Open Tabernacle

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Where I work has a tabernacle but it is not a sanctioned oratory. It is a cemetery. Since the blessed Sacrament is not allowed to be stored on site how should the doors be kept?
Open door would signify to anyone in the chapel, the tabernacle is empty, and would not raise a question that the candle is not lit. It is obvious.
Is there something in the GIRM or Cannon that states what the regulation is or isn’t.
I’ve looked but not found anything. We’ve been told to put a very tacky sign, “Jesus isn’t here” at the entrance and adjacent to the now closed tabernacle.
 
If the tabernacle isn’t used, why have one? It seems like removing it would remove any confusion.
 
That’s beyond tacky, it’s scandalous… think about it.

If it’s not a sanctioned oratory, there should not be a tabernacle there at all.
 
Quite. Jesus may not be present in the form of the Blessed Sacrament, but Jesus is present in spirit everywhere.
 
If it is a Catholic cemetery then it is under the jurisdiction of the ordinary - the local bishop.

Call the chancery.

All you are going to get is opinions by asking here.

-Tim-
 
peter26 said:
Quite. Jesus may not be present in the form of the Blessed Sacrament, but Jesus is present in spirit everywhere.
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Peter, tongue in cheek response? You should see the sign. It is so wrong on so many levels. This person who authorized it should be terminated - for cause on other issues but mostly because of a capricious leadership. If I were a practicing warlock I would present scandal working in the church. I would be fired under just cause.

Sadly, outside of this specific issue this person is not terminated for anything or any reason.
Makes me want to leave the church and never ever work in Church again.
 
Thanks Tim. I wanted a rubric to go the Office of Worship and the Bishop. I’ll be fired by this capricious leader.
TimothyH said:
If it is a Catholic cemetery then it is under the jurisdiction of the ordinary - the local bishop.

Call the chancery.

All you are going to get is opinions by asking here.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
 
Before people suffer fits of pharisaic scandalism:

It is not at all unusual for a Catholic cemetery chapel to have a tabernacle that is only used when it is needed. Not at all unusual.

The very purpose of these chapels (one purpose, at least) is that in inclement weather, some of the funeral rites, not excluding the funeral Mass itself, can be celebrated on the cemetery grounds. There is a whole list of legitimate reasons why this might be necessary.

If a priest celebrates the Funeral Mass in the chapel, then proceeds to the gravesite for the internment, after Communion he places the remaining Consecrated Hosts into a pyx or ciborium, which goes into the tabernacle–rather than stick them in his jacket pocket, or in the glove compartment of his car (think about it).

After the internment, and after spending some time with the family, he returns to the chapel, and reverently removes the Blessed Sacrament to take back to his own parish church to be reserved there (or some other appropriate and licit method).

There is no need to report anything to the local bishop—he surely knows what is happening.

There is no need to put any kind of sign on or near the tabernacle. The open doors are a sign that the tabernacle is empty (as well as the absence of a candle, although this is much less obvious)—especially given that anyone visiting there knows that it is a chapel that is only used when it’s needed.
 
FrDavid96 said:
Before people suffer fits of pharisaic scandalism:

It is not at all unusual for a Catholic cemetery chapel to have a tabernacle that is only used when it is needed. Not at all unusual.

The very purpose of these chapels (one purpose, at least) is that in inclement weather, some of the funeral rites, not excluding the funeral Mass itself, can be celebrated on the cemetery grounds. There is a whole list of legitimate reasons why this might be necessary.

If a priest celebrates the Funeral Mass in the chapel, then proceeds to the gravesite for the internment, after Communion he places the remaining Consecrated Hosts into a pyx or ciborium, which goes into the tabernacle–rather than stick them in his jacket pocket, or in the glove compartment of his car (think about it).

After the internment, and after spending some time with the family, he returns to the chapel, and reverently removes the Blessed Sacrament to take back to his own parish church to be reserved there (or some other appropriate and licit method).

There is no need to report anything to the local bishop—he surely knows what is happening.

There is no need to put any kind of sign on or near the tabernacle. The open doors are a sign that the tabernacle is empty (as well as the absence of a candle, although this is much less obvious)—especially given that anyone visiting there knows that it is a chapel that is only used when it’s needed.
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Thank you Father for your knowledgeable and complete answer. I’m an old lady, and have been to many burials, etc. at Catholic cemeteries in a couple of cities. They all had a chapel. I guess some people here are not old enough to have attended many funeral services, God love them. Now they can be prepared.
 
Thank you Father.

I was not suggesting that the OP report the issue to the Bishop but that he go to the chancery and ask whether it was allowed and what the procedure was. I’m sorry my post did not make that clear.

Apparently the OP had already made up his mind and was looking for ammunition.

-Tim-
 
Folks,
The rest of the story…
The tabernacle never had the tabernacle candle lit. No Need. We are required to have permission from the office of worship to EVER celebrate a mass on the cemetery grounds and the approval process is one month.
The tabernacle doors were always left open, no candle as a sign that it was empty. Our director wanted to change the chapel to an oratory but was turned down. Now he has insisted that signs be placed at the tabernacle ( in the candle holder of the Tabernacle) as well as a big sign at the chapel entrance. The sign is so offensive and are wrong. Makes me wonder why we even have a tabernacle on site.

In the cemetery:
1- We accept all Christian denomination and at time have accepted Muslims and Mormons for burial. (with no verified Catholic ancestors- a smaller point though I find it an offensive to our client who have passed believing the cemetery was only Catholic). I understand the corporeal works but don’t see this relation.
2- Sadly (my view) most Catholic today don’t even know about the real Presence and the tabernacle candle
3- The placards he requires opens up so many issues with those not of our faith and even those of our faith. I don’t see a benefit.

A priest and a deacon had committal prayers on Friday. They (rightly) demanded this signage taken down.

So Father Dave, while I agree with your post, the “rest of the story” above is important.
I’d appreciate a direct message if possible.
 
decatholic said:
Folks,
The rest of the story…
The tabernacle never had the tabernacle candle lit. No Need. We are required to have permission from the office of worship to EVER celebrate a mass on the cemetery grounds and the approval process is one month.
The tabernacle doors were always left open, no candle as a sign that it was empty. Our director wanted to change the chapel to an oratory but was turned down. Now he has insisted that signs be placed at the tabernacle ( in the candle holder of the Tabernacle) as well as a big sign at the chapel entrance. The sign is so offensive and are wrong. Makes me wonder why we even have a tabernacle on site.

In the cemetery:
1- We accept all Christian denomination and at time have accepted Muslims and Mormons for burial. (with no verified Catholic ancestors- a smaller point though I find it an offensive to our client who have passed believing the cemetery was only Catholic). I understand the corporeal works but don’t see this relation.
2- Sadly (my view) most Catholic today don’t even know about the real Presence and the tabernacle candle
3- The placards he requires opens up so many issues with those not of our faith and even those of our faith. I don’t see a benefit.

A priest and a deacon had committal prayers on Friday. They (rightly) demanded this signage taken down.

So Father Dave, while I agree with your post, the “rest of the story” above is important.
I’d appreciate a direct message if possible.
Click to expand...
My first reply was because I was concerned with where the tone of the conversation might be going. I wanted to prevent any pharisaic scandal about an empty tabernacle by explaining that such a thing is quite normal in those circumstances.

If I understand what you’re posting, the issue here is the actual words on the placards? Do I have that right?

If so, then that brings up the next question:
Who owns the cemetery? I’m not asking for proper names here—just a general answer, so please don’t post any names. Is it owned by a parish, or the diocese, or a religious order? Is it a secular corporation, or a municipal cemetery?

If it’s owned by the Church, then you can certainly make your concerns known to the proper authority. If it’s the parish, talk to the pastor (first). If it’s diocesan, then contact either the Office of Worship or the office that handles cemeteries (some diocese have such a department).

The whole situation seems very odd to me in so many different ways—ways that I’d rather not mention because they’ll take us off-topic.

I can see how the signs would be offensive, and the fact that clerics have insisted that they be taken down lend a great deal of credence to that. Those clerics would probably be a good resource for you. If they will back you up that the signs are offensive, that would (at least should) carry great weight in contacting the appropriate person/office at the diocese.
 
A few extracts from the Code of Canon Law (ISBN 000599375X ):

“Can. 934 §1 The blessed Eucharist: …
2º may be reserved in a Bishop’s chapel and, by permission of the local Ordinary, in other churches, oratories and chapels.
§2 In sacred places where the blessed Eucharist is reserved there must always be someone who is responsible for it, and as far a possible a priest is to celebrate Mass there at least twice a month.”

So it seems to me that the local Ordinary (the bishop) may give permission for keeping the Eucharist in a chapel. So there may be Tabernacle there, in case this permission is given.

“Can. 940 A special lamp is to burn continuously before the tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved, to indicate and to honour the presence of Christ.”

This is the means of communicating whether or not the tabernacle contains the Eucharist.
 
Father Dave,
*The whole situation seems very odd to me in so many different ways—ways that I’d rather not mention because they’ll take us off-topic. * You have a very keen insight into what has not been said.

The good thing about this posted question is I learned the term pharisaic scandalism. It seems that as I understand it this is in play in my situation. If I bark too much about this scandal I will be summarily dismissed. The church leadership is complicit in this and allows capricious leadership towards her own flock for money. The Church is not a place to work and this engagement on the tabernacle is my last straw; it has deeply disturbed my faith. Why and How?

Ministry is not the mission of the Church business. When scandal and incompetent leaders cover up, ignore, and sweep away problems with people and label it as “Ministry” not business, they harm people. When the allow scandalous lifestyles of her leaders to be ignored under the veil of ministry to the sick, it hurts more people.

Rerum Novarium applies to church employees too. The laity are very capable business managers. Priests are very capable for the Sacraments and have responded to a unique call. The Church should treat her employees with love and that will be for another topics.
 
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