Tabernacle

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Mickey

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I am very disturbed when I go to a Roman Catholic Church and see the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament off to one side instead of the center behind the alter. Is anyone else disturbed by this or is it just me?
 
Yep… me too. There is a local parish which has just moved to the center, and then replaced its tabernacle… custom made in Italy. I hear it is nothing short of awesome. I will try to get a picture of it to post. The pastor’s desire was that anyone who will ever enter this church (St Thomas the Apostle, in Ann Arbor Mi) will know it is CATHOLIC.

That about says it all. If the tabernacle has been moved, the first response should be WHY?
 
No, you’re not the only one. Unfortunately there are very few things we can do to remedy its displacement.

I’ve been thinking about this problem for some time (as my close friends can attest to). Some of the ways in which we can fight for the placement of the tabernacle in a prominant place within the sanctuary are:
  • Writing letters to the bishop, requesting that he consider renovations to that effect in the diocese
  • Talking with your priest about the possibility of returning the tabernacle to its rightful place
  • Getting involved in “pastoral ministry” at your parish and bring up the importance of the placement of the tabernacle at meetings
  • Pray, in front of the tabernacle if possible, for proper reverence to be paid to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament
  • Investigate the art, architecture, and liturgy of the Church and be well prepared to use references to official Church documents in your letters and presentations
  • Offer any practical services, such as carpentry, masonry, etc., to your priest or bishop for the relocation of the tabernacle in its rightful place
Any other ideas Mickey?

God bless,

Agricola
 
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MrS:
Yep… me too. There is a local parish which has just moved to the center, and then replaced its tabernacle… custom made in Italy. I hear it is nothing short of awesome. I will try to get a picture of it to post. The pastor’s desire was that anyone who will ever enter this church (St Thomas the Apostle, in Ann Arbor Mi) will know it is CATHOLIC.
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:clapping:
 
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Agricola:
No, you’re not the only one. Unfortunately there are very few things we can do to remedy its displacement.

I’ve been thinking about this problem for some time (as my close friends can attest to). Some of the ways in which we can fight for the placement of the tabernacle in a prominant place within the sanctuary are:
  • Writing letters to the bishop, requesting that he consider renovations to that effect in the diocese
  • Talking with your priest about the possibility of returning the tabernacle to its rightful place
  • Getting involved in “pastoral ministry” at your parish and bring up the importance of the placement of the tabernacle at meetings
  • Pray, in front of the tabernacle if possible, for proper reverence to be paid to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament
  • Investigate the art, architecture, and liturgy of the Church and be well prepared to use references to official Church documents in your letters and presentations
  • Offer any practical services, such as carpentry, masonry, etc., to your priest or bishop for the relocation of the tabernacle in its rightful place
Any other ideas Mickey?

God bless,

Agricola
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These are great ideas! Much better than walking into a Church and stewing with anger. :o

Not long ago, I visited a friend who took me to his Church. The Tabernacle was to the side. My friend told me that a directive from the bishop instructed the pastor to move it to the center behind the alter. The priest refused–citing expensive costs and construction inconviences. It was obvious to me that the cost would not be excessive and the “inconvience” would not be significant. And so my questions were:

Why is the priest being combative and stubborn?
Why can the bishop not enforce such things when it comes to maverick priests?

Man, it still boils my blood. :mad:
 
"Talking with your priest about the possibility of returning the tabernacle to its rightful place"

According to the Church in “Sacrosanctum Consilium”, it doesn’t have to be in the center. It has to be “conspicuous”, in a place of obvious honor. In my church, it’s to the immediate left of the Altar. You can’t miss it. You can miss it in other churches I’ve been in, but almost always, those churches have followed the same directive: they’ve placed the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel devoted to It. This isn’t a Vatican II thing, either: if you visit cathedrals in Europe, the Eucharist is almost always reserved in a seperate chapel. So, in the dead middle of the sanctuary isn’t what the *Church *is so much concerned with. That’s said, I don’t see why presider’s chairs have been moved center when we COULD have the Tabernacle in the center. Our pastor just finished our church’s refurbishment (depending on who you talked to, it’s either gaudy or beautiful. Personally, I think it looks way more Catholic), but did NOT move the tabernacle. I think it could have been very easily done. Instead, we have the presider’s chair there -a new one that looks like a throne:rolleyes: .

Your friend’s priest should have obeyed his bishop, even if there was a canonical reason that he didn’t HAVE to. He should have done it in the spirit of obedience to his father in Christ.
 
Also, it ties in (in some stupid way) with modern architecture and I think there is a growing backlash against modern architecture for churches. So, hope springs eternal.
 
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Mickey:
I am very disturbed when I go to a Roman Catholic Church and see the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament off to one side instead of the center behind the alter. Is anyone else disturbed by this or is it just me?
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Yes, I wish they would just make it mandatory to put the tabernacle behind the Altar where it really should be. My parishes is off to the side as well and it does annoy me.
 
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Michael038:
Yes, I wish they would just make it mandatory to put the tabernacle behind the Altar where it really should be. My parishes is off to the side as well and it does annoy me.
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…having it off to the side also shows who may not be properly catechized in some respects…people will genuflect forward, towards the altar, intead of turning and genuflecting in the direction of the tabernacle.
I agree, it should be front and center, and elevated behind the altar so it is clearly visible. I like the older churches that even have a few steps you need to climb to reach the tabernacle. Magnificent!
 
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Michael038:
Yes, I wish they would just make it mandatory to put the tabernacle behind the Altar where it really should be. My parishes is off to the side as well and it does annoy me.
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There is flexibility in the location of the Tabernacle for a reason: To meet and accommodate the spiritual needs of the faithful. I would ask the Pastor for the rationale for the location. In many cases there is a good reason for it.

A couple of examples:

My daughter was once a member of a parish that had a very active prayer group. To facilitate their prayer efforts, the tabernacle was located in their Eucharistic Chapel where they could pray in an intimate environment in close proximity to the Real Presence.

Similarily, some churches are constructed with side chapels and two tabernacles. When Mass is said at the main altar, the Eucharist is in that Tabernacle but for most of the week, it is located in the side chapel. This is the common configuration of the churches in Rome as they also are common visits for pilgrims. The moving of the Eucharist to a side chapel contributes to allowing pilgrims to tour the Church and observe its artwork while not being disrespectful to the Eucharist and provide for a small intimate place for prayer. It is my experience that many churches located in or near business districts where there is a steady stream of people stopping by for short periods of prayer have two tabernacles to accommodate the prayer needs of these daily visitors. Based on the description of the OP, this is likely the rationale.

Or, it may be a situation of transitional design. I have a friend that is a member of a new parish. Because the current worship space will ultimately become the parish hall and their intention is to build a proper worship space after reducing their debt on their original construction, the parish spared expenses to properly outfit the worship space with permanent fixtures. Because of the barren appearance of the worship space, the Tabernacle is currently located in their chapel as it is decorated in a manner befitting the Real Presence.
 
One interesting side-note to all of this is the opportunity that our church (the one that I attended before moving 6 months ago) had to catechize when we built a new chapel and tabernacle area. The area itself is beautiful, and quite obvious from any place in the church, and, in fact, from the outside as well.

People asked the usual “Why…” and we got to explain about reverence to the tabernacle and to the altar, about space for adoration, prayer etc. And, along with the clarification of postures in the GIRM, we were able to elucidate on the proper genuflection to the tabernacle. After that, I noticed many more people giving proper reverence to the Real Presence of Christ, and to the altar, as well.

I actually find myself longing for that space after having moved.
 
I’d say it all depends on the area it is placed in and how easy it is to find…

My parish has it placed in a side chapel, open completely to the Church and is very reverent and beatiful…
A parish near me I visited a while ago had it off in a chapel, with a removable wall up… When I entered, I went to get Holy Water from the Container… And couldn’t find a spigot… Then almost hit the sanctuary lamp :rolleyes:
 
A way to solve this problem.

Go to the latin mass. The tabernacles are always in the centre, does not matter which church in the whole world, it is always the same.

The mass remains the same whether you are in America, Australia, Timbuctoo…its the same mass.

Its the way the Catholic faith was supposed to remain.
 
I am also very troubled by this.

While I have seen chapels of reposition that are very beautiful and reverently appointed, just think how glorious the entire church could be if the tabernacle was returned to its most rightful location!

As for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, MI, I am overjoyed by this recent addition! The new Pastor was formerly the Parochial Vicar of my “progressive” home parish. I am happy to see that he escaped before it was too late! While the new tabernacle was commissioned under his predecessor, the new Pastor fully understands the significance of this event. Here is an excerpt from the latest bulletin:I wasn’t sure if it was a compliment or a criticism when someone told me a comment they heard about our new tabernacle. “You can see what their priorities are,” they said. According to the comment, commissioning a new tabernacle and placing it in the center of the sanctuary shows what our priorities are. I have to admit that it’s true. That which we place in the center, that which we dress with gold, and place on an elaborate stand, is most certainly a priority. If they meant it as a compliment, then we accept it as an encouragement. Here at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Jesus Christ is our number one priority.

By the way, I am looking forward to seeing those photos, MrS!
 
While I prefer the Tabernacle in the center, as long as I can find it, I don’t get too upset. There is one church near me where I have yet to find the Tabernacle - I guess it’s in there somewhere. In another neighboring parish, renovations are being planned which include moving the Tabernacle back to the center. When this was announced, the people applauded. What a hopeful sign!

Betsy
 
Our parish has the tabernacle in a side chapel; it’s been that way since before I started attending several years ago. At first it was wierd, but I actually like it. Kneelers are kept right beside the tabernacle and there’s something amazing and wonderful about kneeling there and praying, in this smaller, more intimate space. Our chapel is kept open the same hours the church is, so it’s readily available.
 
In the center is nice…but certainly not necessary or better. In the US, it seems most churches have the tabernacle in the center. From what I hear the older european churches do not. I agree that side chapels can be very nice and a wonderful place to pray.

I would say that it’s important to remember that during Mass the focus should NOT be on the tabernacle. It should be the sacrifice on the altar. This is why the priest bows to the altar throughout the Mass but does not genuflect even if the tabernacle is in the center.

It doesn’t really bother me as long as the arrangement is in accord with canon law.
 
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Ham1:
In the center is nice…but certainly not necessary or better. In the US, it seems most churches have the tabernacle in the center. From what I hear the older european churches do not. I agree that side chapels can be very nice and a wonderful place to pray.

I would say that it’s important to remember that during Mass the focus should NOT be on the tabernacle. It should be the sacrifice on the altar. This is why the priest bows to the altar throughout the Mass but does not genuflect even if the tabernacle is in the center.

It doesn’t really bother me as long as the arrangement is in accord with canon law.
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Ham gets it! For a while after Vatican II their was a document put out by the USCCB that listed preferred modifications when remodeling a Church or building a new one. The tabernacle was put in a separate chapel or moved to a different location than ndead center because the theory was that dead center detracted somehow from the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Similar thoughts said that those participating at Mass should receive hosts consecrated at that Mass and not an earlier one. The newest edition of a similar booklet has reversed the previous one, but meanwhile some newer or remodeled churches are stuck with something many neither understand nor prefer. Personally I don’t really feel strongly one way or the other, but my wife says that it is nice to enter a Church and see the red light and the Eucharest located right up front where most older folks expect it to be in a Catholic Church.
 
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Agricola:
No, you’re not the only one. Unfortunately there are very few things we can do to remedy its displacement.

I’ve been thinking about this problem for some time (as my close friends can attest to). Some of the ways in which we can fight for the placement of the tabernacle in a prominant place within the sanctuary are:
  • Writing letters to the bishop, requesting that he consider renovations to that effect in the diocese
  • Talking with your priest about the possibility of returning the tabernacle to its rightful place
  • Getting involved in “pastoral ministry” at your parish and bring up the importance of the placement of the tabernacle at meetings
  • Pray, in front of the tabernacle if possible, for proper reverence to be paid to Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament
  • Investigate the art, architecture, and liturgy of the Church and be well prepared to use references to official Church documents in your letters and presentations
  • Offer any practical services, such as carpentry, masonry, etc., to your priest or bishop for the relocation of the tabernacle in its rightful place
Any other ideas Mickey?

God bless,

Agricola
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Our Tabernacle is in a side chapel in our church. A few years ago, a group of us tried all of your suggestions, which are very good ones. We didn’t have the support of the priest though, or the parish council, even though some of us were on the council. And the people who had the carpentry skills to do the job were the biggest naysayers. They even sugested moving the huge crucifix from the sanctuary!

Our current priest says there is so much talking and noise in our church before and after Mass, he thinks the side chapel is a safer place for the Blessed Sacrament. He doesn’t want to expose it to any abuses from all the irreverence of the lack of sacred silence in the main church.
 
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