Tabernacle vs. Altar

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AMDG3141

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In the parish I currently go to, they have the tabernacle pushed off to one side of the Church (the same side where the readings take place). I am one of the many individuals who read at morning Mass. Normally I walk up on the tabernacle side, genuflect to Jesus in the tabernacle, then step up to read. A new priest has asked me to instead bow towards the altar, and not twist towards the tabernacle. This would be a little easier if the tabernacle were directly behind the altar. But since it isn’t, I feel that I would be ignoring Jesus who is physically present in the tabernacle and instead showing more respect towards the altar.

Am I just being nit-picky? Is this “standard operating procedure”? I haven’t had a chance to dig through my reading material at home as this just happened this morning. I’m hoping one or more of you good people can help me out on this.

Thanks in advance, and God bless!
 
AMDG3141 said:
In the parish I currently go to, they have the tabernacle pushed off to one side of the Church (the same side where the readings take place). I am one of the many individuals who read at morning Mass. Normally I walk up on the tabernacle side, genuflect to Jesus in the tabernacle, then step up to read. A new priest has asked me to instead bow towards the altar, and not twist towards the tabernacle. This would be a little easier if the tabernacle were directly behind the altar. But since it isn’t, I feel that I would be ignoring Jesus who is physically present in the tabernacle and instead showing more respect towards the altar.

Am I just being nit-picky? Is this “standard operating procedure”? I haven’t had a chance to dig through my reading material at home as this just happened this morning. I’m hoping one or more of you good people can help me out on this.

Thanks in advance, and God bless!
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If you were walking down aisle of your church and Jesus appeared to everyone present what would you do? Would you turn to the priest and ask for His blessing? Would you turn to the altar and bow to it? I think you might fall on your knees in front of the Lord. I would.

Why a priest would tell someone to not acknowledge Jesus where He is present is one of those spirit of Vatican II puzzlements. Some people are nitpicky and some are nitwitty.
 
That was (kinda sorta) what I told him. He gave some information about how after the Mass starts the altar has a lot of importance. I totally agree with that, but I still believe the tabernacle holds more importance. The priest said he would be happy to talk to me about it. I would like to visit with him, but I was curious what everyone else had to say. Thanks for your response!
 
AMDG3141 said:
That was (kinda sorta) what I told him. He gave some information about how after the Mass starts the altar has a lot of importance. I totally agree with that, but I still believe the tabernacle holds more importance. The priest said he would be happy to talk to me about it. I would like to visit with him, but I was curious what everyone else had to say. Thanks for your response!
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I found myself in a very similar situation a few years ago (coincidentally at the parish in Florence, CO in the same diocese as you). The way it was presented to me is that during Mass we reverence the altar as it is the place where the greatest sacrifice of all time is going to be re-presented and our attention should be focused upon it (I still reverence the tabernacle upon entering the church).

Outside of Mass, I always reverence the altar when I cross in front of it or enter the sanctuary and reverence the tabernacle when I enter the church or cross in front of it.
 
That actually does make sense to me. I could see bowing to the altar and then genuflecting to Jesus. I’m just trying to find out why the priest says I should not genuflect at all before or after the bow.
Is there some documentation that spells out why, or is this just a matter of personal preference for the priest at that particular Mass?
 
AMDG3141 said:
That actually does make sense to me. I could see bowing to the altar and then genuflecting to Jesus. I’m just trying to find out why the priest says I should not genuflect at all before or after the bow.
Is there some documentation that spells out why, or is this just a matter of personal preference for the priest at that particular Mass?
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Good question, yes there is an official Church instruction on the matter:
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal

Genuflections and Bows
274. A genuflection, made by bending the right knee to the ground, signifies adoration, and therefore it is reserved for the Most Blessed Sacrament, as well as for the Holy Cross from the solemn adoration during the liturgical celebration on Good Friday until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.

During Mass, three genuflections are made by the priest celebrant: namely, after the showing of the host, after the showing of the chalice, and before Communion. Certain specific features to be observed in a concelebrated Mass are noted in their proper place (cf. above, nos. 210-251).

If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present in the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, **but not during the celebration of Mass itself **(emphasis added). Otherwise all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.

Ministers carrying the processional cross or candles bow their heads instead of genuflecting.

usccb.org/liturgy/current/chapter4.shtml#sect4
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I hope this was some help 🙂
 
For what it is worth, in my church the tabernacle is in an off-to-the-side room behind the altar but is still plainly seen through three glass doors.

When the priest goes up to the altar to prepare the sacramentry (or whatever) he genuflects towards the tabernacle without bowing to the altar. However, during Mass the only times he genuflects is at the consecration or when he puts the hosts back in the tabernacle.
 
It is my understanding that only those who actually serve the altar, Priests and Deacons reverence it.

When I had the privilege of helping at Mass doing the Readings, no matter where, I always genuflected towards the Tabernacle both coming and going from the ambo and have yet to reverence the altar. The only time I kneel in front of the Altar is when the Blessed Sacrament is present in a Monstrance.

This question has been answered very clearly in Mass Confusion, a book by one of the Catholic Answers guys. You could also check the website for articles about this very thing or other Liturgical questions you might have.

Some folks who should know all about this don’t and some “interpret” rubrics for themselves. The answer you’re looking for can be found with prayer and study, then more prayer for the courage to do the right thing in spite of what it may cost.

Peace,

Gail
 
Why are we struggling with this? The reason is that with the New Mass in the old sanctuary the priest faced the altar and people with his back to Jesus in the tabernacle. Pretty awkward. Making that worse the celebrants sat down underneath the tabernacle with their backs to it. So in most places to resolve this they moved the tabernacle off to the side or in a seperate room even. During the Old Mass Jesus was both on the altar and/or in the tabernacle and everyone including the priest faced both at all times. Nothing awkward about that.

The altar is the altar of sacrifice. It becomes a holy place when the priest brings the elements to it. Until then it is empty including at the time of the readings. It is as if the tabernacle was empty and the door was left open to signify that. You do not reverence it when He is not there.
 
[Edited]

Liturgy is all about symbolism. The tabernacle is shoved to the side because the liturgist wants Jesus Christ shoved off to the side.

The real Catholic genuflects to the tabernacle because he knows that God is present there. The dorky Catholic bows to the altar because he despises God and like an atheist wants to honor a bunch of empty space.
 
Pre_Rejected said:
As someone who is single, catholic, and therefore pre-rejected, I have a lot of empathy for Jesus Christ.

Liturgy is all about symbolism. The tabernacle is shoved to the side because the liturgist wants Jesus Christ shoved off to the side.

The real Catholic genuflects to the tabernacle because he knows that God is present there. The dorky Catholic bows to the altar because he despises God and like an atheist wants to honor a bunch of empty space.
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[Edited] the pastor at my parish always instructed us not to genuflect unless the Holy Body of Christ is present in the tabernacle, and noted in his homily one Sunday that, whenever he has celebrated masses in “Churches of St. Mary Magdeline” (viewers of Fr. Mitch Pacwa will understand what I am referring to 🙂 ), he has taken the opportunity to instruct those genuflecting to an empty altar that they are engaging in a pointless, empty, gesture - they are venerating simple wood and plaster, and nothing more.

P.S. - For those who don’t watch Fr. Mitch or Bp. Sheen - “they have taken away my lord, and I know not where they have placed him/”
 
Thank you to everyone for their replies, especially jkarp for the GIRM reference, and GailMac for the Mass Confusion recommendation! I’m pretty sure I have that book.
I just got home, and will do some looking.:o
 
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