Should the tabernacle be placed in church or chapel?

[demolitionman65]

Right. Even in those with Adoration chapels, the chapel has the Host in a monstrance, not a tabernacle.

 

[gelsbern]

Trick:

I am at a parish that has 24 hour Adoration,it has truly been a blessing for this parish. The tabernacle is located in a side chapel .
The main Church seats over 1000 people, it is in heavy use due to the frequent regularly scheduled Masses . It is also used quite often for weddings as well as funerals.

Having the tabernacle in a seperate side chapel has allowed a lot more people to come and adore the Lord.

Is it possible to have two seperate tabernacles at a church, I of course think a tabernacle should be up front and center at the main altar, but I also know what a blessing it is to have 24 hour access to our Lord in the side chapel.

Trick

I have a question about this.

During the 40 hours devotion, Our Lord is never to be left alone, people take “shifts” so that there is always someone present over the 40 hour period. I would assume that the same rule would apply with 24 hour access, are there people in the chapel around the clock 7 days a week, 365 days a year?

 

[Trick]

Gelsburn,
Yes, at our parish we do take hourly shifts and at least one person is always there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365(6) days a year.
Trick

 

[demolitionman65]

Gelsbern: The 24/7 rule applies to Adoration, except in those parishes when the Host is removed at noon on Good Friday, and it is not replaced until at least midnight on Easter morning. (and in every parish where I have seen Adoration, this Triduum removal applies)

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

St.Claire:

A few years back our bishop sent out a directive through his office of liturgy and worship that all newly constructed and renovated churches must have a separate chapel for the Blessed Sacrament. As a result of this recent directive many new and renovated churches in our diocese have moved the tabernacle out of the main body of the church into a side or back chapel. When I’ve visited these churches for the first time I don’t even know which way to direct my genuflection because I can’t locate which side the tabernacle is located.

It makes me sad to think that the body of our lord is housed in a tabernacle that is sometimes so hidden away that we must search to find him.

If the tabernacle is not located in the main church then you do not genuflect when in the main church. You bow to the crucifix or altar.

However in the case of St. Judes in Redmond, Washington. The taberncale is physically located in the main church, however it is located in the back of the church in a little open cutout in the wall. But still located in the main church. So when entering it would be proper to make a 180 degree turn, face the taberncale at the back and genuflect before entering a pew.

 

[otm]

Marialis Cultus:

I’ve had the same experience. Which way do you genuflect when you don’t know where the tabernacle is?

It’s very simple. When the tabernacle is not in view, then the reverence you show is a bow to the altar.

 

[otm]

GloriaPatri4:

Our you sure this is correct? I’ve always taught my children to genuflect when entering and exiting the pew they are about to sit in. It seems to me that children or for that matter adults whom attend a church with a hidden tabernacle would get in the habit of NOT genuflecting. When these Catholics (especially children) finally do enter a church with a tabernacle front and center they will have forgotten to genuflect.

Yes it is correct. Genuflecting when the Eucharist is not present makes genuflecting just something you do when you enter a church. It is something we reserve for the Eucharist.

Betteer to teach your children why we genuflect; they will get it.

 

[otm]

demolitionman65:

Sorry, but this is incorrect.

This is easily solved with the formation of a second chapel designated for Eucharistic Adoration. I have attended parishes all over the West with this arrangement.

However, that violates church law, which states theat there is one tabernacle.

 

[otm]

demolitionman65:

Right. Even in those with Adoration chapels, the chapel has the Host in a monstrance, not a tabernacle.

The adoration chapels I have seen have the tabernacle there too. It makes sens, if the Eucharist needs to be reposed at 3 a.m., that you are not traipsing all over in the dark trying to repose it.

 

[otm]

gelsbern:

I have a question about this.

During the 40 hours devotion, Our Lord is never to be left alone, people take “shifts” so that there is always someone present over the 40 hour period. I would assume that the same rule would apply with 24 hour access, are there people in the chapel around the clock 7 days a week, 365 days a year?

That is what we do, however, during the week, Mass is said in the chapel, and the Eucharist is reposed. It is also reposed when Mass is said on Sundays in the main church.

If someone is at adoration and for some reason the next person does not show up, and the person there cannot stay another hour, they repose it.

 

[demolitionman65]

However, that violates church law, which states theat there is one tabernacle

You are correct. But I did not say “tabernacle”. It needs to repose in a monstrance.

The adoration chapels I have seen have the tabernacle there too. It makes sens, if the Eucharist needs to be reposed at 3 a.m., that you are not traipsing all over in the dark trying to repose it.

You just said this violates church law (which it does). The Eucharist is to remain in the monstrance throughout Adoration. Why is it being removed at 3AM?

 

[nike248]

**This is very interesting our bishop (Tod Brown) did the same thing. **

Quote from Los Angeles Lay Catholic Mission

"Brown sent two directives through his office of liturgy and worship: all who receive communion must do so standing (prohibiting kneeling for reception), and all newly constructed and renovated churches must have a separate chapel for the Blessed Sacrament".

click on link losangelesmission.com/ed/articles/2004/0406rk.htm

Los Angeles. 'nuff said

 

[James_2_24]

How do you embed a photo into your post? I see the “insert an image” icon, but still don’t know how to do it.

Thanks

 

[msproule]

demolitionman65:

The Eucharist is to remain in the monstrance throughout Adoration. Why is it being removed at 3AM?

I assume this would happen only if no adorer was able to remain in the presence of Our Lord after 3 AM.

 

[Lucania]

In my opinion, the Tabernacle should be in the main body of the Church. Whether off to the side of the main altar away from busy traffic if it is a Church that sees alot of tourists, you should not have to look for Jesus when you enter a Catholic Church! That is one of the main reasons I left my parish after they finally built a Church after worshipping in the Hall for years. They put the Tabernacle in a separate chapel behind the main altar. I was disappointed and ended up leaving, but like I said , that was one of many reasons.

 

[ldelatorre]

"Even in churches where the tabernable remains on the altar or side altar, people talk before, during and after Mass and the bishops and priests don’t seem to care. No wonder the bishops want Jesus, the King, removed to another place, so they can justifiy allowing all the non-reverent acts that take place routinely in our churches, e.g., joking priests, self-centered cantors and announcers, ushers who greet people on the way to Holy Communion with, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’, etc. applause for Knights of Columbus, chairmen of parish councils and heads of St. Vincent de Paul societies, who speak during or after Mass from the altar, and think they are Johnny Carson reincarnate. If our bishops and priests would obey the instructions of the G.I.R.M. and Redemptionis Sacramentum, these problems would not exist.

I agree the issue with our Church in the USA is a matter of enforcement. The rules are there and are very clear; they are just not being followed. I disagree with the above post as far as the reason Bishops moved the Tabernacle. They are aware of the abuses but do not take action. And since they only answer to the Pope, who is going to police them?

 

[2heartsaz1]

It seems all these variances are adding more confusion so that folks in ANY Catholic church do not recognize the significance of being in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

This is not what unity entails.

Why would a newly built church relegate Our Eucharistic Lord to the space large enough for a broom closet hidden along one of the sides, where the din and chatter of folks leaving mass is heard beside the only side exit door?

Why would a newly constructed church omit kneelers?

This is a reflection on the local bishop and the people. It is a lack of unity and a show of “we’re all going to do what WE wish, despite what the universal church tells us.”

Pax