Touching Statues and the Tabernacle

[CB_Catholic]

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are permitted to open the Tabernacle to retrieve hosts for distribution to the sick and in nursing homes. Also, there are lay people who are commissioned to repose the Blessed Sacrament after Exposition if no priest is available. It is not true that only the ordained can open the tabernacle. There are also times when Communion Services are held when no priest is available to say Mass, and are presided over by commissioned laity. They go to the tabernacle to obtain the hosts that were previously consecrated. These services should be rare, but they do happen in areas where priests are scarce.

That is what the Church permits, and one can like it or not, it is what it is. And it does not mean these people are being irreverent, and they should not be judged in that way.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I see no problem with people touching the tabernacle as long as what they are doing does not impeed anyone although many tabernacles are in the sanctuary area so people should not walking in that area unless for a Mass.

On touching statues if it is only a sign of affection directed towards the wait I see to problem. I do this myself. However, I have seen a few Catholics who seem to have some ritual they go through touching the statue in various places. This borders on superstition because it seems the ritual is attached to the belief that favors will be granted.

Also, one should not underestimate the number of People who practice Santeria. It’s possible there is a connection to this.

I don’t think there is a connection to Santeria for the most part. It is a very common practice. Members of my family have done it for years, I think it is common among certain ethnic groups, most of whom have never heard of Santeria. The Eastern Churches regularly kiss their icons, and I have read that in some places in Europe, the feet of certain old statues are worn from people touching and kissing them. Also, on Good Friday it is the usual practice among Catholics to venerate the Cross by touching or kissing it, and if there is a corpus, touching or kissing it. Plus, when we say the Rosary, it is very common for people to kiss the Crucifix. None of this is idolatry. People know the difference.

And I have seen people kissing pictures of their loved ones many times, and keeping certain items that remind them of their loved ones. I don’t consider this to be idolatry. Just a show of affection.

 

[otjm]

I’ve also seen this, and I dont like it… I’ll be focusing on the tabernacle in the chapel, focusing on Gods presence -then all of a sudden, some lady walks up and starts rubbing it and disturbing me in prayer.

It seems to be a copy-cat type of thing because it is more common only in certain parishes. I find it extremely disturbing.

God doesn’t seem to be disturbed…

 

[lynnvinc]

There are cultures where the tactile experience is very important.

In India – where Catholics often touch religious statues, esp of Jesus & Mary – Hindus need to at least “eye-touch” or see (get a darshan of) their idols during yearly processions of such.

It was interesting that Arthur Blessitt (an Evangelical preacher) some decades ago walked around the world (thru countries around the world) dragging a large cross on his shoulder as a witness to Christ.

In Spain the people all crowded around him in great excitement, but the authorities arrested him.

In Morocco they tried to kill him.

In India they know a holy man when they see one, and everyone crowded around, struggling to touch the cross. Indira Gandhi had her picture taken with him.

In America, we see him carrying the cross along the roads, and everyone just whizzes past him, ignoring him.