Should the tabernacle be off to the side?

[JPUSC]

this is very interesting discussion. my parish is going to be remodeled and the Tabernacle is going to be moved to the side.

the priest said that our reverence should be not to the taberncle but to the altar. we bow to the altar and not to the Taberncle.

i am confused with all the changes and the emphase on the VII.

God may help us all.

Nope, that’s wrong. The altar only has relics of the saints and the Tabernacle holds God.

 

[Freshman88]

Why? just, simply, why?

Why did so much have to change? sigh.

I don’t understand at all. At least there are counter-arguments for ad orientem and the vernacular, but this? why? just, why?

 

[Freshman88]

the priest said that our reverence should be not to the taberncle but to the altar. we bow to the altar and not to the Taberncle.

 

[anon77300002]

the priest said that our reverence should be not to the taberncle but to the altar. we bow to the altar and not to the Taberncle.

Are you sure your PRIEST said this? I’m not doubting you but I DO hope that that’s not really what he thinks.

 

[Aramis]

wisdomseeker;4461964:

the priest said that our reverence should be not to the taberncle but to the altar. we bow to the altar and not to the Taberncle.

Are you sure your PRIEST said this? I’m not doubting you but I DO hope that that’s not really what he thinks.

If the Tabernacle is moved to a separate chapel, then yes, the Altar is reverenced. If it is not in a separate chapel, outside the mass, the Tabernacle is genuflected to.

During the mass, the celebrant priest (or bishop) is present ad vicare Christe and, at times, in persona Christe, and one bows to the Celebrant. (Such was I taught by Dominican Friars.)

 

[wisdomseeker]

wisdomseeker;4461964:

the priest said that our reverence should be not to the taberncle but to the altar. we bow to the altar and not to the Taberncle.

Are you sure your PRIEST said this? I’m not doubting you but I DO hope that that’s not really what he thinks.

yes i am sure. i was shocked myself. like i said before, my priest keeps emphasize about VII. they seem to want to obey VII. he says that VII is bringing the Church to what it was before. he is a franciscan friar. and now we have a another priest who came to help. and he ask us to clap to the alter boys. he also engaged into conversations with the people during mass. he asks questions to parishiners and they answer. i dont quite understand the whole idea. although i obey and revere our priests and i am greatfull to them, i am skeptical of their ideas of being to sociable with the people during mass.

i dont like what i hear from the priest. but what do i know.

blessings to all who answers.

 

[zab]

Our pastor said that it is more appropriate to move the tabernacle to a side chapel or room usually in large cathedrals and churchs where there are lots of visitors or tourists going in and out, many of whom want to walk around to look at the church. That way the people are free to look at the church and those who want to adore do not have to be disturbed. He said that churches that do not have another room, or enough space in the Nave to create an enclosed or semi-enclosed Blessed Sacrament chapel should leave the tabernacle behind the altar. Moving it to a side altar serves no purpose.

 

[anon77300002]

Reg Smith;4463005:

yes i am sure. i was shocked myself. like i said before, my priest keeps emphasize about VII. they seem to want to obey VII. he says that VII is bringing the Church to what it was before. he is a franciscan friar. and now we have a another priest who came to help. and he ask us to clap to the alter boys. he also engaged into conversations with the people during mass. he asks questions to parishiners and they answer. i dont quite understand the whole idea. although i obey and revere our priests and i am greatfull to them, i am skeptical of their ideas of being to sociable with the people during mass.

i dont like what i hear from the priest. but what do i know.

blessings to all who answers.

How protestant are we going to get??? I’m often disturbed by my parish and long for the traditional Latin Mass. But we’re very conservative compared to some examples I read here.
Maybe I’ll start a new post related to this when I have more time.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

The placement of the tabernacle must be approved by the Bishop.

From what I’ve been told,… according to the directives of the Bishop of my dioceses, the tabernacle will be off to the side in a prominent place that is accessible for people to pray at, outside of Mass. None of the parishes in my dioceses, have the tabernacle front and center behind the altar.

You can dislike where the tabernacle is in your parish church, but unless the Bishop approves of moving it, it won’t happen. So bring your complaint to him, and give your pastor some rest.

Jim

 

[johnnykins]

Why? just, simply, why?

Why did so much have to change? sigh.

I don’t understand at all. At least there are counter-arguments for ad orientem and the vernacular, but this? why? just, why?

The reason for the push to a separate room for the tabernacle arose out of the concerns involving large, tourist Cathedrals, Churches and Basilicas. In those churches the tourists often parade around looking at the architecture, art and history. They are not there for prayer. It was rightly thought that the tabernacle should be moved to a place more suitable for prayer and contemplation. A good idea when applied to St. Patrick’s, St. Peters, Mary Major, etc. Unfortunately, this was picked up by the average parish that never had any problem with tourist groups and, of course, the concept fit in with the post-VII mindset.

So there you have it. A good thought gone wild - and bad.

 

[JPUSC]

The reason for the push to a separate room for the tabernacle arose out of the concerns involving large, tourist Cathedrals, Churches and Basilicas. In those churches the tourists often parade around looking at the architecture, art and history. They are not there for prayer. It was rightly thought that the tabernacle should be moved to a place more suitable for prayer and contemplation. A good idea when applied to St. Patrick’s, St. Peters, Mary Major, etc. Unfortunately, this was picked up by the average parish that never had any problem with tourist groups and, of course, the concept fit in with the post-VII mindset.

So there you have it. A good thought gone wild - and bad.

Non-Catholic tourists are God’s children too. Maybe having the tabernacle exposed to them will bring them back to Him. The Church is God’s house; why should the Host be hidden in his own home for the sake of a few guests who are only there to gawk at his ‘furniture’.

Also, this document from the USCCB instructs that this should be done in every parish, regardless of whether or not it is a tourist spot. It was not something simply picked up by the average parish if it was a command from the Bishops.

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 prayer and which is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful.

usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter5.shtml

 

[zab]

Non-Catholic tourists are God’s children too. Maybe having the tabernacle exposed to them will bring them back to Him. The Church is God’s house; why should the Host be hidden in his own home for the sake of a few guests who are only there to gawk at his ‘furniture’.

Also, this document from the USCCB instructs that this should be done in every parish, regardless of whether or not it is a tourist spot. It was not something simply picked up by the average parish if it was a command from the Bishops.

I think you are misreading the statement. The USCCB does not instruct every parish to move the tabernacle out of the sanctuary or to the side or to another room. The bishop’s statement is just saying that the tabernacle should be located apart from the altar of celebration. Often the tabernacle in on an old altar no longer used for celebration and this altar is located behind the altar that is used now for celebration in the sanctuary. But* it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the Diocesan Bishop,*