If there is a small chapel with a kneeler before the tabernacle, then that would be fine. But when one goes into a Catholic Church where the tabernacle is in the sanctuary that is separated from the main body of the church then it is not proper to go up into the sanctuary to pray in front of the tabernacle.Oftentimes I go into a church and pray before the tabernacle in the sanctuary. I assumed it was ok because at our chapel at school there is a kneeler kept before the tabernacle. Someone on here posted that lay people aren’t supposed to go into the sanctuary normally. What’s the deal?
It would depend on your local setting. If your pastor allows it and if you are reverent there’s no problem with you entering the sanctuary to pray before the reposed Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass. There is no Church directive that says this is wrong.Oftentimes I go into a church and pray before the tabernacle in the sanctuary. I assumed it was ok because at our chapel at school there is a kneeler kept before the tabernacle. Someone on here posted that lay people aren’t supposed to go into the sanctuary normally. What’s the deal?
I live in a small rural community and attend a small rural church; it only holds capacity for about 200 people. So, there have been occasions after Mass when everyone is gone where I go before the tabernacle in the sanctuary and pray. I wouldn’t do this while other people were in the Church; but if I’m all alone …It would depend on your local setting. If your pastor allows it and if you are reverent there’s no problem with you entering the sanctuary to pray before the reposed Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass. There is no Church directive that says this is wrong.
Do you have a source for this?Lay people don’t belong in the sanctuary, nor do they have a right to be there.
Stay in the pews.
I am not aware of any Church rule that bars anyone from praying before the Blessed Sacrament in the sanctuary. I would use a little common sense. If there is a kneeler within sight of the pews, I would take that as an invitation to personal prayer. If the tabernacle is truly in a separate area, I would ask the priest if it was okay to go in to pray. I can’t think of any reason he would say no, but there may be security reasons why he would want to be aware you were there.Oftentimes I go into a church and pray before the tabernacle in the sanctuary. I assumed it was ok because at our chapel at school there is a kneeler kept before the tabernacle. Someone on here posted that lay people aren’t supposed to go into the sanctuary normally. What’s the deal?
Why would they be permitted? I cannot think of anything off-hand (but I will look into it), but I cannot see a reason why the laity would be permitted in the sanctuary.Do you have a source for this?
My home parish has about 12 chairs and kneelers set up in the sanctuary where people are welcome to enter and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Neither my pastor, nor any of the associate priests, nor the in-residence Bishop has ever instructed otherwise.
Who told you that lay people have no right to be in the sanctuary?
=================================================================Oftentimes I go into a church and pray before the tabernacle in the sanctuary. I assumed it was ok because at our chapel at school there is a kneeler kept before the tabernacle. Someone on here posted that lay people aren’t supposed to go into the sanctuary normally. What’s the deal?
We dust and vacuum there, and keep the flowers watered…outside of Mass. There is a time when the clergy and their chosen assistants are the only ones who ought to be in the sanctuary, excepting when there is an extraordinary need. (Even cleaning ought to be done reverently and without dawdling around or chatting, as if it were a hotel lobby.) At other times, I cannot see why a pastor might not allow kneelers in the sanctuary, for use by both the clergy and the laity.Why would they be permitted? I cannot think of anything off-hand (but I will look into it), but I cannot see a reason why the laity would be permitted in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is the holy place where the priest offers the Mass. I see no reason why we should have a right to enter there. Up until churches (wrongfully) tore out altar rails, altar rails marked off the sanctuary, and laity could not (easily) get around it. I think the practice of altar rails speaks contrary to the laity being permitted in the sanctuary.
But I’ll continue to look. I would appreciate it if you also looked for information permitting laity in the sanctuary.
In the old days, the laity stayed out of the Sanctuary because the tabernacle was there and Jesus was there. I would imagine it comes from the old Jewish Temple and the Holy of Holies. When I was a kid, the only ones permitted in the sanctuary were the Clergy, the Servers and outside of Mass those cleaning or setting up or whatever. Today after all these years I wouldn’t dream of entering the sanctuary except in one of those roles.Could people please give me some sources that are orthodox? I’m getting conflicting messages and am starting to cry. The reason why I like to go before the tablernacle is so I can be closer to Jesus. If I’m not supposed to be up there I won’t go up there but I want to know what the Church teaches and why…with credible sources.
I’ll see you there at Mass, in front of the Blessed Sacrament.Why would they be permitted? I cannot think of anything off-hand (but I will look into it), but I cannot see a reason why the laity would be permitted in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is the holy place where the priest offers the Mass. I see no reason why we should have a right to enter there. Up until churches (wrongfully) tore out altar rails, altar rails marked off the sanctuary, and laity could not (easily) get around it. I think the practice of altar rails speaks contrary to the laity being permitted in the sanctuary.
But I’ll continue to look. I would appreciate it if you also looked for information permitting laity in the sanctuary.
Without laity in the sanctuary, it would never be cleaned and the altar cloths would remain unwashed.Why would they be permitted? I cannot think of anything off-hand (but I will look into it), but I cannot see a reason why the laity would be permitted in the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is the holy place where the priest offers the Mass. I see no reason why we should have a right to enter there. Up until churches (wrongfully) tore out altar rails, altar rails marked off the sanctuary, and laity could not (easily) get around it. I think the practice of altar rails speaks contrary to the laity being permitted in the sanctuary.
But I’ll continue to look. I would appreciate it if you also looked for information permitting laity in the sanctuary.
It is best to ask your pastor. Like someone said, it may depend upon the particular setting. Our chuch is inner city and we sometimes have transients wandering in. I have seen someone wander up into the sanctuary and pick up one of the candles and light it. It makes it a little awkward when you have to tell someone that they really should not be in the sanctuary if they see others up there that have no real need to be.Could people please give me some sources that are orthodox? I’m getting conflicting messages and am starting to cry. The reason why I like to go before the tablernacle is so I can be closer to Jesus. If I’m not supposed to be up there I won’t go up there but I want to know what the Church teaches and why…with credible sources.
That’s simply not supported by what the Church actually directs, during the Mass (at specific points) and outside of Mass.Lay people don’t belong in the sanctuary, nor do they have a right to be there.
Stay in the pews.
Actually the burden of proof is on you – to show the laity is prohibited from entering the sanctuary – good luck. There are MANY reasons why the laity might enter the sanctuary (at appropriate times of course)Why would they be permitted? I cannot think of anything off-hand (but I will look into it), but I cannot see a reason why the laity would be permitted in the sanctuary.
See above.The sanctuary is the holy place where the priest offers the Mass. I see no reason why we should have a right to enter there. Up until churches (wrongfully) tore out altar rails, altar rails marked off the sanctuary, and laity could not (easily) get around it. I think the practice of altar rails speaks contrary to the laity being permitted in the sanctuary.
Just read the GIRM where is says the responsorial psalm is best sung/chanted from the ambo. Read about altar servers in the same document, etc. etc. etc.But I’ll continue to look. I would appreciate it if you also looked for information permitting laity in the sanctuary.
, the Most Holy Sacrament is to be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is noble, prominent, readily visible, and adorned in a dignified manner” and furthermore “suitable for prayer” by reason of the quietness of the location, the space available in front of the tabernacle, and also the supply of benches or seats and kneelers.[221] In addition, diligent attention should be paid to all the prescriptions of the liturgical books and to the norm of law,[222] especially as regards the avoidance of the danger of profanation.[223]/SIZE[130.]** “According to the structure of each church building and in accordance with legitimate local customs**