Placement of the Tabernacle and Feeling Christ's Presence

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I don’t want to start a debate about tabernacle placement (behind the altar, to the side of the altar, or in a separate adoration chapel, etc.). But I do want to ask if what I’m about to describe is “all in my head” or if other people have experienced the same thing. In my parish, and in most of the parishes I attend regularly or occasionally, the tabernacle is placed right behind the altar. I very often “feel” the presence and the peace of Jesus Christ when I enter the Church and as I sit in the pew before and during Mass. I attended Mass at a parish tonight that I have never attended before. I could not find the tabernacle, and I could not “feel” the presence of Jesus there. It felt almost like I had entered a Protestant Church…very modern in style, people chatting, no one genuflecting. After Mass, we did find the tabernacle in the entry area of the Church by peering into the glass of a locked chapel. I didn’t know what to do, so I genuflected in front of the chapel before I left the church. I remember attending another church on vacation about 8 years ago, where I could not find the tabernacle anywhere, and again, it felt very strange to me. A couple of years ago, we attended Mass at a family member’s church. Again, I could not find the tabernacle in the sanctuary…HOWEVER, I felt the presence of Jesus. I kept looking and looking, and finally my husband pointed out that it was in a side area of the sanctuary. I remember telling him, “I KNEW Jesus was here…I felt Him.” Am I just imagining feeling or not feeling the presence of Jesus in these situations? If Jesus is somewhere in the church building, even if not in the sanctuary, should I still feel Him? Again, I’m not trying to start a debate on the best placement of the tabernacle…I’m just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences?
 
My mind is programmed that whenever I enter a church, I would bless myself with holy water, bow to the altar and genuflect to the tabernacle, if the tabernacle is located within the sanctuary. There is one parish where the tabernacle is located in a side chapel, so when I enter, I always forget not to genuflect since Christ is not visibly present. There was an instance when I entered that church and genuflecting, my bestfriend asked me: “Where are you genuflecting?” I answered: “To the Blessed Sacrament, of course.” He replied: “It appears you are genuflecting to the altar, I cannot see its tabernacle nor the Sacrament is exposed.” I laughed and forgot that the tabernacle of this church was not visible.
 
I know that the Lord resides there and is truly present.
I don’t need a “feeling” to know this.
I know if from my education and from within my heart.
We don’t need to explain to people why we bow or genuflect. It’s not a test.
It’s a sign of love and honor.
I wonder why people make everything so hard?
Just love the Lord with your whole mind heart and soul and be at peace.

And anyway, when Mass is approaching we do reverence the Altar.
 
Genuflecting is automatic for many people. I go to a hospital Mass on a Wednesday night (my priest is chaplain of the local hospital). There is no tabernacle, but people genuflect nonetheless. Its habit.
 
pianistclare said:
I know that the Lord resides there and is truly present.
I don’t need a “feeling” to know this.
I know if from my education and from within my heart.
We don’t need to explain to people why we bow or genuflect. It’s not a test.
It’s a sign of love and honor.
I wonder why people make everything so hard?
Just love the Lord with your whole mind heart and soul and be at peace.

And anyway, when Mass is approaching we do reverence the Altar.
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Totally agree! I do not need a tabernacle behind the altar to give me the sense of the presence of the Lord in this Holy place. It’s a matter of habit for most who are used to see the Tabernacle front and center. And, that’s OK; each to his own. Ours is off to the side where I personally prefer it (or anywhere else). The tabernacle is a place of repose and should not be taken as a monstrance. During mass, the focal points are on the ambo for the LW and the altar for the LE.
 
When the tabernacle is behind the altar, I am more focused on Christ since I am continually reminded of His presence by the easily visible tabernacle. However, I don’t think we should rely on feelings since feelings are sporadic and superficial. I don’t feel anything when before the Blessed Sacrament, but I know He is truly there as the Host because of faith so I genuflect accordingly. Don’t rely on your feelings to tell you when the Blessed Sacrament is in the church, since It is always there in the tabernacle whether we can sense It or not (as long as the candle is lit). Your feelings can deceive you.
 
TimothyH said:
We can drive past a locked Catholic Church at 2:00 AM and Christ is there.
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Agree once again. Let me also add that Christ is also present always and everywhere. If a tabernacle is within the Sanctuary and it makes one feel the “presence” more, so be it. If the tabernacle is in the back of the church near the entrance or somewhere not apparently visible and you still feel the presence of Christ, so be it. I am used to seeing the tabernacle off to the side and off the Sanctuary. It was purposely planned that way in my church so that during mass, one will, during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, focus on what is happening on the altar and not on the tabernacle. My church was built in the 80s and that was the “thing” then; a thing I understand and appreciate. Is it wrong…no. I personally do not need to see a tabernacle to focus on Christ. It happens when I pass a church or go inside and see the altar or a crucifix or any object that represents “church.” Or, I see it in a person I talk to in the mall.
 
I try to keep in mind that God dwells within each one of us.

*****Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ***(1 Corinthians 3:16)

That isn’t spiritual or symbolic but like the Eucharist it is very real. Each one of us are God’s tabernacle. That’s true whether we feel anything or not.

I do think it is a mistake to want to try to feel God’s presence. We fool ourselves - the great spiritual masters know and write about what God’s presence feels like but 99,999% of us don’t have a clue how to tell. Most of what we think is God’s presence is just our own emotion.

Mother Theresa said she couldn’t feel God’s presence for decades.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
I try to keep in mind that God dwells within each one of us.

*****Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? *****(1 Corinthians 3:16)

That isn’t spiritual or symbolic but like the Eucharist it is very real. Each one of us are God’s tabernacle. That’s true whether we feel anything or not.

I do think it is a mistake to want to try to feel God’s presence. We fool ourselves - the great spiritual masters know and write about what God’s presence feels like but 99,999% of us don’t have a clue how to tell. Most of what we think is God’s presence is just our own emotion.

Mother Theresa said she couldn’t feel God’s presence for decades.

-Tim-
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Thank you for clarifying what I am trying to say.
 
Veronica97 said:
But I do want to ask if what I’m about to describe is “all in my head” or if other people have experienced the same thing.

I very often “feel” the presence and the peace of Jesus Christ when I enter the Church and as I sit in the pew before and during Mass.

Am I just imagining feeling or not feeling the presence of Jesus in these situations? If Jesus is somewhere in the church building, even if not in the sanctuary, should I still feel Him? Again, I’m not trying to start a debate on the best placement of the tabernacle…I’m just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences?
Click to expand...
It’s not in your head, He is genuinely there and some of us are blessed with the ability to feel His closeness. The first time I felt His strong presence I was at a parish where I attended daily Mass. I could not commune, but on ash Wednesday I did go up and that is when I discovered the tabernacle and felt His presence. It was a consolation. I felt His presence during adoration in the chapel of my own parish. There is a service every Friday. On first Fridays there is adoration. I came in, distracted by my teenage daughter and sat down and I was redirected to look up at the altar, by Him. I got on my knees to ask forgiveness.

I always bow (Maronite tradition) or genuflect towards the altar as there are relics there we venerate as well.
 
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