Tabernacle Question

[musicmantg11]

Why do some parishes have cloths over their tabernacles? At my parish I belong to, we used to have one but the new priest took t away. The cloth matched the liturgical color (white, green, red, purple). Is their any Catholic Church tradition or custom that talks about this? Is there any church law? Please give me your opinion.

 

[Moyle]

It’s just a nice little custom that’s been around a long time which adds a bit of solemnity. It shows respect for God. No, it’s not required but it can be a very nice touch.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Some tabernacles are especially ornate, and don’t lend themselves to being veiled–nor (since they are so beautiful) should they be.

 

[japhy]

Why do some parishes have cloths over their tabernacles?

Here are three quotes from (post-Vatican II) Church documents concerning the tradition of veiling the tabernacle:

1967 - "Care should be taken that the faithful be made aware of the presence of the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle by the use of a veil or some other effective means prescribed by the competent authority. According to the traditional practice, a lamp should burn continuosly near the tabernacle as a sign of the honor shown to the Lord. " (Eucharisticum Mysterium, n. 57)

1973 - “The presence of the Eucharist in the tabernacle is to be shown by a veil or in another suitable way determined by the competent authority. According to traditional usage, an oil lamp or lamp with a wax candle is to burn constantly near the tabernacle as a sign of the honor shown to the Lord.” (Eucharistiae Sacramentum, n. 11)

1980 - “The tabernacle should be solid, unbreakable, and not transparent. The presence of the Eucharist is to be indicated by a tabernacle veil or by some other suitable means laid down by the competent authority, and a lamp must perpetually burn before it, as a sign of honor paid to the Lord.” (Inaestimabile Donum, n. 25)

 

[PhilotheaZ]

The practice of veiling that which is sacred is present even in the Old Testament. God commanded the Israelites to build the Ark of the Covenant to house His presence among them, and He gave very specific instructions on how it was to be veiled (Exodus 26:31-33):

31 "You shall have a veil woven of violet, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen twined, with cherubim embroidered on it.
32 It is to be hung on four gold-plated columns of acacia wood, which shall have hooks of gold and shall rest on four silver pedestals.
33 Hang the veil from clasps. The ark of the commandments you shall bring inside, behind this veil which divides the holy place from the holy of holies.

 

[bpbasilphx]

I just occurred to me that the basic meaning of “tabernacula” in Latin is “tent.”

So of course, the outside in the West was veiled in keeping with this imagery, and the inside is supposed to be lined with silk.