at the end of mass? Then, in theory, you would have an empty tabernacle.

If your Church has no tabernacle than there should be no left over hosts. Otherwise, there should also ways be the Body of Christ in the Tabernacle.

We keep reserved sacrament for private adoration and for taking to homebound/hospital bound.

Huh?

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

There does not ‘always’ have to be reserved sacrament in a tabernacle.

If there is sacrament to be reserved then a proper and secured tabernacle is needed.

It is not necessary to have extra sacrament from an earlier mass for a mass in process - there are times it may be helpful but it is not a must.

A mass in progress does not need a tabernacle in the middle of it nor does it need reserved sacrament.

 

[Phemie]

I’ve heard the argument before that people get confused by the tabernacle in the sanctuary, but let’s face it, they weren’t confused before liturgists decided that they were.

Canon Law says this about the Tabernacle:

Can. 938 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist is to be reserved habitually in only one tabernacle of a church or oratory.

§2. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is to be situated in some part of the church or oratory which is distinguished, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

It need not be the center of the sanctuary, but the sanctuary is the place for it unless there is a highly visible, easily found chapel of adoration.

 

[Phemie]

There does not ‘always’ have to be reserved sacrament in a tabernacle.

If there is sacrament to be reserved then a proper and secured tabernacle is needed.

It is not necessary to have extra sacrament from an earlier mass for a mass in process - there are times it may be helpful but it is not a must.

A mass in progress does not need a tabernacle in the middle of it nor does it need reserved sacrament.

Canon Law says that you are wrong.

Can. 934 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist:

1/ must be reserved in the cathedral church or its equivalent, in every parish church, and in a church or oratory connected to the house of a religious institute or society of apostolic life

Can. 939 Consecrated hosts in a quantity sufficient for the needs of the faithful are to be kept in a pyx or small vessel; they are to be renewed frequently and the older hosts consumed properly.

IOW, there must always be consecrated hosts available for viaticum.

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

Canon Law says that you are wrong.

Can. 934 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist:

1/ must be reserved in the cathedral church or its equivalent, in every parish church, and in a church or oratory connected to the house of a religious institute or society of apostolic life

Can. 939 Consecrated hosts in a quantity sufficient for the needs of the faithful are to be kept in a pyx or small vessel; they are to be renewed frequently and the older hosts consumed properly.

IOW, there must always be consecrated hosts available for viaticum.

There are churches/oratories with very low needs, and some that are used only certain times.

Not all have calls for viaticum.

 

[Phemie]

Ok, I’m sorry, you’re right that not every tabernacle in existence needs to be used.

But a PARISH church doesn’t have an option, it must have the Blessed Sacrament reserved even if there is only 1 mass per week. The only time the Tabernacle should be empty is between the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and the end of the Easter Vigil.

The canon does specify that oratories attached to religious houses must have the blessed sacrament reserved.

 

[jpjd]

There does not ‘always’ have to be reserved sacrament in a tabernacle.

Correct, although in my experience, there always is. The reason is so the Eucharist is available to take to the sick or shut-ins, and for private adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. In my parish, the only time there are no reserved hosts is Good Friday/Holy Saturday.

If there is sacrament to be reserved then a proper and secured tabernacle is needed.

Correct.

It is not necessary to have extra sacrament from an earlier mass for a mass in process - there are times it may be helpful but it is not a must.

Correct. At the start of Mass, the tabernacle could be empty, or it could contain many consecrated hosts in a ciborium. Also correct that at times it may be helpful to have consecrated hosts available in the tabernacle; at our parish, if during Communion the supply of hosts consecrated at this Mass unexpectedly runs low, then the priest will get the ciborium containing hosts previously consecrated out of the tabernacle.

A mass in progress does not need a tabernacle in the middle of it nor does it need reserved sacrament.

Correct. My parent’s parish has it’s tabernacle in a completely different area – not in the sanctuary or the pew area. It’s actually separated from the whole “worship space” (for lack of a better term) by double doors which lead to a chapel where the tabernacle is.

Although a Mass does not require a tabernacle near the altar, personally speaking I don’t understand why anyone would deliberately design the sanctuary without a place for a tabernacle behind the altar or at least to the side of it.

Personally speaking, I STRONGLY DISLIKE a set-up where the tabernacle is not in the sanctuary. It’s true that during Mass, the Sacrifice of the Mass on the altar is where we direct our attention; however, I like seeing the tabernacle behind the main altar and knowing that the Real Presence is there. I like genuflecting to the tabernacle when I enter and leave the pew. I like seeing a red candle when I enter a church. I DO NOT like entering a church where I don’t see a red candle, and I wonder where the tabernacle is. I DO NOT like seeing the ciborium with the extra hosts left over after Communion processed out of the worship space through the double doors.

But, that’s just my 2 cents! But I have a feeling many other Catholics would agree with me. The tabernacle belongs in the sanctuary, preferably behind the altar.

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

Yet isn’t the priest in persona Christe during Mass?

 

[benedictgal]

There does not ‘always’ have to be reserved sacrament in a tabernacle.

If there is sacrament to be reserved then a proper and secured tabernacle is needed.

It is not necessary to have extra sacrament from an earlier mass for a mass in process - there are times it may be helpful but it is not a must.

A mass in progress does not need a tabernacle in the middle of it nor does it need reserved sacrament.

A Catholic Church must always have Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The only time that the Lord is not present in the Tabernacle is during Triduum. Before the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the Tabernacle. The door to the Tabernacle is open, while the Blessed Sacrament is placed in a special place of reservation until the Mass begins. This goes back to an ancient Tradition.

Sufficient hosts are to be consecrated in order for the Faithful to receive Holy Communion for both Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The sick can receive Holy Communion at any time.

After Communion, the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession to the altar of repose, which is supposed to be located away from the Main Sanctuary. The Tabernacle, for all practical purposes, is then empty.

This is the only time when the Sanctuary Lamp is not lit. During the Easter Vigil, after Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament is returned to the Tabernacle and the Sanctuary Lamp is lit once again.

The reason I am providing this long diatribe is to indicate that there is only one occasion during the entire year when the Blessed Sacrament is not in the Tabernacle, and that is during Triduum. At all other times, the Blessed Sacrament must be in a Tabernalce in a Catholic Church.

 

[benedictgal]

Yet isn’t the priest in persona Christe during Mass?

I think that you are confused about the presnce of Christ. The real presence of Jesus exists in the Blessed Sacrament. He is present there, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The same Jesus who was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, born in Bethlehem, healed the sick, preached the Good News, raised the dead, suffered, died, was crucified, buried and who rose from the dead, is the same Jesus really present in the Blessed Sacrament.

The priest is in persona Christe by virtue of his ordination. However, we do not “worship” the priest, just like we don’t worship each other because we are the Body of Christ (although, unfortunately, some hymns tend to turn the Mass into a celebration of the community, but, that’s another thread). We worship the God who comes down to us in the forms of bread and wine, through the words of the priest. At the Consecration, it is no longer bread and wine, but the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

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.

 

[jpjd]

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

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

Here is an excerpt from this excellent article:

"These liturgists have argued that the visible presence of the tabernacle in the sanctuary – as distinct from on the altar – distracts attention away from the sacred action of the celebration.

While this might appear true in theory, pastoral experience seems to confirm that it is rarely a problem for the vast majority of faithful who are normally attentive to the sacred rites, and at least in some countries, are more likely to be distracted by lighting votive lamps to their favorite saint than by the tabernacle.

A correspondent from North Carolina, a member of a parish liturgy committee, asked if the tabernacle may be placed behind the altar.

Although the final decision as to where to locate the tabernacle falls to the bishop and not the committee, this body, being closer to the concrete reality of the parish, may make recommendations.

The tabernacle may be placed to one side, but in a duly prominent manner or even placed in an old high altar no longer used for celebration (see the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Nos. 303, 310 and 315).

Since the old high altar is almost certainly located directly behind the new altar, this indication of the GIRM would seem to imply that the tabernacle may also be located directly behind the altar even in newer or renovated churches that have no old altars. The priest’s chair, however, should never be placed under or immediately in front of the tabernacle (see GIRM, No. 310)."

 

[jpjd]

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.

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

 

[PatienceAndLove]

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.

Where in the world did you pick that up?

 

[Phemie]

Where in the world did you pick that up?

I wondered the same thing. I have never heard that bit of misinformation before.

It would definitely invalidate any Mass celebrated outside a church and any Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Easter Vigil.

 

[PatienceAndLove]

I wondered the same thing. I have never heard that bit of misinformation before.

It would definitely invalidate any Mass celebrated outside a church and any Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Easter Vigil.

Yeah. I am really wondering at this poster. Nothing s/he says seems to make sense, and I have heard some wacky Eucharistic things over the years. But these just take the cake!

 

[Just_1_hr_a_wk]

Where in the world did you pick that up?

Sadly - other discussions regarding where the tabernacle should be.

The individuals claim to be ‘traditional’ Catholics and see this as primary reason for ‘proper’ placement of the tabernacle.