Please don’t take this the wrong way. I am in no way suggesting that you have a formation issue.Its not just canon law issues that can be a problem. Formation issues can be any number of things and do not have to be enumerated in the code of canon law. Such an attitude could be a formation issue.
If you have questions the place for you to ask is your formator and spiritual director, not here.
You find out by asking your formation director, the rector of your seminary, or someone else in authority at your seminary. Not by coming here and asking us who are mostly laity and not canon lawyers either.Well I am not going to drink coffee out of a chalice nor buy one off of ebay, By the way there are many seminarians that have challaces and vestments and thuribles. I asked a question hoping to get good sound advice without the nasties. I was told that a tabernacle was not a tabernacle if The Blessed Sacrament was not residing inside it. I asked here to make sure that was the case. No I don’t have formation issues, My seminarian brother didn’t know whether or not it was an issue, he suggested I find out. I will some day give it to a church, So that there will be no problems nor issues.
I just need to add that this morning I discussed this interesting issue with a priest who is a canon lawyer and pastor. He says that a tabernacle has no other purpose than to be a tabernacle, and is a tabernacle even when not being used to house the Blessed Sacrament. Any priest would need the permission of his bishop to have a tabernacle in his residence and this is not usually granted. A priest with a tabernacle boxed away in storage, would also need permission from his bishop, and would not be granted. A tabernacle has one purpose and this is to house the Blessed Sacrament.Well I am going to talk with my spiritual director and see what he says. I think the best idea is to store it in a reverent manner, and either one day use it in a church if I am ordained, or if not ordained, give it to a needy church. at this present time. I will ask my spiritual advisor and then see what he says as to properly store and preserve this beautiful vessel. It might be God’s will i have it as someone else could use it for sundries or storing God forbid, money. God bless all of you, pray for me, that I do God’s will and that I make it to ordination. I know when I approach a tabernacle where The Blesses Sacrament is, I get all emotional, the love I feel is indescribable. This tabernacle I do not feel that intense burning love. but I feel a need to give it reverence and therefore I am. Hence the fact I asked you guys here. So thanks again God bless Scoob.
I am very relieved that you are willing to turn the whole problem over to you director in a spirit of humility and obedience. God Bless you and I hope you turn this into a learning experience to strengthen your vocation. :)Yes i know of a few that have chalices vestments and other items. I don’t see anything wrong with having these items in the hopes of becoming a priest, if you don’t then they should be passed on to a seminarian that will go on to priesthood, or given to a church. I am so so glad I posted this question here. I got a solution and I am satisfied that all is ending well.Most seminarians tend to amass a small collection of liturgical items for future use, particularly traditional vestments, birettas, and sacred vessels. Depending on the seminary, one should use good judgment in advertising the existence of these articles.
If the tabernacle is a beautiful one, you should save it for a future parish assignment when you’re a priest. Some parishes have really ugly tabernacles. I would caution you about the buying and selling of blessed articles - and most items like thuribles and tabernacles have been blessed - that you don’t incur the sin of simony.
I just need to add that this morning I discussed this interesting issue with a priest who is a canon lawyer and pastor. He says that a tabernacle has no other purpose than to be a tabernacle, and is a tabernacle even when not being used to house the Blessed Sacrament. Any priest would need the permission of his bishop to have a tabernacle in his residence and this is not usually granted. A priest with a tabernacle boxed away in storage, would also need permission from his bishop, and would not be granted. A tabernacle has one purpose and this is to house the Blessed Sacrament.
That is simply not true. It depends on the ordinary. It’s common in my diocese and the neighboring archdiocese for priests, retired priests, and even to a lesser degree deacons and laypersons to repose the Blessed Sacrament in their home chapels with the express written permission of our ordinary. In fact during the regime of the last archbishop of the neighboring archdiocese, every priest was encouraged to prepare a private chapel in their rectories or homes that allowed the repose of the Blessed Sacrament. Further there is nothing that forbids a lay Catholic from owning a tabernacle.
He also says that this can be a formation issue, and seminarians trading or collecting sacred vessels and sacred furnishings sends up red flags. Seminarians who collect chalices, vestments, etc. can be thought to be presuming they are going to be ordained, which may not be the case. Ordination is not something that can be presumed. He said it could be a maturity issue, but is not something that can be justified.
He also stated that the tabernacle in question cannot now be returned to the shop where it was acquired, where it could be used profanely for any other purpose than what it was made and set aside to be. He said it should be turned over to to be under the care and use of the Church. The whole subject should be discussed with the spirual or formation director at the seminary
Code:I am very relieved that you are willing to turn the whole problem over to you director in a spirit of humility and obedience. God Bless you and I hope you turn this into a learning experience to strengthen your vocation. :)
Actually they are often cautioned not to make such purchases.Most seminarians tend to amass a small collection of liturgical items for future use, particularly traditional vestments, birettas, and sacred vessels. Depending on the seminary, one should use good judgment in advertising the existence of these articles.
If the tabernacle is a beautiful one, you should save it for a future parish assignment when you’re a priest. Some parishes have really ugly tabernacles. I would caution you about the buying and selling of blessed articles - and most items like thuribles and tabernacles have been blessed - that you don’t incur the sin of simony.
Can you provide proof of that, or are you just stating your own opinion?That’s simply not true. The Church makes no such demand. But common courtesy/good manners would demand the tabernacle not be used in a manner that would demean it.
Thank you, Cathryn, this conforms with what I know about sacred church items.I just need to add that this morning I discussed this interesting issue with a priest who is a canon lawyer and pastor. He says that a tabernacle has no other purpose than to be a tabernacle, and is a tabernacle even when not being used to house the Blessed Sacrament. Any priest would need the permission of his bishop to have a tabernacle in his residence and this is not usually granted. A priest with a tabernacle boxed away in storage, would also need permission from his bishop, and would not be granted. A tabernacle has one purpose and this is to house the Blessed Sacrament.
He also says that this can be a formation issue, and seminarians trading or collecting sacred vessels and sacred furnishings sends up red flags. Seminarians who collect chalices, vestments, etc. can be thought to be presuming they are going to be ordained, which may not be the case. Ordination is not something that can be presumed. He said it could be a maturity issue, but is not something that can be justified.
He also stated that the tabernacle in question cannot now be returned to the shop where it was acquired, where it could be used profanely for any other purpose than what it was made and set aside to be. He said it should be turned over to to be under the care and use of the Church. The whole subject should be discussed with the spirual or formation director at the seminary
Code:I am very relieved that you are willing to turn the whole problem over to you director in a spirit of humility and obedience. God Bless you and I hope you turn this into a learning experience to strengthen your vocation. :)
Many rectories have private chapels that are not for use of the parish.Thank you, Cathryn, this conforms with what I know about sacred church items.
I do know that it is very possible for a retired priest to have a tabernacle installed in a room set aside as an oratory/chapel in his home, with the permission of his bishop. I would not expect an actively serving priest to be given permission for something like that, as he would always have access to the parish church.
I’m sorry but I agree with the OP, I think the comments were condescending and very nasty. And someone asking a question should not be told they have formation problems based on 4-5 paragraphs on the internet–this site can have great information that’s why I stay here but sometimes I am apalled at the rudeness. Who is qualified on this site to dress down a person you have never met? Some comments might cause someone concern but does that necessitate rudeness and nasty comments?The tabernacle was once used for the Blessed Sacrament, therefore, it cannot be used for anything else. You should already know this.
Since you have bought it, you should now give it to the seminary for safe keeping.
You got good sound advice without any “nasties” - you reaction to the advice seriously suggests that you find criticism difficult to accept. You do, indeed, have formation issues.
I am, and you must be one as well. Few non-organists know of the excellent instruments of Aristide Cavaille-Coll, perhaps among the finest organs ever built.A bit off topic, I noticed your name, You must be an organist.
Wait just a moment. The onus is on you to back-up the comment you made:Can you provide proof of that, or are you just stating your own opinion?
You made the comment, you back it up. I cannot “prove” a prohibition that does not exist! It’s up to you to prove what you claim.The tabernacle was once used for the Blessed Sacrament, therefore, it cannot be used for anything else. You should already know this.
Since you have bought it, you should now give it to the seminary for safe keeping.
You got good sound advice without any “nasties” - you reaction to the advice seriously suggests that you find criticism difficult to accept. You do, indeed, have formation issues.
Hold the phone one moment! Placing items like rosaries or blessed medals in a tabernacle is not a “secular” or “casual” use. You are mistaken.I’m sorry but I agree with the OP, I think the comments were condescending and very nasty. And someone asking a question should not be told they have formation problems based on 4-5 paragraphs on the internet–this site can have great information that’s why I stay here but sometimes I am apalled at the rudeness. Who is qualified on this site to dress down a person you have never met? Some comments might cause someone concern but does that necessitate rudeness and nasty comments?
I bet these people who are rude are probably really mousy in real life and this is how they feel powerful. Well that’s too bad for them–pray for me and I will pray for them as well.
If the tabernacle was previously used to hold our Lord’s body, then it cannot be used for something secular. Once it’s a sacred object it shoud never be used for casual use.
If it’s never been used then technically you could use it for personal items or anything else, but the appearance of it might cause alarm and concern. In that context you certainly wouldn’t want people to think you are using it for casual storage. Even though you know the difference, others might become upset and mistake what’s happening. Avoiding the appearances of something wrong would be the reason for this.
Probably donating it to a parish would be best and my prayers are with you in seminary. Thank you for answering God’s call to serve us grumpy, arrogant, and unappreciative sinners.
Lorrie
Absolutely true. Several years ago in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, all incardinated priests were encouraged to prepare their own such chapels in their homes/rectories including the repose of the Blessed Sacrament if they did not already exist. This encouragement was done by the cardinal via The Tidings (diocesan newspaper) and it was all the authorization a qualified priest needed to establish such a chapel.Many rectories have private chapels that are not for use of the parish.