Tabernacle Placement -- Is my parish in conformity with Canon Law and Church Teaching

[jcecil]

I read Colin Donovan’s answer to Tabernacle Placement on EWTN’s web site but I still need some help. Please be patient with my explanation and description of my parish church of 500 to 700 families which is not a Cathedral. My new parish church was reopened in January of 1999 after a large addition. The new addition was made accessible to its parishioners through its elementary Catholic school or through the front entrance which faces Main Street. The Tabernace now resides in a chapel by the front entrance to the church with a glass wall directly behind the Tabernacle and a glass wall which faces the vestibule that is located across the hall from the chapel. Outside the vestibule and chapel is a large foyer called the ‘gathering area’ where the baptismal font and confessional are located. There is a large opening from the ‘gathering area’ into the main part of the church where the pews and altar are located. The main aisle is acessible by turning immediately to the right and then left down that aisle up to the altar. Of course the main aisle is the one that the priest or celebrant uses when processing into Mass with the lector and servers. Since the chapel for the tabernacle is located bv the front door instead of being off to the side of the main altar isn’t this in violation or disrespect of Canon Law or Liturgical Rules? My parish was designed and built under a former pastor and a former bishop so I don’t want to put any blame for its poor design onto our new pastor. Should I alert our new local bishop (ordained in February of 2003) about this situation through a letter or should I gather some documentation together and present it to my new pastor who has already told me that the chapel is in compliance due to a liturgical move? Colin Donovan’s answer indicates that the local bishop is the one that is mainly responsible for the proper location of the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. By the way where did the idea of a large ‘gathering area’ or foyer come from in some of these new wacky looking Catholic churches?

Thank you for your assistance. I appreciate it.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

There are several guidelines for the placement of the tabernacle. Current directives both from Rome and the USCCB do not specify a particular location where the tabernacle should be, simply that it should not be on the main altar nor directly behind it. Perhaps the most complete description of the placement of the tabernacle as far as the United States is concerned is found in the document Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship which contains a section on the placement of the tabernacle and which can be found here:

usccb.org/liturgy/livingstones.htm#chaptertwoc

Deacon Ed

 

[otm]

The GIRM lists several places acceptable for the Tabernacle.

 

[CMcLaurin]

Deacon Ed:

There are several guidelines for the placement of the tabernacle. Current directives both from Rome and the USCCB do not specify a particular location where the tabernacle should be, simply that it should not be on the main altar nor directly behind it. Perhaps the most complete description of the placement of the tabernacle as far as the United States is concerned is found in the document Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship which contains a section on the placement of the tabernacle and which can be found here:

usccb.org/liturgy/livingstones.htm#chaptertwoc

Deacon Ed

The Tabernacle cannot be directly behind the altar? This seems to only mention that the Tabernacle should not sit on the altar:
The Location of the Tabernacle:

74 There is a number of possible spaces suitable for eucharistic reservation. The revised General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that it is more appropriate that the tabernacle in which the "Blessed Sacrament is reserved not be on the altar on which Mass is celebrated."98 The bishop is to determine where the tabernacle will be placed and to give further direction. The bishop may decide that the tabernacle be placed in the sanctuary apart from the altar of celebration or in a separate chapel suitable for adoration and for the private prayer of the faithful. In making his determination, the bishop will consider the importance of the assembly’s ability to focus on the eucharistic action, the piety of the people, and the custom of the area.99 The location also should allow for easy access by people in wheelchairs and by those who have other disabilities.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

CMcLaurin:

The Tabernacle cannot be directly behind the altar?

Whart I said was it should not be directly behind the altar. Here’s what the bishops have to say in the document I cited above:

The Tabernacle in the Sanctuary
§ 79 § A special area can be designed within the sanctuary. Careful planning is needed so that the placement chosen does not draw the attention of the faithful away from the eucharistic celebration and its components. In addition, the placement must allow for a focus on the tabernacle for those periods of quiet prayer outside the celebration of the Eucharist.

§ 80 § Ordinarily, it is helpful to have a sufficient distance to separate the tabernacle and the altar. When a tabernacle is located directly behind the altar, consideration should be given to using distance, lighting, or some other architectural device that separates the tabernacle and reservation area during Mass, but that allows the tabernacle to be fully visible to the entire worship area when the eucharistic liturgy is not being celebrated.

A tabernacle directly behind the altar could draw attention away from the Eucharistic celebration, and this is why the bishops suggest that it not be there or, if that is the logical place for it, that they do something to mitigate its presence during Mass.

Deacon Ed

 

[BrianDay]

Deacon Ed,

With all due respect, the article you cited was a report issued by a Liturgy subcommitte that was never voted upon by the Bishop’s council. The document does not have any legal standing, and should not be referenced in any discussion of Church architecture.

On a personal note, I think “Built of Living Stones” put Church architecture back 20 years.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

BrianDay:

Deacon Ed,

With all due respect, the article you cited was a report issued by a Liturgy subcommitte that was never voted upon by the Bishop’s council. The document does not have any legal standing, and should not be referenced in any discussion of Church architecture.

On a personal note, I think “Built of Living Stones” put Church architecture back 20 years.

Brian,

I believe you are thinking of the previous article (Environment and Art in Catholic Worship) from the bishop’s committee which, as you noted, did not have any authority and was intended to be an advisory document only. The document I cited was issued in 2000 with the full permission of the Bishop’s Committee to replace that older, flawed document.

Deacon Ed

 

[BrianDay]

Deacon Ed:

Brian,

I believe you are thinking of the previous article (Environment and Art in Catholic Worship) from the bishop’s committee which, as you noted, did not have any authority and was intended to be an advisory document only. The document I cited was issued in 2000 with the full permission of the Bishop’s Committee to replace that older, flawed document.
Deacon Ed

My appologies. I believe you are correct.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Deacon Ed,

The document, then, is not binding on individual bishops unless Rome has ratified it. I am not aware Rome ratifying it, so I suppose the question revolves around what the local bishop has determined.

I am not aware of anything in canon law prohibiting the tabernacle from being directly behind the altar, although I do note many priests who are uncomfortable having their backs turned to his presence during mass and I sympathize with them.

The only canon I am aware of is:
Canon 938 ¤2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law:

<< The tabernacle in which the blessed Eucharist is reserved should be sited in a distinguished place in a church or oratory, a place which is conspicuous, suitably adorned and conducive to prayer. >>

The directives that I have seen from Rome even specify that the tabernacle may be placed on an altar, notably the High altar.
In one church in my area both altars are present, and the tabernacle is still on the High altar – which is directly behind the main altar.

Far from wishing to seperate the tabernacle from the altar, rome has expressed the disire to keep them united. This was initiated by (I believe) by pope Pius XII.

However, It would be inappropriate to have the tabernacle on the main altar, because of the visible interference it would have with the eucharistic celebration. But I still havent seen anything official which bans the tabernacle from being on an altar behind the main altar.

The new GIRM/IGMR still expects that the tabernacle could be behind the main altar.

1. It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated. 128 Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the Diocesan Bishop, a. 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); b. Or even in some chapel suitable for the faithfulÕs private adoration and prayer 129 and which is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful.

And more to the point,

and

1. The chair of the priest celebrant must signify his office of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer. Thus the best place for the chair is in a position facing the people at the head of the sanctuary, unless the design of the building or other circumstances impede this: for example, if the great distance would interfere with communication between the priest and the gathered assembly, or if the tabernacle is in the center behind the altar. Any appearance of a throne, however, is to be avoided. 119 It is appropriate that, before being put into liturgical use, the chair be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual. 120

 

[Brendan]

For a quick answer, Placement of the Tabernacle in either the Sactuary (near but not on, the Altar) or reserved in a private, but accessable chapel are the acceptable areas of placement.

As a general rule of thumb.

Could a visitor to your parish walk in, quickly find the Blessed Sacrament and find it in place where they can engage in Adoration and quiet prayer, undisturbed by activities in the Narthex"Gathering Space"?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Huiou Theou:

Deacon Ed,

The document, then, is not binding on individual bishops unless Rome has ratified it. I am not aware Rome ratifying it, so I suppose the question revolves around what the local bishop has determined.

The document is advisory only. It has no intention of being binding on any bishop, but is, rather, the consensus of the bishops of the United States.

I am not aware of anything in canon law prohibiting the tabernacle from being directly behind the altar, although I do note many priests who are uncomfortable having their backs turned to his presence during mass and I sympathize with them.

In general, canon law does not apply to liturgical regulations (Canon 2: For the most part the Code does not determine the rites to be observed in the celebration of liturgical actions. Accordingly, liturgical laws which have been in effect hitherto retain their force, except those which may be contrary to the canons of the Code.) In this case, the principle of tabernacle placement takes place. The bishops are concerned that the tabernacle, which already contains the Blessed Sacrament, the result of consecration, offers the wrong focus for the people during the Mass. That is, we have the result of the Mass present before the Mass begins. Thus, moving it directly behind the main altar does not address the pirinciple reason for not having it on the primary altar (visibility is not the primary reason).

Deacon Ed

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Deacon Ed:

The bishops are concerned that the tabernacle, which already contains the Blessed Sacrament, the result of consecration, offers the wrong focus for the people during the Mass. That is, we have the result of the Mass present before the Mass begins. Thus, moving it directly behind the main altar does not address the pirinciple reason for not having it on the primary altar (visibility is not the primary reason).
Deacon Ed

That would seem to imply that anywhere in a church the tabernacle could be focused on is an improper location.

Could you clarify?

The canon, 683, specifies that the tabernacle be in a distniguished and conspicuous location in a church or oratory.

 

[Deacon_Ed]

Rather than give you my opinion, here is what the bishops have said:

The Tabernacle in the Sanctuary
§ 79 § A special area can be designed within the sanctuary. Careful planning is needed so that the placement chosen does not draw the attention of the faithful away from the eucharistic celebration and its components.In addition, the placement must allow for a focus on the tabernacle for those periods of quiet prayer outside the celebration of the Eucharist.

§ 80 § Ordinarily, it is helpful to have a sufficient distance to separate the tabernacle and the altar. When a tabernacle is located directly behind the altar, consideration should be given to using distance, lighting, or some other architectural device that separates the tabernacle and reservation area during Mass, but that allows the tabernacle to be fully visible to the entire worship area when the eucharistic liturgy is not being celebrated.

As you can see, they are very specific about the area around the altar including the idea taht *if *the tabernacle is directly behind the altar there is some way to obscure it during Mass but make it visible when Mass is not being celebrated.

This is consistent with the ideas that Rome has presented as well.

Deacon Ed

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

From what you post I don’t see any major violations of Canon Law. The Bishop does have certain say in where Tabernacles are to be located in his diocese. However you do say “is not a Cathedral” The rules say that the tabernacle must be in a prominent place, easily located from the main body of the church. The rule that the former pastor or Bishop stretched allowed the Tabernacle to be located in a Eucharistic chapel if the Main body of the church was very busy with weddings, funerals, tours and visitors. To allow the faithful a quiet space to pray and adore the Blessed Sacrament without interruption.

How many people visit the Blessed Sacrament in a day and how many weddings, funerals and tours take place in a given week?? I would guess by your description, not many! Therefore the exception granted to allow a separate chapel really does not apply here.