Two Tabernacles and and Other Unrelated Things

[malphono]

So when we talk about chapels are we talking about a building that contains an alter and is big enough for Mass (with a small congregation) or one that only has room for ten or so people to go into and pray? Because mine is definitely the latter.

Also, how separate should the chapel be from the church? If all that’s connecting them is a hallway (you cannot enter the chapel from outside of this hallway), should they be classified as one building?

It really depends. A chapel can be, as [post=11116623]MorEphrem[/post] notes, a niche inside a church, or cathedral, or basilica, in which case it’s usually called a “side altar” and is minimally separated from the main body. While the altars in these “side chapels” will often have tabernacles, they are rarely, if ever, used, the main exception being sometimes as an Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday. This type of chapel is normally small, often nothing more than the niche itself, although some (in cthedrals, etc, and larger churches) can accommodate a small congregation since they are designed to be used for daily public Mass.

A side chapel can also be a semi- or fully-enclosed area either within a church or attached to it. An example of this would be what is frequently called the “Blessed Sacrament Chapel” in a cathedral or basilica, etc. It is normally separated from the main church by a floor-to-ceiling divider, which can be a grille screen with a gate or even a wall with an archway, or by a hallway which serves the same purpose of separation. Here, the tabernacle is, of course, used constantly, to the exclusion of any other tabernacle that might be present on a side altar (see above), since it is the designated place of Reservation of the Sacrament in that cathedral, etc. Such a chapel is normally large enough for a small congregation, in order to accommodate those who wish to pray, and in many cases is used for daily Mass.

There are also what amount to small churches that are considered “chapels” in their own right, as they are not associated with a parish or an abbey. The oratory within a seminary, e.g, is known as a chapel. So, too in a convent, etc. Sometimes a parish that covers a large rural area will have satellite chapels in different places which are small churches in all but name. The Sacrament is normally reserved in such chapel, but not in “private chapels” unless there is a specific episcopal indult allowing reservation.

The case of “Perpetual Adoration Chapels” is usually more like the second (“Blessed Sacrament Chapel”) above. It is separated from the main church by design, sometimes even as a separate building which may or may not be physically attached. These chapels are generally **not **used for daily Mass, and if they are, the Sacrament is reposed in the tabernacle during time, and then re-exposed when Mass is completed.

Sorry if this is wordy and confusing, but I hope it makes at least some sense.

 

[C794]

A side chapel can also be a semi- or fully-enclosed area either within a church or attached to it. An example of this would be what is frequently called the “Blessed Sacrament Chapel” in a cathedral or basilica, etc. It is normally separated from the main church by a floor-to-ceiling divider, which can be a grille screen with a gate or even a wall with an archway, or by a hallway which serves the same purpose of separation. Here, the tabernacle is, of course, used constantly, to the exclusion of any other tabernacle that might be present on a side altar (see above), since it is the designated place of Reservation of the Sacrament in that cathedral, etc. Such a chapel is normally large enough for a small congregation, in order to accommodate those who wish to pray, and

The case of “Perpetual Adoration Chapels” is usually more like the second (“Blessed Sacrament Chapel”) above. It is s from the main church by design, sometimes even as a separate building which may or may not be physically attached. These chapels are generally **not **used for daily Mass, and if they are, the Sacrament is reposed in the tabernacle during time, and then re-exposed when Mass is completed.

Sorry if this is wordy and confusing, but I hope it makes at least some sense.

Thanks that makes a lot of sense. My parish (a small church) situation would either be one of these two. Our chapel use to be the sole place for storing the Eucharist and the chapel was open for prayer 24-7. We then added a second tabernacle behind the alter. Both of these contain the Blessed Sacrament. All of the Hosts were consecrated at Masses done in the sanctuary. So this is allowed?

 

[malphono]

Thanks that makes a lot of sense. My parish (a small church) situation would either be one of these two. Our chapel use to be the sole place for storing the Eucharist and the chapel was open for prayer 24-7. We then added a second tabernacle behind the alter. Both of these contain the Blessed Sacrament. All of the Hosts were consecrated at Masses done in the sanctuary. So this is allowed?

If I understand it correctly, then, the chapel was a “Blessed Sacrament” chapel and now a tabernacle has been added (or, depending on when it was built, added back) to the main church. Is the chapel now used as “Perpetual Adoration” place? If so, there’s no problem. Or, even if not, is the main church locked outside of scheduled service times, while the chapel is open for private prayer? If so, again, no problem.

 

[C794]

If I understand it correctly, then, the chapel was a “Blessed Sacrament” chapel and now a tabernacle has been added (or, depending on when it was built, added back) to the main church. Is the chapel now used as “Perpetual Adoration” place? If so, there’s no problem. Or, even if not, is the main church locked outside of scheduled service times, while the chapel is open for private prayer? If so, again, no problem.

So I guess there is no problem then. Thanks. The main entrance is locked, but the parishioners can get in. From there the chapel is left unlocked, but the door to the sanctuary is locked. And the chapel is used for Perpetual Adoration, I think. The tabernacle is never opened, during prayer (that I know of), but people can go in there at any time to pray. Thanks again.