Touching Statues and the Tabernacle

[Prince_Hal]

I understand the scriptural basis for intercession to the Saints and for statues and icons. This is good.

However, I have seen a number of people whilst praying touch the statues and even embrace the tabernacle (is that the right term ?), putting their hands on either sides of the door. Some having touched the tabernacle then stroke their bodies, arms, legs head.

Is this okay? This seems a little like idolatry to me.

God bless,

Hal.

 

[PacoG]

While the issue of touching the tabernacle should lead to a discussion about the appropriateness of people being in the sanctuary or near the tabernacle, I don’t know how reverencing and worshiping OUR LORD IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT is idolatry.

The Blessed Sacrament is GOD. It is Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Blessed Sacrament is not an idol and adoring it is not idolatry.

 

[FCEGM]

I’ve never seen anyone embrace the Tabernacle, but I’ve touched many a statue of the Lord, our Blessed Mother, or a Saint over the years - not as idolatry, but as an expression of love for the one represented by the statue (as one might touch or kiss the picture of a dear family member who isn’t present.

 

[TEPO]

I understand the scriptural basis for intercession to the Saints and for statues and icons. This is good.

However, I have seen a number of people whilst praying touch the statues and even embrace the tabernacle (is that the right term ?), putting their hands on either sides of the door. Some having touched the tabernacle then stroke their bodies, arms, legs head.

Is this okay? This seems a little like idolatry to me.

God bless,

Hal.

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.

 

[Prince_Hal]

Yes, that is correct.

 

[Thoma25]

Certainly touching the Tabernacle out of worship wouldn’t be considered idolatry, because God literally dwells inside it. The Eucharist is Christ: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We worship it directly, not figuratively or symbolically. It is God.

In the same way, the young woman in the Gospel who was healed by touching even the hem of Jesus’ clothing wasn’t committing idolatry, but adoring our Lord.

However, though I’m not sure of the rules regarding this, it seems disturbing for people to non-nonchalantly walk up to the dwelling place of the Almighty God and start prodding it. It seems less than reverential to me. Much like seeing all manner of lay people invading the Sanctuary and handling the sacred implements and so forth, but perhaps that’s just my opinion.

 

[Prince_Hal]

While the issue of touching the tabernacle should lead to a discussion about the appropriateness of people being in the sanctuary or near the tabernacle, I don’t know how reverencing and worshiping OUR LORD IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT is idolatry.

The Blessed Sacrament is GOD. It is Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Blessed Sacrament is not an idol and adoring it is not idolatry.

Forgive my bad wording. I agree that reverencing the blessed sacrament is correct. But here the man climbs the three steps puts his hands either side of the door and face in the door, holding the structure. He than rubs his body with his hands. I can see he is wanting to be close to our Lord, but the touching and embracing of thetabernacle just seems not right. It might be me who does not understand.

 

[TEPO]

But here the man climbs the three steps puts his hands either side of the door and face in the door, holding the structure. He than rubs his body with his hands. I can see he is wanting to be close to our Lord, but the touching and embracing of thetabernacle just seems not right. It might be me who does not understand.

If someone is experiencing a moment of spiritual awakening or re-awakening, then I can find no fault in embrasing the tabernacle…

But if someone makes it a weekly ritual to touch and rub the tabernacle, whether or not there are worshippers focused on it in prayer, that person is rude!

 

[DesertSister62]

Thoma25 said;
Certainly touching the Tabernacle out of worship wouldn’t be considered idolatry, because God literally dwells inside it. The Eucharist is Christ: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We worship it directly, not figuratively or symbolically. It is God.

In the same way, the young woman in the Gospel who was healed by touching even the hem of Jesus’ clothing wasn’t committing idolatry, but adoring our Lord.

However, though I’m not sure of the rules regarding this, it seems disturbing for people to non-nonchalantly walk up to the dwelling place of the Almighty God and start prodding it. It seems less than reverential to me. Much like seeing all manner of lay people invading the Sanctuary and handling the sacred implements and so forth, but perhaps that’s just my opinion.

*I am not a Cradle Catholic but still, the idea of people getting that familiar with the Tabernacle just doesn’t seem right to me either! Keep in mind that the actions that are being described are not those that show respect or reverence. Take, for instance, the way that we show both respect and reverence to the Pope. I have never heard of even one person rushing forward and hugging him or rubbing him all over. To even type the words makes me uncomfortable! Yes, I feel all the same emotions of those mentioned above, but my way of showing it would be kneeling or prostrating myself before Him. *

---

 

[Prince_Hal]

If someone is experiencing a moment of spiritual awakening or re-awakening, then I can find no fault in embrasing the tabernacle…

But if someone makes it a weekly ritual to touch and rub the tabernacle, whether or not there are worshippers focused on it in prayer, that person is rude!

I see this man do so every week. It is off-putting. I try to pray after mass facing the tabernacle and sometimes look at it as I ponder, but then see this man holding it.

Should I mention it to the priest? I am not Catholic.

God bless,

Hal.

 

[Prince_Hal]

What about touching statues. This seems less of a problem. There are many statues and so it does not interfere with prayer - but is it the right thing?

 

[TEPO]

What about touching statues. This seems less of a problem. There are many statues and so it does not interfere with prayer - but is it the right thing?

If I were asking a Saint to interecede for me, I’d feel a stronger sense of bond touching one of that Saints relics. But since we’re short on relics, I guess that’s where the statues fill in.

I see no wrong in touching statues…

 

[TEPO]

I see this man do so every week. It is off-putting. I try to pray after mass facing the tabernacle and sometimes look at it as I ponder, but then see this man holding it.

Should I mention it to the priest? I am not Catholic.

God bless,

Hal.

You should! I’ve been to churches before that have small signs asking people to refrain from entering the Altar area… The tabernacle is raised up on stairs for a reason, which is to make it more viewable.

The Tabernacle is not placed up stairs and made viewable in order for it to be handled by people… I’ve seen tabernacles in other churches locked up behind a glass “viewing” windows probably for this same reason.

This is unacceptable. It would be much more reverent to lay prostrate in front of the Tabernacle than it would be to touch.

 

[centurionguard]

You should! I’ve been to churches before that have small signs asking people to refrain from entering the Altar area… The tabernacle is raised up on stairs for a reason, which is to make it more viewable.

The Tabernacle is not placed up stairs and made viewable in order for it to be handled by people… I’ve seen tabernacles in other churches locked up behind a glass “viewing” windows probably for this same reason.

This is unacceptable. It would be much more reverent to lay prostrate in front of the Tabernacle than it would be to touch.

…

In all my years working as a former Sacristan and Caretaker of my Parish for a decade I’ve never seen any Catholic coming up the Sanctuary for the purpose of reverencing the Holy Presence of Jesus by touching or embracing the Tabernacle.

The fact remains Only an Ordained Priest or Deacon is allowed to open and touch the Tabernacle. Aside from the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass taking place on the Altar, the Eucharistic Holy Presence of Jesus resides in the Tabernacle. The Holy of Holies.

However; in today’s modern age I see EMHC’s and every Tom, Dick, and Harry going inside the Tabernacle. A Strong sense of Reverence has been lost.

When should the Holy Presence in the Tabernacle become something as so Ordinaire?

I don’t know if it’s because aging priest’s have lost control of who does what on the Sanctuary during weekdays and Solemnities.

Or is it that modern Catholics who grossly lack catechesis of their Faith and have loss a sense of what is truly Sacred, Holy and Blessed.

There’s this story in the Old Testament in Exodus or Deuteronomy; though I can’t quote Chapter and Verse at this moment. It bespeaks of the Tent of the Holy of Holies where the Tablets of the Ten Commandments were kept. No one but a designated Priest was allowed to enter the Tent. One person was known to have desecrated the Holy Tent where the Ten Commandments were kept just by his mere act of being there, he vanished into thin air.

Thankfully we Catholics don’t vanish near the sight of the Holy Tabernacle with Jesus hidden before us. But I think the story above should instill a great sense of respect, holy fear, reverence and awe before our God, the same God before Moses on that Holy Mountain.

No Catholic should walk on the Holy Ground of the Sanctuary unless invited or given permission by the Priest. And that includes touching the Tabernacle.

Peace
Chris

 

[ProVobis]

Certainly touching the Tabernacle out of worship wouldn’t be considered idolatry, because God literally dwells inside it.

Indeed it isn’t idolatry. God Himself gave detailed instructions on how to build it in Exodus 25.

 

[DesertSister62]

centurianguard said:
There’s this story in the Old Testament in Exodus or Deuteronomy; though I can’t quote Chapter and Verse at this moment. It bespeaks of the Tent of the Holy of Holies where the Tablets of the Ten Commandments were kept. No one but a designated Priest was allowed to enter the Tent. One person was known to have desecrated the Holy Tent where the Ten Commandments were kept just by his mere act of being there, he vanished into thin air.

centurianguard,
I am wondering if you are referring to the story in II Samuel 6:1-11. What happens in the story is that David is getting ready to move the Ark of the Covenant but they don’t move it the way that they were supposed to with a pole through the rings on the side and carried by four men. Instead David has it loaded onto a “new cart,” pulled by oxen. This is what the scripture says:

“And when they came to Nashon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the Ark of God.”

*NO ONE BUT THOSE WHOM GOD APPROVES is to touch the Tabernacle in which dwells the Lord in Eucharistic forum! The same God that killed Uzzah, is still God today! So, people, we need to be giving this a little thought before we rush out and do something in error!

As to the Holy of Holies and as to whether or not the priest wore a rope around his waist; this is from the website; Temple Beth Sholom*

]http://www.tbsoc.com/sermons/donnellyk5763.html

According to the account of our rabbis preserved in the Talmud, the High Priest wore a rope around his waist as he made his way - absolutely alone - into the holy of holies. The rope he wore served a very practical purpose. Because, in the event that the High Priest said or did something wrong, it was generally believed that he would be struck dead for his offense. Yes, right then and there.

As only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the rope enabled his assistants to safely pull the corpse of the High priest out of the inner-sanctum in the event of mishap.

*To the best of my knowledge, centurionguard, no one ever disappears in the Bible. that is a living person. Jesus was caught up into Heaven when he ascended and the spirit of Samuel was brought up by the witch of Endor, but off hand, no one really disappears that was a living breathing person just seconds before.

___________________________________________*

 

[Timothysis]

Perhaps the person who is adoring Christ in the tabernacle is wondering why others don’t desire to be closer to Him.

Perhaps this person is far more aware of the presence of Christ in the tabernacle than we will ever be.

Perhaps this person is closer to Heaven than we can ever imagine.

Do you really think that Jesus is put off by such actions?

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Well, I think Jesus will love us, even if we do touch his Tabernacle. However, I will never do it unless I become ordained. I think that we are sinners, we are not worthy of doing such things. Of course, we can receive him, but I think kneeling and genuflecting before him is enough.

As for it being idolatry, no, I do not think so. Since Our Lord is within it, we should give it the most love we can, while also being respectful and knowing our place.

[SIGN]God Bless[/SIGN]

 

[Anne1964]

I wonder how often things like this happened when every church had an altar rail with a gate.

I went to Catholic elementary school and one of the things the sisters drilled into us was that no one was allowed to approach the altar except the priests. We could go as far as the altar rail and no further.

After a very long absence I returned to the Church and joined the altar guild at our parish. For the longest time every time I walked behind the altar to clean I could hear this little voice in my head saying “you’re not allowed to be here” and I would argue back with it and say “yes I am, Fr. — said I could.” It was kind of amusing.

People are so accustomed to seeing the laity around the altar all the time they think nothing of it and a sense of the sacred has been lost.

As for touching the tabernacle, we are allowed to polish it, but I most assuredly don’t do anything like what was described in the original post.

 

[lux_seeker]

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.