Is it ok to pray before the tabernacle in the sanctuary?

[BernadetteM]

Originally Posted by BernadetteM
Thank you for your support in this matter. The Norvus Ordo was what Catholics I know called the Mass. I see on the forums that people use FM or OF now. Also TLM was also used. I really don’t understand where Oh’Malley is coming from. He appears to be a very angry person.

What is wrong with a parish that is reverent and doesn’t use some of the innovations that have come into the Church over the past 40 years. Each of us can choose (at least some times which style of Mass to attend).

Would you be so kind as to explain what Oh’Malley is so against. I really have no idea. Is it now improper to call a Mass NO? If you go to the Traditional section of the forum you will find this term used.

I feel that our Lord has a special place for us to feel comfortable in for worship and we should not judge anyone if they choose something different than we choose.

I assume he doesn’t like Latin Masses either. I don’t attend it as I love the hymns we sing and we follow the missal that many other parishes follow.

Again thanks for your support and gentleness, you are a Catholic that will bring in non catholics because you have a caring nature and that is what evangelizes people, not showing anger, but being more Christ like. I am a convert to the Church and it is people with your attitude that would make me want to be part of the Catholic Church

God Bless

Bernadette

Wow your the one who sounds really angry and judgemental. Your assuming alot about someone and it isn’t very charitable. I’ve noticed on these forums that talking about different forms of the Mass is like talking about race…people are way to sensitive.

I really have no idea where all this hostility has come from. If you read his/her post it surely wasn’t very nice. All I was doing in my post was explaining what we do at our parish. I was not saying anything about other masses. Maybe as one poster explained he/she doesn’t understand some of the initials used, that they are new, but I am also new and from many posts on the different forums different terms are used to describe the Mass. I was not comparing one mass with another as far as being better or more valid. I even asked for correction if I had made an error. I really would appreciate it if posters were more charitable. I felt offended when the poster jumped on me and that is why I used the word anger, because that is the emotion I got from the response.

I never purposely say hurtful things to others and still have no idea how my post was so miscontrued.

God Bless

 

[mfinnegan]

I never purposely say hurtful things to others and still have no idea how my post was so miscontrued.

God Bless

:hug1: sorry…i should not have jumped on you.

 

[Halos1n2Horns]

In my church there is 3 altars because its a old church ( 1800’s) although its been re done over to modern style we have the main sanctuary but it doesn’t have the tabernacle on it. Its off to the side by itself on a altar separate from the sanctuary. with kneelers and all are told to go before the tabernacle for the praying to Christ. Before you sit in the pews. Especially the laity. Then we have a altar that the Blessed Virgin sits on to on the other side of the sanctuary, with kneelers also. So I would assume that it depends on your church and how it’s set up . Older Churches have kneelers in the sanctuary for prayer.
I believe that it would depend on the priest not so much as to who’s in the church, because he’s in charge. And I would assume he wouldn’t stop you from praying before the Blessed sacrament, before masses or other wise, He may though tell ya to make it short if its a sunday mass. Alterservers and laity ( such as rosary or altar guild ) are usually in the sanctuary on Sundays ( and lectors) depending on what needs to be done before masses. Ours are usually setting up for mass or getting candles lite ( if no alterserver is available ). And we don’t have a chapel or a cry room , we have just the main church part with a very small vestibule. So i would say ask your priest, and go by what he says to do.

You may want to ask him if they could put a kneeler ( during the week days) in front of the sanctuary for praying to the Blessed sacrament to .

May Christ always remain in us Halos

 

[Claire_from_DE]

To the OP, if there’s a kneeler in the sanctuary and it is facing the tabernacle, it is obvious that people may kneel there to pray. If not, it may not be customary in that parish but you could ask the pastor if it would be OK.

 

[AngelRose81]

There is nothing wrong with going to the chapel to pray before the Blessed Sacrament or going inside the church to pray if the tabernacle is kept on the altar. But reading through the posts I think that some people have a different definition for “sanctuary” than many Catholics do. I myself am a convert and when I hear sanctuary, I think of the interior church where the congregation sits plus this also includes the altar if there is one and the “stage” which is present in many protestant churches. Now, the Catholic terms are a bit different.

The “sanctuary” is where the altar is and where the priests offers Mass. I was taught in RCIA that only priests, deacons, & altar servers are to be there during Mass; however, at other necessary times (cleaning, etc.) BAPTIZED persons may go in the sanctuary if the need arises. What I think the OP and some others are referring to when they say “sanctuary” is actually the “nave” which is where the people sit & kneel during Mass. The “nave” is where the pews are. At least that’s what I was taught. Maybe that will help clear up somethings that were going on in this thread. Either way, I was taught in RCIA that both were considered holy, and I remember on incident where the RCIA director got onto someone for accidentially bringing a cup of coffee into the nave. She said this is a holy place and there aren’t to be beverages or food in there.

 

[Shana]

What I mean by sanctuary is the elevated section where the altar is.

 

[Joannm]

I feel very lucky. I attend a very traditional NO parish. We also have TLM on Sundays. We have an altar rail and the Tabernacle is in the center of the altar. All our masses are celebrated facing East.

During the day many come and kneel at the altar/communion rail and adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

I am positive that our Pastor would not let anyone except altar boys, lecturers etc. beyond the altar rail.

Once when we had a speaker during a mission our priest removed the Blessed Sacrament and also the red candle, until the speaker was through.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Why would they remove the Blessed Sacrament during a mission? It does not make sense. Even in Pre Vat II days when there were missions the Blessed Sacrament was kept in the tabernacle. Often it is exposed during a mission, as it was last year when Fr. Groschel’s friars came to give a mission.

 

[BernadetteM]

Why would they remove the Blessed Sacrament during a mission? It does not make sense. Even in Pre Vat II days when there were missions the Blessed Sacrament was kept in the tabernacle. Often it is exposed during a mission, as it was last year when Fr. Groschel’s friars came to give a mission.

I think because it as not a liturgical service. The speaker stood right in front of the altar. I can’t speak for his reason, except that I believe he stated that for reverence for the Blessed Sacrament he had moved it.

Of course the pastor is the top man at the parish and if he felt it was disrespectful then he is the one to make those decisions.

At Fr. Groschel’s mission did they have adoration or was it just speakers and anwers and questions from the people attending?

I have no idea what they did before Pre Vat II days as I was not Catholic. I believe that a prior poster mentioned that their priest removed the Sacrament before they could clean the sanctuary. I might be incorrect, but that is my recall.

Bernadette

 

[Joannm]

I think because it as not a liturgical service. The speaker stood right in front of the altar. I can’t speak for his reason, except that I believe he stated that for reverence for the Blessed Sacrament he had moved it.

Of course the pastor is the top man at the parish and if he felt it was disrespectful then he is the one to make those decisions.

At Fr. Groschel’s mission did they have adoration or was it just speakers and anwers and questions from the people attending?

I have no idea what they did before Pre Vat II days as I was not Catholic. I believe that a prior poster mentioned that their priest removed the Sacrament before they could clean the sanctuary. I might be incorrect, but that is my recall.

Bernadette

Just as in any mission they had a prayer service and a talk with questions and answers. I have never been into a church that removed the Blessed Sacrament for a mission or even for a talk. One parish I know usually has talks of a religious nature in the church since it is the largest place to gather people. I don’t see how that is disrespectful to the Blessed Sacrament. The same thing with cleaning. Many times there are people in the church praying when they are cleaning it. Many times, due to funerals or other situations, there is no regular time for cleaning. People come into the church all the time to pary and to tell them they can’t pray before the Blessed Sacrament because the church is being cleaned is just plain nonesense. Is Jesus offended by people cleaning His house? Maybe the cleaners pray while cleaning? WHat about rehearsals for weddings or school masses? Would he remove the Eucharist for those occasions? What about altar service practice? If he is going to remove it for cleaning then why not for rehearsals. The only time my pastor removes the Sacrament is if we are having a truly secular event or an interfaith event such as our town has around Thanksgiving.

 

[BernadetteM]

Just as in any mission they had a prayer service and a talk with questions and answers. I have never been into a church that removed the Blessed Sacrament for a mission or even for a talk. One parish I know usually has talks of a religious nature in the church since it is the largest place to gather people. I don’t see how that is disrespectful to the Blessed Sacrament. The same thing with cleaning. Many times there are people in the church praying when they are cleaning it. Many times, due to funerals or other situations, there is no regular time for cleaning. People come into the church all the time to pary and to tell them they can’t pray before the Blessed Sacrament because the church is being cleaned is just plain nonesense. Is Jesus offended by people cleaning His house? Maybe the cleaners pray while cleaning? WHat about rehearsals for weddings or school masses? Would he remove the Eucharist for those occasions? What about altar service practice? If he is going to remove it for cleaning then why not for rehearsals. The only time my pastor removes the Sacrament is if we are having a truly secular event or an interfaith event such as our town has around Thanksgiving.

As I stated in my answer I really don’t know his motives and I am not the one to judge them. It seems that this issue really bothers you. The only suggestion I can give is that I am willing to PM you the name of the church and if you would like you could ask him. He is a very caring person and I am sure that he would be happy to answer any questions you may have. I am not being sarcastic so please take this suggestion in a loving way.

As Catholics we all have our individual opinions about what we consider really important issues within the Church and it is best to just let go of how other parishes or people conduct what is done within their church as long as it is in line with Catholic teaching. I in no instance feel that not removing the Holy Sacrament is disrespectful, I was just stating that this was what was done in my parish.

Every parish is different is some way or another and I just accept them as they are and try to obtain a closer relationship with God whether their way is my way of doing things.

God Bless you

 

[EvelynEVF]

On the one hand, I can see removing Him if there is going to be a crew of non-parishioners coming in to do some major cleaning and polishing, climbing around everywhere, for an annual deep cleaning or something. That does make sense to me.

On the other, I always like it that when I’m in the sanctuary doing something pretty mundane, like arranging flowers, that I can talk to Jesus while I’m there. It also means there is no false distinction between liturgical actions being holy and mundane ones being somehow unclean.

I’m sure it’s a pastoral decision and they each have good reasons for the choices they make in particular circumstances.

 

[weepixie71]

Oh please, give it a rest. All of this nonsense about the NO Mass or the N.O. Mass, or the Novus Ordo Mass is getting old really quickly. If she had said something negative in any respect about the Ordinary Form of the Mass at her Parish I might tend to agree with you. Heck I woould agree with you.

But she said it was a reverent orthodox Parish with reverent Orthodox Masses. What more do you want? Are you upset because they have both Rites at the same Church? Or are you so wrapped up in looking for attacks on the Ordinary Form that you will jump on every opportunity to scream foul even when none exists or was even intended?.

And if you are sorry to hear that they don’t hold hands during the Our Father:bigyikes: or offer each other the Sign of Peace in the same way that you do, get ready for some big news. Neither of those postures as far as I know is obligatory and if the Priests extends the Sign of Peace then all is well. It is to be done according to local custom, or maybe you missed that one. You don’t have to shake hands, flash the peace sign high five or hug your neighbors and roam up and down to aisles grabbing everybody in arms length for the Sign of Peace to be accomplished.

In my travels I see more and more parishes adopting practices similar to what the poster described and you know what?

Its about time…

BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!:yeah_me:

 

[weepixie71]

Just as in any mission they had a prayer service and a talk with questions and answers. I have never been into a church that removed the Blessed Sacrament for a mission or even for a talk. One parish I know usually has talks of a religious nature in the church since it is the largest place to gather people. I don’t see how that is disrespectful to the Blessed Sacrament. The same thing with cleaning. Many times there are people in the church praying when they are cleaning it. Many times, due to funerals or other situations, there is no regular time for cleaning. People come into the church all the time to pary and to tell them they can’t pray before the Blessed Sacrament because the church is being cleaned is just plain nonesense. Is Jesus offended by people cleaning His house? Maybe the cleaners pray while cleaning? WHat about rehearsals for weddings or school masses? Would he remove the Eucharist for those occasions? What about altar service practice? If he is going to remove it for cleaning then why not for rehearsals. The only time my pastor removes the Sacrament is if we are having a truly secular event or an interfaith event such as our town has around Thanksgiving.

then i am not sure if maybe you fully understand the behavior that is to take place when the candle is lit in church. it should be all about Christ, His saints, or mother.
when we are cleaning, we talk about each others friends and families, politics, silly children stories, ask if any one has seen the murphy’s oil, etc. we could not do this if Christ was in the tabernacle. we would have to clean in quiet, solemn reverence. in constant prayer.

when Christ is removed from the tabernacle, you can have a meeting in your church about anything your parish likes: pro-life committee, next bake sale, knights of columbus meetings, school play, etc. its not like one could focus on prayer while these things were going on anyway.

 

[Joannm]

then i am not sure if maybe you fully understand the behavior that is to take place when the candle is lit in church. it should be all about Christ, His saints, or mother.
when we are cleaning, we talk about each others friends and families, politics, silly children stories, ask if any one has seen the murphy’s oil, etc. we could not do this if Christ was in the tabernacle. we would have to clean in quiet, solemn reverence. in constant prayer.

when Christ is removed from the tabernacle, you can have a meeting in your church about anything your parish likes: pro-life committee, next bake sale, knights of columbus meetings, school play, etc. its not like one could focus on prayer while these things were going on anyway.

The women who clean our church do it very quietly. The do not talk. I really do not think Jesus is offended by people cleaning His house. Maybe though the priest should remove the Blessed Sacrament before Mass begins or after since it is noiser at that time than when the cleaning ladies are vacuuming or dusting.

 

[paperwight]

The women who clean our church do it very quietly. The do not talk. I really do not think Jesus is offended by people cleaning His house. Maybe though the priest should remove the Blessed Sacrament before Mass begins or after since it is noiser at that time than when the cleaning ladies are vacuuming or dusting.

Quite. I’d like to express several thoughts.

If the cleaning team is so noisy, surely they could be asked to quieten down. But I have to say, in our church the cleaning ladies are too busy to chat. Perhaps there are too many in the team? Removing the Blessed Sacrament seems an extreme reaction, when a request to quieten down would do the trick.

If they are talking about things that are unsuitable, perhaps they should not be talking aboiut these things at all, in church or not. But if it’s concern for each other’s troubles and worries, then surely that’s Christian love in action.

Jesus was invited to social events, we know from the Gospel. Perhaps some of them were to catch Him out, that is to say, malicious, rather than genuine hospitality, but not all - the Wedding at Cana, for example. Presumably therefore, He radiated love and concern, entered into the general happy feeling at the event. and was a very welcome Guest. He was also attractive to young children, who are quick to pick up on atmosphere. Is it likely that He would object to being there in the Blessed Sacrament when His faithful are trying to make His House nice?

I was amazed, in an earlier post, to read that one reason for the pastor removing the Host was that he worried that someone would come out with a swear-word. if they fell down the altar-steps. Would anyone? Really?