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Paula_Schrader
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Thank you heenan!! Those references are awsome! I am going to copy them and will hopefully be able to use them! God Bless,
Paula
Paula
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Seatuck
Guest
Our Tabernacle is in a private adoration chapel. It is conspicuous and appropriately decorated. I am glad that we have it. It allows for intimate time with Jesus. We use our church for other things than Mass which would not be appropriate with the Tabernacle present.Choir practice , school practicing sessions etc. My only gripe is that we don’t have two tabernacles for when we do want to have Jesus in the main worship area. Our Tabernacle is too heavy and ornate to move on a regular basis. We have benediction and Eucharistic adoration in the main church every Monday and this is easily accomplished by bringing the monstrance to the altar. We have Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday which occaisionally spills out the doors of the chapel. That I find a little awkward. But we are asking people to sign in and if the crowd is consistently larger that the chapel and we have volunteers to stay with Jesus the whole time of Adoration to maintain reverance etc we will move to the main worship area.
Dianne
Dianne
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Ham1
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Some of the most beautiful (and quite old) cathedrals have no tabernacle on the main altar. Instead, a side chapel is used to reserve the Blessed Sacramant. It seems perhaps that the custom of having the tabernacle at the center behind the altar is an American custom of the last 150 years or so.
I have seen attached Eucharistic chapels that were beautiful and in accordance with Church rules. I have seen some that seemed in an effort to minimize the importanc eof the Eucharist. My point is that we should not reject out of hand the idea of the tabernacle at the center behind the main altar.
Remember also, that during the Mass the important activity and the focus of all of our attention is on the altar and the sacrifice that occurs there, NOT on the tabernacle.
I have seen a very devout small chapel that would put a screen in front of the tabernacle at the beginning of the Mass.
I have seen attached Eucharistic chapels that were beautiful and in accordance with Church rules. I have seen some that seemed in an effort to minimize the importanc eof the Eucharist. My point is that we should not reject out of hand the idea of the tabernacle at the center behind the main altar.
Remember also, that during the Mass the important activity and the focus of all of our attention is on the altar and the sacrifice that occurs there, NOT on the tabernacle.
I have seen a very devout small chapel that would put a screen in front of the tabernacle at the beginning of the Mass.
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CD4
Guest
The placement of the Blessed Sacrament in a chaple at the back of the church is rather common in the new churches built in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Downtown has a real thing for it.
But…Some churches are doing other things…One near us has put the Tabernacle in a glass enclosed chapel in the FRONT of the nave, and behind the altar. Everyone can see the Tabernacle.
**Some new churches, including the one my own parish is building, are making the back the front, so to speak…That way the baptismal pool and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel can be in plain sight of everyone, and still meet the requirements set forth by theARchdiocese. When you walk in, you find yourself facing the back of the altar, and having to walk around an “ambulatory” to your pew or seat. It’s a little confusing at first, but works. The configuration of the church proper is sort of like a horseshoe, with the altar at the apex…The sides slope a little. The only thing I really dislike about it is that the altar area is not raised…Therefore not everyone gets a good view of the liturgy. The emphasis seems to be on the community rather than the liturgy itself. **
But…Some churches are doing other things…One near us has put the Tabernacle in a glass enclosed chapel in the FRONT of the nave, and behind the altar. Everyone can see the Tabernacle.
**Some new churches, including the one my own parish is building, are making the back the front, so to speak…That way the baptismal pool and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel can be in plain sight of everyone, and still meet the requirements set forth by theARchdiocese. When you walk in, you find yourself facing the back of the altar, and having to walk around an “ambulatory” to your pew or seat. It’s a little confusing at first, but works. The configuration of the church proper is sort of like a horseshoe, with the altar at the apex…The sides slope a little. The only thing I really dislike about it is that the altar area is not raised…Therefore not everyone gets a good view of the liturgy. The emphasis seems to be on the community rather than the liturgy itself. **
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Marie
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Paula Schrader:
I still chuckle when I recall walking out of the Mass later that night and seeing one of the priests who had concelebrated the Mass. He kicked up his heals in the parking lot and let out a whoop! Saying: “God is so GOOD!” Indeed your diocese has been blessed with wonderful priests and a good Bishop. I was very blessed to have made the trip.
When I arrived home the following day, we received the good news that my nephew was out of coma and the brain damage was not irreversible. He had been in coma for three months from a car accident. The other young man who was in the car has also recovered the use of his arm which there was supposedly no hope for. That chapel is where I went to spend time with Jesus and ask His will to be done and to give us the grace for the terrible and predicted possibility that we would lose our Kell. Our Kell was released from extended care and able to come home. He continued to progress and is now in college despite all the dire expectations of his physicians. Our Kell will never be the same, but he and we have been blessed by God.
I think you can rest assured Jesus knows He is there for those who love Him and trust Him.
You are indeed Blessed,
Marie
I believe I visited your parish not so long ago. It is very nice. The Tabernacle placement is a bit disconcerting but beautifully done. I was making a pilgrimage of sorts with a prayer group I belong to. The Mass was a healing Mass and your Bishop was there. The Parish was wonderful. The Mass fantastic.
I still chuckle when I recall walking out of the Mass later that night and seeing one of the priests who had concelebrated the Mass. He kicked up his heals in the parking lot and let out a whoop! Saying: “God is so GOOD!” Indeed your diocese has been blessed with wonderful priests and a good Bishop. I was very blessed to have made the trip.
When I arrived home the following day, we received the good news that my nephew was out of coma and the brain damage was not irreversible. He had been in coma for three months from a car accident. The other young man who was in the car has also recovered the use of his arm which there was supposedly no hope for. That chapel is where I went to spend time with Jesus and ask His will to be done and to give us the grace for the terrible and predicted possibility that we would lose our Kell. Our Kell was released from extended care and able to come home. He continued to progress and is now in college despite all the dire expectations of his physicians. Our Kell will never be the same, but he and we have been blessed by God.
I think you can rest assured Jesus knows He is there for those who love Him and trust Him.
You are indeed Blessed,
Marie
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s_db
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Angle Girl:
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heenan
Guest
Jesus Christ was born, died and rose for our sins. He is the Pascal Lamb, the Son of God. Christ is the Head of the Church, which is His body.
CCC 1183: The tabernacle is to be situated “in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor.”
What do you think of a parish that is building a new church and have put the tabernacle in the back of the church, in a small chaple, next to the Reconciliation Chaple?
If the back of the church is the most worthy place - then it would be ok.
CCC 1183: The tabernacle is to be situated “in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honor.”
What do you think of a parish that is building a new church and have put the tabernacle in the back of the church, in a small chaple, next to the Reconciliation Chaple?
If the back of the church is the most worthy place - then it would be ok.
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TableServant
Guest
I hate to say that I’m not sure that it is moving the tabernacle that has percipitated this change. I have been in a number of churches of different design; some that have the tabernacle in the sanctuary, some that have it in a chapel, and some who, like my parish, have a very prominent reservation chapel, which has kneelers and chairs, along with a small chapel. With all of these designs, I have seen both great reverence and great disrespect.
Some in the parishes with the tabernacle in a separate space make it a point to give reverence (genuflection, adoration) to the presence of Our Lord, and yet some with the tabernacle VERY prominent in the sanctuary seem to take no notice whatsoever.
I guess my point is that I think that what is deficient is catechesis (or willingness to be catechized) about the Real Presence, rather than the presence of the tabernacle in the sanctuary.
I, for one, enjoy the fact that our parish has a very intimate chapel of reservation, where I can be not only spiritually, but physically close to the Presence of my Lord, a chapel for smaller Masses (daily Mass), weddings and Liturgy of the Hours (which our parish has been celebrating for almost a year now), along with the larger main body of the church, which is used for larger celebrations of any and all of the sacraments and adoration.
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Sam_Maloney
Guest
Worth noting, I think, that the allowance for ‘moving’ the Tabernacle from the main altar was specifically originally made for the sake of those churches [mostly in Europe] where the building is of such historical or artistic value that they receive many visitor who aren’t there to worship. Moving the tabernacle was a means of assuring proper respect, that Christ’s presence wouldn’t be demeaned by well meaning but ignorant tourists.
In other words, this option was originally conceived as a means of increasing reverance, not banning it. The idea that it leads to an ‘improper focus’ during Mass is found no where in official documents of the Church: its a new and unfounded theory used to banish Jesus to the broom closet in Churches that usually have no artistic or historical value whatsoever.
If you wander into the Adoration Chapel at the Basilca San Marco in Venice and behave with anything less than perfect reverance-- that is, if you wander about to look at the sculptures-- you’ll receive a good many looks of the ‘could kill’ variety.
I seem to remember reading, though, that the Bishop of Orange [California] has announced that the Tabernacles MUST be moved off the altar of any church undergoing renovation, and must not be present on the altar of newly built churches.
sam
In other words, this option was originally conceived as a means of increasing reverance, not banning it. The idea that it leads to an ‘improper focus’ during Mass is found no where in official documents of the Church: its a new and unfounded theory used to banish Jesus to the broom closet in Churches that usually have no artistic or historical value whatsoever.
If you wander into the Adoration Chapel at the Basilca San Marco in Venice and behave with anything less than perfect reverance-- that is, if you wander about to look at the sculptures-- you’ll receive a good many looks of the ‘could kill’ variety.
I seem to remember reading, though, that the Bishop of Orange [California] has announced that the Tabernacles MUST be moved off the altar of any church undergoing renovation, and must not be present on the altar of newly built churches.
sam
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Paula_Schrader
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what a beautiful story Marie!! Thanks for sharing. And you are right, Jesus is there, no matter if we have to go into a “special room” or if He is on the main altar. And as others have stated, I also find it very comforting and rewarding to be able to go into a private chapel to Adore our Lord. And I have seen it way worse than it is in our church. But it still bothers me that some people have to search for the Tablernacle. It is not as conspicuous as it could be. But I admit, that could just be my personal preference…I am sure it all falls under the “right” guidelines. And to our blessing, we do have some simply AWSOME!! priests who make it their lives to make sure we all know why we are there…and WHO lives there!! There can never be enough of that!
And… I am such a visual person…when I hear “you must make Jesus the center of your life”…I take it quite literally :yup:
I love reading all of your posts!!
God Bless,
Paula
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Marie
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Paula Schrader:
You must be a relative of mine! ROFLOL! When we arrived at the church I was a bit peeved to say the least about the Tabernacle arrangement. I found the chapel and was disquieted at first then realized, who am I to judge this. Jesus is here and He is who I come to honor. Mary and Joseph had to search for Him also. That was the beginning of my prayer to surrender my judgment and just let God be God. He certainly surprised me. I wish I had taken a video of that young priest kicking up his heels in the parking lot at 1:00 AM. It certainly warmed my heart.
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Podo2004
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Defensor Fidei:
the altar but that’s how my priest likes it
I totally agree, in my parish the tablenacle is in the chapel, not near
the altar but that’s how my priest likes it
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Minimus
Guest
To add my $0.02 worth, it is not stylistically valid to compare large European churches with most of our American crackerboxes (well, even European village churches). You have to have all the bits of a European cathedral to talk about where the Real Presence will be located. Side chapels require a really big church! Transept chapels can be housed in a smaller church, but most new American churches are built on a plan that defies classification and don’t have a transept. Ambulatories simply do not exist in this country (or, at least I’ve not seen one yet). For the most part, our little parishes have put the tabernacle where it can be seen, with its red light to announce Our Lord’s presence. Whilst I understand the impetus to emphasize the mass as the central Eucharist, it does seem a bit strange to shunt the tabernacle off to a place where one has to go searching. Or, and more sinister, perhaps this is exactly what the Archenemy desires.
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PetePalumbo
Guest
This topic has split my parish. Please visit a website we created to alert parishioners to what was happening, and an excellent article explaining the theology of the sanctuary, why the tabernacle and altar must relate to each other www.friendsofholyredeemer.com
Pete
Pete
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