Leaving the key in the unlocked tabernacle?

[Wine]

This morning about 15-20 minutes before Mass began a layperson came out of the sacristy, through the sanctuary and unlocked the tabernacle (it’s located adjacent to the sanctuary) to see how many hosts were in repose so he could set out the right number for Mass.

After he checked, he left the tabernacle unlocked with the key in it. The church didn’t have many people in it yet. I walked up, locked the tabernacle and removed the key. I was thinking about leaving Mass and dropping the key in the mail to my bishop. Instead I went into the sacristy, softy tossed the key on the counter where the people were preparing and said in a controlled voice “someone left the key in the tabernacle.” I was walking out as the vocal objections began. The pastor was not yet in the sacristy or I would have handed the key directly to him.

Was this this right thing to do? I mean, it should be OBVIOUS to any pew-sitting Catholic that it’s not OK to unlock the tabernacle, leave they key in it and then leave it unattended, right? Or am I being unrealistic? Thank you.

 

[Sum_Fidelis]

Dear friend,even priests are human beings,as is the people who help him celebrate mass. A thing like You did explain has happened,and will happens again. You did right my child,and I can only say I am sorry that nobody had time to bless You for what You did,so I bless You for it.

 

[JRKH]

In the narrowest sense you may be right - The tabernacle should not be left unlocked and unattended.
The question could be asked, Was the tabernacle left unattended? You, as well as others, were already in the Church. Others would soon be arriving. If someone went up and tried to abscond with or otherwise descecrate the hosts, would you have permitted it? Obviously not. Therefore - in a broader sense, the layperson did not leave teh tabernacle unattended…

That said, I agree that this is a poor practice/habit that should be discouraged.

Rather than doing as you did (which stirred up unchristian feelings right before mass) I think it would have been better to do nothing until after mass, then speak to your pastor about this. Explain your concern and get his feedback.

So while I understand your concern I don’t think it was handled in the best way.

Peace
James

 

[Phemie]

This is SOP in my parish where the reserved Hosts are always brought to the altar at the fraction rite. Otherwise the EMHC who retrieves the Hosts would have to go to the sacristy to retrieve the key. How many ‘wrong’ practices can you count in the above statement?

 

[1ke]

Was this this right thing to do?

No. It was a completely rude thing to do.

This is part of the preparation for Mass. The sacristan knows what he/she is doing. Perhaps a little charity on your part would be in order. Take the key and mail it to your bishop? That’s about the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.

I mean, it should be OBVIOUS to any pew-sitting Catholic that it’s not OK to unlock the tabernacle, leave they key in it and then leave it unattended, right? Or am I being unrealistic? Thank you.

Um, no, it is not obvious. This is a standard mass preparation in every parish I’ve ever been in. The tabernacle is unlocked and the key left in the lock, or placed next to the tabernacle, before mass starts so that reserved hosts may be retrieved and uncomsumed hosts may be reposed during mass.

 

[JRKH]

This is SOP in my parish where the reserved Hosts are always brought to the altar at the fraction rite. Otherwise the EMHC who retrieves the Hosts would have to go to the sacristy to retrieve the key. How many ‘wrong’ practices can you count in the above statement?

At my parish the key is kept on the tray containing the chalices - so it is brought to the Alter at the offatory and removed after communion. By so doing - the tabernacle is locked but the key is conveniently available when needed. No one has to, “go to the sacristy to retreive the key”

I wonder if any of this is addressed in the Rubrics…I’m sure that if it is someone will post it for us.

Peace
James

 

[Joannm]

In my parish, at least on Sundays, the key is put it in the tabernacle slot before the first mass begins and left there until the last mass of the day. During the week it is put out when the priest is setting up, sometimes 20 minutes before mass and removed after mass. It has always been done that way here.

 

[Phemie]

At my parish the key is kept on the tray containing the chalices - so it is brought to the Alter at the offatory and removed after communion. By so doing - the tabernacle is locked but the key is conveniently available when needed. No one has to, “go to the sacristy to retreive the key”

I wonder if any of this is addressed in the Rubrics…I’m sure that if it is someone will post it for us.

Peace
James

No, it’s not addressed in the rubrics in the Roman Missal. It’s presumed the Tabernacle will have to be opened to reserve the undistributed Hosts but there is nothing about who unlocks the Tabernacle or when or what is to be done with the key beyond the canon about keeping the key safe.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

This morning about 15-20 minutes before Mass began a layperson came out of the sacristy, through the sanctuary and unlocked the tabernacle (it’s located adjacent to the sanctuary) to see how many hosts were in repose so he could set out the right number for Mass.

After he checked, he left the tabernacle unlocked with the key in it. The church didn’t have many people in it yet. I walked up, locked the tabernacle and removed the key. I was thinking about leaving Mass and dropping the key in the mail to my bishop. Instead I went into the sacristy, softy tossed the key on the counter where the people were preparing and said in a controlled voice “someone left the key in the tabernacle.” I was walking out as the vocal objections began. The pastor was not yet in the sacristy or I would have handed the key directly to him.

Was this this right thing to do? I mean, it should be OBVIOUS to any pew-sitting Catholic that it’s not OK to unlock the tabernacle, leave they key in it and then leave it unattended, right? Or am I being unrealistic? Thank you.

1ke is completely correct. I think what you did was arrogant, rude, and outrageous. You said yourself: there were people in the sacristy preparing for Mass. The tabernacle was not unattended. And mailing the key to the bishop? Leaving the parish possibly without any way to access the reserved Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle? Say for the sick and dying?

 

[JRKH]

No, it’s not addressed in the rubrics in the Roman Missal. It’s presumed the Tabernacle will have to be opened to reserve the undistributed Hosts but there is nothing about who unlocks the Tabernacle or when or what is to be done with the key beyond the canon about keeping the key safe.

Thanks Phemie - So then the question becomes - what constitutes “safe”. Obviously the OP has a different idea about this than the rest of us.

While I won’t use the terminology others have used here, I would say that in this case he let “zeal” override charity and common sense.

Peace
James

 

[Wine]

Of course it’s covered in the GIRM but that’s not my question. The sign value of someone unlocking the tabernacle, leaving the key in it and then walking away seems horrible to me. Is the Blessed Sacrament really of so little value to us that we have no desire to keep it secured? Doing what this man did just screams to me that we don’t care in my parish.

FWIW, it’s ridiculous to suggest a special trip would be have to made to get the key if it were not left in the tabernacle lock. That just doesn’t make any sense at all. And not that it matters but this was done by an overly eager and ignorant EMHC and not a “sacristan.” I’m fairly sure our sacristan knows better.

---

**General Instruction of the Roman Missal

The Arrangement and Furnishing of Churches for the Celebration of the Eucharist

The Place for the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist**

”GIRM 314. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the greatest extent possible. Moreover, it is appropriate that, before it is put into liturgical use, it be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.”

 

[jtodisco]

No. It was a completely rude thing to do.

This is part of the preparation for Mass. The sacristan knows what he/she is doing. Perhaps a little charity on your part would be in order. Take the key and mail it to your bishop? That’s about the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.

Um, no, it is not obvious. This is a standard mass preparation in every parish I’ve ever been in. The tabernacle is unlocked and the key left in the lock, or placed next to the tabernacle, before mass starts so that reserved hosts may be retrieved and uncomsumed hosts may be reposed during mass.

Wine, 1ke is completely correct you clearly overreacted (I quoted him above because I couldn’t say it better myself). I can’t believe you claim you actually considered taking the key from the parish and mailing it to the bishop. That’s absurd. And the fact that not only did you judge those preparing the Mass (which is something you clearly don’t fully understand how to do) but you also refused to have a civil discussion with them about your concerns and instead “tossed” the key to them and rudely walked away is quite unchristian behavior.

 

[Wine]

1ke is completely correct. I think what you did was arrogant, rude, and outrageous. You said yourself: there were people in the sacristy preparing for Mass. The tabernacle was not unattended. And mailing the key to the bishop? Leaving the parish possibly without any way to access the reserved Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle? Say for the sick and dying?

The tabernacle was most certainly unattended. Those people were behind closed doors more than 75’ away from the tabernacle. This is a big, municipal parish – it is not a small, cozy church. It would have been extremely easy for someone to access the tabernacle. I did as a matte of fact and the people in the sacristy had no clue that I did.

The real problem though is the horrid sign value of unlocking the tabernacle, leaving the key in it and then walking away. That was just horrible.

If you read my original posting you will note that I did not mail the keys anywhere. If you knew the local situation you would also know there is a back-up set of keys in the sacristy. Nice hyperbole though.

 

[Wine]

Wine, 1ke is completely correct you clearly overreacted (I quoted him above because I couldn’t say it better myself). I can’t believe you claim you actually considered taking the key from the parish and mailing it to the bishop. That’s absurd. And the fact that not only did you judge those preparing the Mass (which is something you clearly don’t fully understand how to do) but you also refused to have a civil discussion with them about your concerns and instead “tossed” the key to them and rudely walked away is quite unchristian behavior.

I’m very sorry I asked this question. The assumptions people have made have been outrageous.

I prepare and set-up for Mass at my parish on a regular basis. Bad assumption on your part.

There was nothing “rude” about the way I asked away. Why make such assumptions?

I gently tossed the keys about a foot because I could not reach the table to set them down. One more bad assumption.

 

[JRKH]

Of course it’s covered in the GIRM but that’s not my question. The sign value of someone unlocking the tabernacle, leaving the key in it and then walking away seems horrible to me. Is the Blessed Sacrament really of so little value to us that we have no desire to keep it secured? Doing what this man did just screams to me that we don’t care in my parish.

What you are expressing here is your opinion - what it “seems” to you, what it “just screams” to you. What you did was to overreact.

**General Instruction of the Roman Missal

The Arrangement and Furnishing of Churches for the Celebration of the Eucharist

The Place for the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist**

”GIRM 314. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the greatest extent possible. Moreover, it is appropriate that, before it is put into liturgical use, it be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.”

You could, and perhaps should, discuss this with your pastor saying that the present practice does not constitute “greatest extent possible”, He will likely explain that so long as there are good Catholics in the pews before mass there is no chance of anyone profaning the hosts so therefore the presnet practice is sufficent.
On the other hand, he migh agree with you that the current practice is not optimal and might be improved. In either case you need to be guided by and humbly submissive to the guidance of your pastor.

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

The tabernacle was most certainly unattended. Those people were behind closed doors more than 75’ away from the tabernacle. This is a big, municipal parish – it is not a small, cozy church. It would have been extremely easy for someone to access the tabernacle. I did as a matte of fact and the people in the sacristy had no clue that I did.

Not true - You were in attendance of the Tabernacle.

The real problem though is the horrid sign value of unlocking the tabernacle, leaving the key in it and then walking away. That was just horrible.

I don’t entirely disagree with you here. Even though, in the specific circumstance, the danger was minimal, it could be seen as a bad practice/habit.

If you read my original posting you will note that I did not mail the keys anywhere. If you knew the local situation you would also know there is a back-up set of keys in the sacristy. Nice hyperbole though.

If we knew the local situation, which you did not tell us, then perhaps some of the answers would have been different. We can only work with what you give us.

Peace
James

 

[katiebride2b]

As someone who often does set up for mass, and knows better, you should have taken the opportunity to return the key to the person in question, and explain what they did wrong in a patient manner. Perhaps the person who left the key did not know any better, or simply forgot. Or maybe the person saw you and a few other trusted parishioners, and figured that the Tabernacle was safe. Rather than tossing the key and walking out, you could have used it as a teaching moment, so the person would act more properly in the future.

 

[Wine]

Perhaps I should ask in this manner:

Do you really think the security concern is not real? How come?

Do you really think the sign value is not horrid? How come?

Why in the world would anyone unlock the tabernacle and leave the key in it before Mass to begin with?

 

[Wine]

As someone who often does set up for mass, and knows better, you should have taken the opportunity to return the key to the person in question, and explain what they did wrong in a patient manner. Perhaps the person who left the key did not know any better, or simply forgot. Or maybe the person saw you and a few other trusted parishioners, and figured that the Tabernacle was safe. Rather than tossing the key and walking out, you could have used it as a teaching moment, so the person would act more properly in the future.

Ideally you’re right about the teaching moment. I just didn’t want to stick around and possibly get engaged in an argument. From past experience I seriously doubt this person would listen to me or anyone else, but that’s a whol other issue.

 

[Wine]

Not true - You were in attendance of the Tabernacle.

I don’t entirely disagree with you here. Even though, in the specific circumstance, the danger was minimal, it could be seen as a bad practice/habit.

If we knew the local situation, which you did not tell us, then perhaps some of the answers would have been different. We can only work with what you give us.

Peace
James

Re-read this thread. Some illogical and very unkind assumptions were made.