Placement of the Tabernacle

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The tabernacle in any new church should be located in a prominent location clearly visible to all in the main body of the church. 🙂
 
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Jack:
The tabernacle in any new church should be located in a prominent location clearly visible to all in the main body of the church. 🙂
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Jack

And those that have removed the tabernacle should move it back. I placed a thread somewhere else that I mentioned that 2 weeks ago we attended Mass elsewhere while we were away for the weekend. They moved the tabernacle which stood on a very simple wooden table several feet to the right from the center. What was behind the altar instead under the crucifix wasn’t the tabernacle but the priests chair. Now tell me what is wrong with this picture.

It is also my understanding that there have been cathedrals that moved the tabernacle out of the main body of the church years ago and now they are moving it back again. Good for them.

Gail
 
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bemmel:
If a tabernacle is not situated in the front of the church behind the altar, I’ve always genuflected to wherever it is located, to indicate my reverece before Chirst in the Eucharist.

[Side note:
Does bowing to relics seem like relic worshipping? Or is it showing reverence to the relics of the Saints :confused: ??]
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Here’s some of the the Church (canon) law information on relics, saints, & sacramentals:

Can. 1166 Sacramentals are sacred signs which in a sense imitate the sacraments. They signify certain effects, especially spiritual ones, and they achieve these effects through the intercession of the Church.

Can. 1171 Sacred objects, set aside for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated with reverence. They are not to be made over to secular or inappropriate use, even though they may belong to private persons.

Can. 1186 To foster the sanctification of the people of God, the Church commends to the special and filial veneration of Christ’s faithful the Blessed Mary ever*Virgin, the Mother of God, whom Christ constituted the Mother of all. The Church also promotes the true and authentic cult of the other Saints, by whose example the faithful are edified and by whose intercession they are supported.

Can. 1188 The practice of exposing sacred images in churches for the veneration of the faithful is to be retained. However, these images are to be displayed in moderate numbers and in suitable fashion, so that the Christian people are not disturbed, nor is occasion given for less than appropriate devotion.

Can. 1190 §1 It is absolutely wrong to sell sacred relics.

hope this helps - davemcher5
 
Angle Girl:
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?
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I sometimes attend a church with this set-up and I don’t really care for it. These are my reasons.

It is in the back, directly accross from the altar but on the other side of the vestibule. People entering church pass in front of the tabernacle and have to turn their back to the altar to genuflect and then proceed to a pew and bow to the altar. This is awkward (physically) and just feels odd.

After Communion, there is the problem of transferring the remaining consecrated Hosts to the tabernacle. What this church does is send one of the EMHCs with the ciborium to place into the tabernacle. It is my understanding that this should only be done by the priest or deacon but he can’t without leaving the altar. Once, I saw a priest leave the Ciborium on the altar until Mass was over and then carry it with him at the Recessional.

I do like this setup better than one where the tabernacle is not visible at all when you are in the main church. But I still prefer the tabernacle right behind the altar - front and center. When our new pastor came, one of the first things he did was move the tabernacle back to that position. It was in a side alcove before.
 
Hey, guys.

One of my posts here was one-worded, and had the word “Dope!” in it. Its since been deleted.

I was not calling anyone a Dope.

I meant to say “D’oh!” ala’ Homer Simpson.

I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
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Peg:
I thought we were to give a profound bow to the Altar because it is a symbol of Christ but to genuflect before the Tabernacle because of the Real Presence?
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Yes, there’s a big difference between a respectful bow and genuflection. We ONLY genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament. We only kneel before God. Catholics do not worship idols, therefore we never genuflect (but may bow) to such things as the Crucifix (it’s a statue), relics, altars, the Word, etc.

It never ceases to amaze me how on Good Friday when the Tabernacle is empty, people come into church and genuflect. To what?!? Or how when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, they do not kneel on both knees as they should.

It seems to me geunflection has become just a habit and most people do not understand why they are doing it. Something lacking in their upbringing or education, I guess. Some survey I read said that a large number of Catholics describe the Blessed Sacrament as only a “symbol” of Christ, and do not even understand that God is present body and soul. That makes me wonder why they are Catholic, if you feel that way, it would be so much easier to be a Protestant.
 
Prior to becoming a new Catholic, I always wondered why they locked Jesus up in a box. Our RCIA classes were held in an old school behind our Church. The classroom was right next to a small chapel that contained a wall-mounted tabernacle. I always found it kind of funny that when we were in the Chapel we were supposed to be very reverent because we were in the true presence of God. But when we walked around the corner, we could do just about anything we wanted to do. The Idea that Jesus was anymore present in the room next door just kind of made me smile. I didn’t think he was confined by time or space, but yet a wall or six feet of distance somehow made a difference. I would feel the same way in the main Church. Some of our buildings have adoration chapels and some have the Tabernacle placed behind the Alter. I still don’t see how once we are in the Body, God is any more or less present in either case. How close do we have to get before we need to be reverent? Or how far away before we change our attitude? I think that once we enter the doors and we leave the world behind us for that hour or so, we are there with him, no matter where the Tabernacle is placed.
Just a thought.
 
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Agnes:
We ONLY genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament. We only kneel before God. Catholics do not worship idols, therefore we never genuflect (but may bow) to such things as the Crucifix (it’s a statue), relics, altars, the Word, etc.

That is not entirely correct; on Good Friday, we genuflect to the Cross.

Or how when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, they do not kneel on both knees as they should.

My understanding is that genuflecting on both knees is a tradition, but not a rule. Anyone?
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otm:
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Agnes:
We ONLY genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament. We only kneel before God. Catholics do not worship idols, therefore we never genuflect (but may bow) to such things as the Crucifix (it’s a statue), relics, altars, the Word, etc.

That is not entirely correct; on Good Friday, we genuflect to the Cross.
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With respect, I am not sure, but I believe you may be incorrect. I was taught, and could be wrong, that we never genuflect to the cross or crucifix. On Good Friday it appears people are genuflecting to the cross (which should be covered or removed anyway if it’s Good Friday!), because they are merely genuflecting out of habit when they come into church. Genuflection is only for the Blessed Sacrament. If people are doing it willy-nilly all over the place at other times out of confusion, that’s a shame, because that’s how we Catholics get a reputation among protestants for worshipping statues and the like.
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I just copied this from something called “Genuflecting Do’s and Don’t’s”. Cannot verify the source, but nothing seems wrong with it to me, but it would help, especially for the young, to have clarity on this issue.
  • We genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament (not to the Crucifix).
  • It’s only necessary to genuflect when entering and leaving the church, not every single time you go out of the pew.
  • Bend on one knee, the right knee, and it should actually touch the floor, and slightly bow the head.
  • It’s not necessary to make the sign of the Cross, but permissible if customary.
  • If moving about the church for activities, etc, a slight pause before the crucifix or altar, with a bow of the head is respectful. This is of course not the same as genuflecting, but a way to be attentive to God’s presence and not have the atmosphere of an auditorium.
  • When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed (Adoration, or as some now call it “Exposition”), we enter the church and genuflect on BOTH knees, and then enter the pew. When leaving, also fully kneel on the ground, bow the head and then rise to leave.
  • Also, some folks come to church now but only stand and bow their head and then sit down. They do not genuflect. Unless age or infirmity prevents genuflection, this is wrong and disrespectful to the Blessed Sacrament.
  • No genuflecting is done if there is no Tabernacle (such as in some Chapels) or on Good Friday when the Tabernacle is empty.
 
One of the Vatican II Documents states that the Tabernacle is to be placed in a place of reverence and suitable for prayer. However, NO WHERE in the Vatican II Documents is there any mention that the Tabernacle MUST be all the way in some side corner (some ill-read priests maintain that) or worse yet, in the back of the parish church(Next to the rear entrance). Why is it that the ACTUAL Vatican II Documents have been interpreted according to certain agendas? Why not just follow what the Vatican II Documents ACTUALLY say, insted of what some wish or think it says? In other words the heretical saying by some: the “spirit” of Vatican II. Lets look at the LACK of reverence to Jesus Christ in the Tabernacle in the last 40 years. Has there been for the most part MORE reverence, or less? I think less, and this may also have to do with the Tabernacles being put to the side or to the back. Where have they taken my Lord?
 
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davemcher5:
Hi Catholic Mom, Angie Girl & All,
In the post-Vatican Era, this is a good topic. It is easier to adore our Lord when the tabernacle is behind the altar. We are to genuflect before the tabernacle where ever it is, but I’ve also heard that you are still supposed to genufect in front of the “main” altar, which is supposed to have blessed relics in it. Also here in the USA, we tend to make changes without explanation and understanding of the original reason. There are Catholic Churches, which have proper, respectful altars for the tabernacle that aren’t behind the main altar. But there are those that don’t, where you might miss the tabernacle if you don’t look for it. I think some churches have moved the tabernacle into side chapels because their members have seen it in their travels to Rome and elsewhere. My understanding is that in Rome in these high-traffic tourist chuches have moved the tabernacle to chapels, so that our Lord in the Eucharist be properly respected and adored. My feeling is that the tabernacle should be in our churches with a big red candle (as done traditionally) so we can find it. Also, the GRIM quote was a good one and is similar to cannon law on tabernacles.
-davemcher5
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What does everyone think of this placement? In my old church the renovators moved the main altar down so the priest could face the people. The ornate tabernacle was moved to the left side of the sanctuary (as the faithful look at the sanctuary.)

So anyone at the ambo has his back directly to the tabernacle. It seemed irreverent, even knuckleheaded to me.
 
Defensor Fidei:
Not a problem at all. If you go to Italy into Churches that date back as early as the 5th and 6th century, there is not tabernacle in the rear of the sanctary. Infact there are many side chapels which many have their own tabernacle. Adoration chapels when done right are very good.
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The tabernacle was originally on the altar (a box made out of acacia wood – like the Ark of the Covenant – and covered with gold) or hung over it, sometimes a vessel shaped like a dove. Adoration chapels are a later development.

But of course you knew that already, didn’t you?
 
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Katie-Scarlett:
With respect, I am not sure, but I believe you may be incorrect. I was taught, and could be wrong, that we never genuflect to the cross or crucifix. On Good Friday it appears people are genuflecting to the cross (which should be covered or removed anyway if it’s Good Friday!), because they are merely genuflecting out of habit when they come into church. Genuflection is only for the Blessed Sacrament. If people are doing it willy-nilly all over the place at other times out of confusion, that’s a shame, because that’s how we Catholics get a reputation among protestants for worshipping statues and the like.
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No, on Good Friday we really do genuflect toward the Cross.
 
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otm:
My understanding is that genuflecting on both knees is a tradition, but not a rule. Anyone?
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It is a good and holy tradition but it is no longer a rule.
 
Defensor Fidei:
Catholic Mom 1,

Tabernacles were not always present, it was a development.
-Ted
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Very true Ted; Even the design and placement is something which developed over the centuries.
Catholic Encyclopedia:
VI. THE DOVE; TABERNACLE

During the first age of Christianity the faithful were allowed, when persecution was imminent, to reserve the Eucharist in their homes. (See ARCA.) This custom gradually disappeared in the West about the fourth century. The Sacred Hosts for the sick were then kept in churches where special receptacles were prepared for them. These receptacles mere either in the form of a dove which hung from the roof of the ciborium, or, where a ciborium did not exist, of a tower (the turris Eucharistica) which was placed in an armarium. In a drawing of the thirteenth-century altar of the Cathedral of Arras an arrangement is seen which is evidently a reminiscence of the suspended dove in those countries where the ciborium had disappeared: the Eucharistic tower is suspended above the altar from a staff in the form of a crosier. The more ordinary receptacle for this purpose, up to the seventeenth century, was the armarium near, or an octagon-shaped tower placed on the Gospel side of, the altar. Tabernacles of the latter kind were generally of stone or wood; those of the dove class of some precious metal. Our present form of tabernacle dates from the end of the sixteenth century.
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JackPaul:
The Idea that Jesus was anymore present in the room next door just kind of made me smile. I didn’t think he was confined by time or space, but yet a wall or six feet of distance somehow made a difference.
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Jack: Think of it this way, if Our Lord were in the room next door would you see him? If he were in the same room with you? The Real Presence of Our Lord, i.e. body, blood, soul and divinity is a physical presence as well as a spiritual presence. If I knew Jesus were in the room next door, I’m not sure what my first reaction would be, but it probably wouldn’t be dropping to my knees, but if I suddenly realized I were in the same room with Him, I’d probably do something a little more than genuflect.
 
I think we lost something when we moved the tabernacle from behind the altar. People don’t seem to be as reverent as they once were. It’s easier for people to forget that Jesus is present when they don’t see the tabernacle.
 
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