Placement of the Tabernacle -- where?

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Where should the tabernacle be in the Church?

If you say it’s okay to be in a side chapel – please provide proper Church documents

If you say it should be in the center – please provide proper Church documents

If you say it can be either/or – please provide Church documents.
 
From my understanding, the Tabernacle is supposed to be on the altar of the repose, and fortunately, that altar is front and center at our parish. The altar of the sacrifice is in front of it, as it should be. I think the answer to your question is found in the GIRM.
 
I’ve heard that the idea for puting the tabernacle to the side is to prevent people from averting their attention from the consecration during mass (Is Jesus present in the tabernacle and/or on the alter? … Where should I focus?).

However, I personally feel that making the tabernacle more visible in the church yields a more attentive congregation to the true presence of Christ. Though I think we are aware of Christ’s presence in church, I am often reminded of the expression while playing with my two year old, “Out of sight, out of mind.” When I enter a new church for the first time, I look for the tabernacle before genuflecting. There have been times that I was unable to find it until after mass. Furthermore, if we visit during odd hours of the week, it’s nice to face the front rather than peeking around a corner.

Ultimately, there isn’t any rule that states it must be in the center. And, puting things in perspective, the location isn’t as important as understanding that we’re there to worship God.
 
I just read this before viewing this thread:

Changes in the Mass
PLACEMENT OF THE TABERNACLE

The basic provision made for the placement of the tabernacle is as follows: “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” (314).

More specifically: “It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated. Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the diocesan bishop, (a) either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration; (b) or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer and that is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful” (315).

While not providing a single placement for the tabernacle in all churches, this clarifies a point that previously had been ambiguous in the law: who gets to decide upon the placement of the tabernacle. The answer is that the diocesan bishop does, within the limits specified above.
 
I am aware of the statements on placement of the tabernacle, but I have to admit that I have a hard time understanding them. I don’t see why the “mere” presence of a tabernacle is considered a distraction rather than a complement to liturgy. In the early 1960’s, as Mass was first being offered “facing the people,” large dome-shaped tabernacles on high altars were already being replaced with what were called “recessed” tabernacles embedded into free-standing altars. At no time was it suggested that a recessed tabernacle built into the front or top of a free-standing altar was a distraction; the idea seemed to be that the tabernacle should always be on the main altar, easily seen and reverenced by the faithful but not blocking their view of the liturgical action. It was later in time when the tabernacle began to be moved off to the side because it was supposedly a distraction. One side or another, “off to the side” will never be seen as pride of place by most of the faithful, and the Blessed Sacrament chapels I have seen even in cathedrals are so tiny that exposition, benediction, and simple elbow room for more than a handful of the faithful are impossible. They tend to feel like airport or hospital chapels. The fact that the “typical” Catholic still seems to be genuflecting to a tabernacle-free altar strikes me as a catechetical problem of some urgency.
 
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cmarti12:
…
The basic provision made for the placement of the tabernacle is as follows: “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” (314).

More specifically: “It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated. Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the diocesan bishop, (a) either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration; (b) or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer and that is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful” (315).
…
Click to expand...
Maybe the coffee hasn’t quite kicked in, but these two passages appear to be contradictory.

My simple mind reads 314 as Front and Center. …"tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer”. I read this and come to the conclusion that the ideal place is above the main altar in the center of the church.

When I read…"(a) either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration; (b) or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer". Inconspicuous place.

Just my thoughts, again, perhaps the neurons aren’t firing well yet.
 
There is an other option. In the Sanctuary but to the side rather than center.
 
I voted “either” but I lean towards “side chapel”. It encourages a belief in the Real Presence. When you go to a church that has the tabernacle on the side, everyone genuflects in that direction and there is no question to Whom you are genuflecting or why. When it is behind the altar, it is not clear in many minds if they are genuflecting to the altar, the tabernacle or the crucifix.

I have been to a Mass in a chapel that had no tabernacle within the chapel at all (it was part of a larger cathedral). Yet people still genuflected in the general direction of the altar. What did they think they were genuflecting to?
 
At my parish, we have a tabernacle in the front and center right behind the Altar. In addition we have a side chapel with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance for the purpose of perpetual adoration.

Is there anything wrong with that?
 
Our tabernacle is not on the altar, but directly behind it. There is also a side chapel with a tabernacle which is used for Eucharistic Adoration.

I haven’t seen many churches where the tabernacle was located directly on the altar where Mass is celebrated. Our main tabernacle used to be to the side, but was recently relocated to the center position.

JimG
 
Racer X:
I voted “either” but I lean towards “side chapel”. It encourages a belief in the Real Presence. When you go to a church that has the tabernacle on the side, everyone genuflects in that direction and there is no question to Whom you are genuflecting or why. When it is behind the altar, it is not clear in many minds if they are genuflecting to the altar, the tabernacle or the crucifix.
Click to expand...
The problem I see with this, is it doesn’t seem practical. I know of Churches with adoration chapels… and no one even knew they existed! So – needless to say – no one genuflected. Even those who knew it existed, didn’t feel the need to genuflect because… the tabernacle was behind a wall anyways.

Furthermore, other churches I have seen had the chapel to the right of the altar beyond a door. Even those who genuflected appeared to be “pointed” towards the main altar even though they may have genuflected towards the side chapel simply because of the close proximity of the two.

God Bless
 
In my parish, (main parish church and all chapels) the tabernacle is very prominent - front right corner, with flowers and candles. It can’t be missed. Should it be in the center? I don’t see why it makes a difference, if it is prominent. Of course, I might be wrong, I just won’t know until I have a chance to ask Jesus himself when I get to judgement.

Just my :twocents: :twocents: (inflation, you know)
 
I voted in the poll, but don’t have any references off hand to support my “position”. In very simple terms, since people tend to genuflect facing the sanctuary, where most tabernacles would be situated (behind the altar), it seems to me, to be a great place of honor.
In my church (cruciform shape), the tabernacle is on the left of
the altar, about halway down towards the side door. People come in,
pass the tabernacle and then genuflect, facing the sanctuary 😃 …
that’s where my position comes from, no church document, sorry 😦

Peace,
 
I said either, same as the rulebooks say. I particularly like the way it is at my parish, which is also the Cathedral. A side chapel about half the size of my house, domed, that at one time was the baptistry before a major rehabilitation.

Here are the appropriate citations:

It is highly recommended that the holy Eucharist be reserved in a chapel suitable for private adoration and prayer.
-----------General Instruction of the Roman Missal, art 276

It is recommended that the tabernacle, in accordance with a very ancient tradition in Cathedral churches, should be located in a chapel separate from the main body of the church.
------------Ceremonial of Bishops, no 49

This (that the faithful may easily, faithfully, and constantly honor the Lord, present in the sacrament, through personal worship) will be achieved more easily if the chapel is separate from the body of the Cathedral, especially in churches where marriages and funerals are celebrated frequently, and in Cathedrals which are much visited by pilgrims or because of their artistic and historical treasures.
---------------Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, No. 9

and, I don’t have the exact citation handy, but the GIRM also forbids tabernacles from being on the altar used for Mass, and that putting multiple altars in a single church is also highly discouraged.

karen marie
 
No documents, but I do know that if no tabernacle is present we are to bow or genuflect toward the altar, which represents Christ as the Lamb of God, and hence the Vehicle of our salvation.
 
Which causes the very confusion I referenced…if one is unsure as to where the tabernacle is, one will (understandably so) genuflect towards the altar. It would make life easier if the placing were consisitent (though impractical if they start moving the tabernacles around to comply with consistency rules 😉 )…oh well, we can dream, can’t we?
 
I voted “front & centre” like the military.

I attend the Tridentine Mass (Latin Mass according to the 1962 missal) and our Tabernacle is just behind the Altar. With a small crucifix on top of the tabernacle and a large crucifix hanging over both. Remember the Mass is said with the priest facing the Altar and therefore the Tabernacle and crucifix. For all practical purposes the Altar and Tabernacle are part of the same structure. The rubrics are easy. You genuflect to the tabernacle and no separate motion is needed for the Altar. Except after Maundy Thursday Mass and on Good Friday when the Blessed Sacrament is removed and then you bow to the Altar and Crucifix. I have never seen any hesitation or problem with this simple arrangement.

When I have attended churches where the Tabernacle and Altar are split the reactions are as follows:

Those who do not bow or genuflect.
Those who bow to the altar but do not genuflect.
Those who are trying to follow the rubrics and perform something akin to a breakdance move. Bowing and genuflecting in two different directions at the same time.

In the end the average member of the laity is confused, the knowledgable few are in back braces and the problem is solved by moving Our Lord present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity into a nice well-appointed separate structure to allow us crazies to practice our medieval devotions without disturbing the Celebration. I am getting bitter so I better stop. Sorry for the long post. 😦

Perhaps I will have time for a more scholarly treatment of this later.

Chris from South Africa
 
Whereas, in my observations, reactions are:

People bow to the altar when they pass it, or enter their seating, and genuflect if they can when passing the Chapel of Reservation. [pretty universally]

and one or more of the following:

(1)pay a visit at the Reservation Chapel when they enter the church before Mass [most common]
or
(2)pay a visit at the Chapel after Mass before leaving, either before or after a prayer at one of the two Marian shrines [Mater Ecclesiae up front or OL of Perpetual Help just inside the main doors][less common all by itself, but a lot of folk do both 1 and 2]
or
(3)arrive just in time for Mass, sit in the western half of the church, make their thanksgiving before the altar under the great corona, and never get far enough southeast in the building to see the tabernacle, some stop at OL of Perpetual Help shrine on their way out the main west doors.

karen marie
 
According to the Catholic Answers front page, “Changes in the Mass”, it says

PLACEMENT OF THE TABERNACLE

*The basic provision made for the placement of the tabernacle is as follows: “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” (314).

More specifically: “It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated. Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the diocesan bishop, (a) either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration; (b) or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer and that is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful” (315).

While not providing a single placement for the tabernacle in all churches, this clarifies a point that previously had been ambiguous in the law: who gets to decide upon the placement of the tabernacle. The answer is that the diocesan bishop does, within the limits specified above*
 
So I could vote if there were a category which said

Within the limits set in the new GIRM and as decided by the Diocesan Bishop.
 
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