Does anyone else have a problem with using this as a form of protest?
Yes… If Jesus is in the tabernacle (and He is) it is therefore inappropriate to genuflect in another direction. I would think it would only be important t to genuflect towards the tabernacle…
It should be front and center. Protesting in this way is problematic. Thank you for catching that.
Your post about St. Paul of the Walls really got me thinking, and I did some reading and research (although I point out that it wasn’t very charitably shared… took me a day to actually take you seriously after the initial tone etc.)
I still think that in every parish Church (as opposed to large Cathedrals/Basilicas etc.) the Tabernacle NEEDS to be the center, and it is disrespectful to do it any other way.
That said, it is up to the local ordinary.
Here are the two pieces I read that I thought addressed the topic most lucidly.
ewtn.net/expert/answers/tabernacle_placement.htm
adoremus.org/98-01_elliott.htm
adoremus.org/7-899Tabernacle.html
Here is the difference in the situation in a place like a Cathedral or Basilica:
One relevant section from these articles:
"Separate Chapels for Cathedrals
Father Gilbert Ostdiek, OFM, in his presentation to parish building committees called “Tabernacle Placement & Design: A Commentary”, says that the 1984 Caeremoniale Episcoporum (CE- Ceremonial for Bishops) “recommends a reservation chapel separate from the main body of the church” (Ostdiek, 5.1).
Father Ostdiek cites §49 of the Caeremoniale to support his view; but he neglects to mention that the document specifically concerns cathedrals, not ordinary churches. Even within cathedrals, the quoted paragraph “recommends” but does not mandate this placement of the reserved Sacrament.
The footnote to this paragraph from CE (n. 49) refers to the 1967 Instruction of Pope Paul VI, De Sacra Communione… (Holy Communion and Worship outside of Mass) n. 9. The relevant sentence is,
This [personal worship] will be achieved more easily if the chapel is separate from the body of the church, especially in churches where marriages and funerals are celebrated frequently and in churches where there are many visitors because of pilgrimages or the artistic and historical treasures.
This passage makes it clear that a separate chapel is recommended especially for large, busy churches, such as cathedrals and those which may be tourist attractions. (Saint Peters in Rome has a separate chapel of reservation in which perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place, and where one always finds visitors kneeling in prayer.)
The reasoning here is obvious: in such churches adoration of the Blessed Sacrament could be disrupted by people continually walking about. There is no indication whatever, here or in any other authoritative Church document, that every church, including ordinary parish churches, must or even should have a separate chapel for reservation of the Eucharist." (Hitchcock).
I think your comment regarding my post about respectfully leaving without saying anything was a little combative and less than charitable.
I am sorry if I am misinterpreting you.
But having visited this forum for some time now I am aghast at the general lack of charity (not you per se… just about everyone… it seems a part of the culture so to speak).
When I said I would respectfully and quietly leave as if I forgot something that is exactly what I meant. I wouldn’t make a scene or anything.
Furthermore, as a supporter of Summorum Pontificum and Catholic tradition, the liturgical deformations seem almost custom designed to prevent any sort of traditional Catholic liturgical praxis in the same space… and this is concerning to me.
Peace!
sad. We need some young priests in charge in a few years to change things. =)
