Placement of the Tabernacle -- where?

  • Thread starter Thread starter James_2_24
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
While the tabernacle can be placed in a prominent and befitting chapel it seems many chapels rarely meet all the stated requirements.

The first place for the tabernacle is the sanctuary and clearly the best place in the sanctuary is directly behind the altar on the old altar. Much of the confusion comes from 1970’s era documents that carry no force of law and have been refuted several times by lawful documents.

Consider the GIRM states very plainly that the sanctuary is first for consideration.
  1. 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.128
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 (cf. above, no. 303);
B. Or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer and which is ** organically connected ** to the church and ** readily visible ** to the Christian faithful.

If you sit in the church and can’t plainly see the tabernacle or you are confused about where it is then the chapel being used in that parish is an invalid placement for the tabernacle. My current parish church was to new to have an old altar so the pastor built one to hold the tabernalce right behind the main altar on the front wall.

Peace and God Bless
 
40.png
deogratias:
According to the Catholic Answers front page, “Changes in the Mass”, it says

PLACEMENT OF THE TABERNACLE
Click to expand...
Nice post, clearly worthy of reputation points. It looks like we were preparing our posts about the same time.

Peace and God Bless
 
Oh I was not referring to your reply in the double posting, it is when I look at the list of threads, I see some subject 2-3 times but they are all the same thread - maybe it is a hitch in my get along and not seen by others.
 
40.png
Fortiterinre:
I don’t see why the “mere” presence of a tabernacle is considered a distraction rather than a complement to liturgy. .
Click to expand...
One of the objectives of the Mass is to make Christ present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity at the Consecration. There is a conflict between Christ not present on the altar prior to Consecration, and present in the sanctuary in the tabernacle during the Mass. I prefer to have the tabernacle in the chapel, where we have 24 hour Adoration. Heating wise, lighting wise, and intimacy wise, the chapel is much more conducive to Adoration than our large main body of the Church would be. And I am not upset if the tabernacle is not present in the main body of the church during Mass. It keeps my focus on what is going on. However, due to the pressure brought on by some of the more conservative menbers of the church I attend, we now have two tabernacles; one in the chpel, used at all times except weekend Masses, and one off to the side in the sanctuary. While it did cause some quieting before Mass, it violates the rule that there is to be one tabernacle in the church.

So, I guess violation of a law is not an abuse, so long as it pleases the feelings of the conservatives. :whistle:
 
Ever notice how in places where the taberacle is hidden away, the few remaining people who genuflect do so toward the altar.
 
I agree!
In our Parish we, the Pastoral Council cooperating with the Parish Team, have decided to move the tabernacle from the side of the sanctuary back to the centre of the sanctuary behind the Altar. One reason is that the prior movement by our late Bishop in 1986 has resulted in nothing but confusion. People bowing everywhere in many different directions, genuflecting to the Altar, visitors entering and thinking the Blessed Sacrament is not present etc.,
The priests in favour are uncomfortable with presiding from the A position whcih should be reserved for the ppresence of Christ. The A position in any Church is the highest position of honour.
Unfortunately this impending restoration has resulted in the liberal members of the Pastoral Council (2 out of 14) doing their utmost to prevent the movement. Christ is once again caught in the ‘centre’ of the argument. We are caught up in what WE think is best not with what we think gives greatest glory and honour to the Real Presence of Christ.
Dear God when will people put Christ first and not what we continually think is best for the feel good or look good feeling.
Please pray for the rein of Christ in all this.
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
 
James_2:24:
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.
Click to expand...
You can go online for the new and updated GIRM (general instruction of the Roman Missal)… you will find the guide as where the tabernacle should be placed…
 
III. The Arrangement of the Church

The Place for the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist
  1. 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.125
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.126 Moreover, it is appropriate that, before it is put into liturgical use, it be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.127
315. 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.128

Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the Diocesan Bishop,

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 (cf. above, no. 303);

Or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer129 and which is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful.
316. In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fueled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ.130
  1. In no way should all the other things prescribed by law concerning the reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist be forgotten.131
Sacred Images
  1. In the earthly Liturgy, the Church participates, by a foretaste, in that heavenly Liturgy which is celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which she journeys as a pilgrim, and where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God; and by venerating the memory of the Saints, she hopes one day to have some part and fellowship with them.132
Thus, images of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred buildings133 and should be arranged so as to usher the faithful toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there. For this reason, care should be taken that their number not be increased indiscriminately, and that they be arranged in proper order so as not to distract the faithful’s attention from the celebration itself.134 There should usually be only one image of any given Saint. Generally speaking, in the ornamentation and arrangement of a church as far as images are concerned, provision should be made for the devotion of the entire community as well as for the beauty and dignity of the images.
 
In my parish, we actually have two tabernacles. In the main church, the tabernacle is located to the left of the altar area. It is very prominent, and easily visible from most areas. (Actually, it would probably be hard to see if it was in the center. The crucifix behind the altar is huge, and rather overpowering in a good way. The corpus itself is 8 or 9 feet tall, and the cross part extends all the way up to the stained glass window just under the roof peak.)

The tabernacle resides in an opening between the main sanctuary area and a small prayer chapel, and is flanked by a red presence light; two white candles; and (usually) flowers. Most people do genuflect toward it, not the altar, but you do see a few mistakes. The small chapel is located between the two reconciliation rooms, and is often used for confession preparation or penance. It also contains votive candles, and always open for private prayer and contemplation.

Our second tabernacle is located in our Chapel. It is located front and center. This Chapel is used for daily Masses and adoration, as well as most weddings and funerals. (It only seats around 250; the main church seats 2,000+ and is usually standing-room only for all six weekend Masses except the 7:00 a.m. :))
 
Saw my first side chapel tabernacle this weekend. It was in what could only be described as a crying room. Everyone sat with their backs to the tabernacle and it was so well hidden I had to ask the priest where it was. I was trully heart broken to see this flagrant perversion of the GIRM etc.

Peace and God Bless
 
The GIRM says…
The GIRM is too “open” and every different church throws their own perspective on it. The bottom line is that the Tabernacle needs to be in the center of the church!, not off to the side.
Putting our Loving Jesus off to the side of the church is like saying to your wife “Hey honey, go stand over there in the corner so I don’t have to look at you…” Isn’t that kinda lame?..
You know what I saw that was cool was that these Franciscans had the tabernacle in the wall so you can see it from both sides and it opened from either side, on one side was the chapel, and on the other was a prayer room (a smaller chapel) now that is thinking!!! If we had our churches set up the common way (in the shape of a cross), they could just build them with an annex on the back…Hey, maybe I could draw on up and start building it…anyone want to help???
 
This is one of those issues which is a “non-issue” for Eastern Catholics; at least as far as I am aware. It is my understanding, that in the Roman Rite, the most recent rule is for the tabernacle to be on the side of the sanctuary, as the focus should be on the altar, where Christs Sacrifice is re-presented. Older Churches, as two in my city that I have in mind, have the tabernacle behind the altar, as was the norm. At my old Church, the tabernacle has always been on the side of the sanctuary. Then there is the one, which I try to avoid, for being markedly liberal in many aspects, which has the tabernacle in the day chapel, which is entirely separate from the nave and sanctuary.

In the Catholic East, the tabernacle is traditionally shaped like, well, a Church, and is placed directly on the altar. At my Church, a Melkite Catholic Church, it is in the shape of a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, I presume, above the altar, hanging from the ceiling. I’m not exactly sure, as I am still learning much about the Byzantine Churches, but I seem to recally my pastor saying that it is an old Syrian practice.

Cocamo Joe
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top