What do non-catholics feel when they see the tabernacle?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sixtus
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Sixtus

Guest
I have often visited non-catholic churches. Some have been very beautiful. But there is always that sense of ‘absence of the real presence’.

Whenever I visit a catholic church, it sometimes too have that lovely feeling but when I see the tabernacle, sometimes I am overcome with emotion. Usually though, one can tell from the outside whether a church has a tabernacle or not. One ‘senses’ the real presence.

My question therefore is 'what do protestants feel when they see a tabernacle. Are they moved as catholics are? Do they feel anything? Do they sense anything? Is this unique to catholics?
 
I took my Jewish husband to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC last month and he said that he felt something the moment he entered the church. He said it felt very peaceful there. He has no interest in the Catholic faith (yes, I’ve tried), and isn’t very knowledgeable about it, so I was surprised to hear him say that he felt anything.
 
Hi,
Not to date have I felt anything. I have ever thought about it to be honest. Next time I go to a catholic mass, I will pay attention.😃
 
:confused: I sense nothing about tabernacles, and I pride myself on being able to sense stuff like that.
 
It feels the same to me as other churches. Well except not like the creepy feeling I get near cults or other religions “sacred” places. This is a good thing.

I do feel there is MUCH more reverence in liturgical churches.
 
Pax vobiscum!

Something about non-Catholic churches just feels different to me. I was in an Episcopalian cathedral for an organ recital and choir performance over the summer, and the church was very beautiful (high ceilings, old look, nice altar, communion rail, big pulpit, beautiful organ, ect.), but something just felt different. In all appearances, it could have been a Catholic church, but it felt different. The same “different” feeling is with me in other Protestant churches as well.

I can only assume that it is the Real Presence. No matter how “modern” or “Protestant-like” a Catholic church is, I still feel that I am in a Catholic church. The only non-Catholic church that I have had the same feeling as being in a Catholic church was a Greek Orthodox church…and of course there is a tabernacle in Orthodox churches.

In Christ,
Rand
 
Rand_Al_Thor said:
Pax vobiscum!

Something about non-Catholic churches just feels different to me. I was in an Episcopalian cathedral for an organ recital and choir performance over the summer, and the church was very beautiful (high ceilings, old look, nice altar, communion rail, big pulpit, beautiful organ, ect.), but something just felt different. In all appearances, it could have been a Catholic church, but it felt different. The same “different” feeling is with me in other Protestant churches as well.

I can only assume that it is the Real Presence. No matter how “modern” or “Protestant-like” a Catholic church is, I still feel that I am in a Catholic church. The only non-Catholic church that I have had the same feeling as being in a Catholic church was a Greek Orthodox church…and of course there is a tabernacle in Orthodox churches.

In Christ,
Rand
Click to expand...
Hey Rand! (cool screen name by the way 🙂 )

I’ve had similar experiences but mind you I’ve only gone to two Protestant churches: One was Methodist, the other Church of Nazarene. I felt like something was missing, but I could not put my finger on it.

After missing Mass for many weeks, I returned and immediately felt at peace. Truly, St. Augustine was right when he said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Even if we do not feel anything, Jesus Christ is still there in the Tabernacle!
 
Anne1964 said:
I took my Jewish husband to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC last month and he said that he felt something the moment he entered the church. He said it felt very peaceful there. He has no interest in the Catholic faith (yes, I’ve tried), and isn’t very knowledgeable about it, so I was surprised to hear him say that he felt anything.
Click to expand...
God has touched him in a special way. Keep praying for him. Let God do the work; He has already started. 😃 Put your husband in the hands of our beloved Mother Mary. Your husband is not far from the Kingdom.
 
ALLFORHIM said:
Hi,
Not to date have I felt anything. I have ever thought about it to be honest. Next time I go to a catholic mass, I will pay attention.😃
Click to expand...
This “feeling” is not something that you can conjure up. We “walk by Faith and not by sight.” Only if you are open to God’s Grace will you ever feel anything. Only God can make you “feel” something like this. So if you want to be at peace with the real presence of Jesus Christ you might just feel something. But like I said, we walk by faith and not by sight or feelings.
 
Dancelittleewok said:
Hey Rand! (cool screen name by the way 🙂 )

I’ve had similar experiences but mind you I’ve only gone to two Protestant churches: One was Methodist, the other Church of Nazarene. I felt like something was missing, but I could not put my finger on it.

After missing Mass for many weeks, I returned and immediately felt at peace. Truly, St. Augustine was right when he said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Even if we do not feel anything, Jesus Christ is still there in the Tabernacle!
Click to expand...
You are absolutely right! 👍 And the reason why we don’t have to “feel” anything in order to believe is because faith does not rely on feelings.
 
Being a cradle Catholic I find that many of the better Catholics are former cradle Protestants and some reverts also. They tend to have a higher respect for Christ’s Real Presence in the Catholic Churches. More often than not, that is the main reason why these former Protestants convert to Catholicism, for the real presence of Jesus Christ. :bowdown2:

I often found that many Catholics do not give Jesus His due respect when they walk into a Catholic Church. I am offended by that but I often just ignore it so as to concern myself with only my actions. Why do so many Catholics not genuflect when they enter the church? :confused: 😦
 
AlegreFe said:
This “feeling” is not something that you can conjure up. We “walk by Faith and not by sight.” Only if you are open to God’s Grace will you ever feel anything. Only God can make you “feel” something like this. So if you want to be at peace with the real presence of Jesus Christ you might just feel something. But like I said, we walk by faith and not by sight or feelings.
Click to expand...
Hi,
I should clairfy. Im specifically talking about being near an altar in a CC. Otherwise I do agree with what you say about not relying on feelings and we are to believe by faith not sight and I also rely on the truth set forth in the bible.😃 We all know how feelings can mess you up and even blind you from the truth:eek: 😦
 
AlegreFe said:
I often found that many Catholics do not give Jesus His due respect when they walk into a Catholic Church. I am offended by that but I often just ignore it so as to concern myself with only my actions. Why do so many Catholics not genuflect when they enter the church? :confused: 😦
Click to expand...
Maybe there is something to be said for sabbaticals from the Church. Please, no casting stones over my herasy. Just suggesting cradle Catholics might be served by experiencing other faiths to come to a deeper appreciation of their own.

Anecdote time 😉
A failed nun I know was denied sisterhood because she had been so much a “cradle catholic”, they did not feel she could consent to a life of service without first stepping out and live a little.
 
FromTheCrossroa said:
Maybe there is something to be said for sabbaticals from the Church. Please, no casting stones over my herasy. Just suggesting cradle Catholics might be served by experiencing other faiths to come to a deeper appreciation of their own.

Anecdote time 😉
A failed nun I know was denied sisterhood because she had been so much a “cradle catholic”, they did not feel she could consent to a life of service without first stepping out and live a little.
Click to expand...
I don’t think it is a heresy to suggest such a thing.

Although Paul was talking about punishment, he suggested casting the repetitive sinner outside of the Church, thereby hoping to renew his commitment to the Church.

I think that the same thing can happen to us even though we are not outside the Church for “punishment.” I am a cradle Catholic, but lived without the Church for many years.

I began to reestablish my relationship with Christ through a great Evangelical Christian Community. Eventually my enthusiasm for the history of Christianity and an honest desire to be obedient to Christ’s Truth led me back to the Catholic Church.

Of course, I don’t know what would have happened, but I don’t think that my relationship with Christ and my allegiance to the Church would be as strong without these experiences. Being exposed to “life without” has enabled me to appreciate “living with” so much more.

Patrick
 
The best models are us, ourselves. We need to show the respect when we enter a Catholic Church to remind those who have lost the faith a bit and are just going through the motions. Our actions do wake others up.

I always genuflect when arriving or leaving and sometimes I am aware that what I do and the devotion I show can maybe help someone else who has forgotten or just lazy.

I know how enlightened I feel when my eyes cast on others who show me what piety and what being devout is all about.

God loves me as if no one else existed.
 
Sixtus said:
I have often visited non-catholic churches. Some have been very beautiful. But there is always that sense of ‘absence of the real presence’.

Whenever I visit a catholic church, it sometimes too have that lovely feeling but when I see the tabernacle, sometimes I am overcome with emotion. Usually though, one can tell from the outside whether a church has a tabernacle or not. One ‘senses’ the real presence.

My question therefore is 'what do protestants feel when they see a tabernacle. Are they moved as catholics are? Do they feel anything? Do they sense anything? Is this unique to catholics?
Click to expand...
You can sense the presence!

Saint!!
 
The church is just a building. Any building consecrated to God’s service has a sense of reverence about it if you take the time to notice. Some are pretty and some are plain jane. What I notice is the Spirit that comes when the members of the church gather.
 
I was baptised Catholic & then left when I was around 6 years old with my parents . It was during that mass exodus from the Catholic Church back in the 70’s.

Anyway, even as a small child I can remember something not quite right at the church we ended up attending. Not that it was a bad place but I still recall something was missing. I was too young to understand at that time so I never thought much about it until the last couple of years. I now understand it was the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist:)
 
Hi
The Baptist Church that I go to is a little plain very old church building that sets about 125 people, but when we all come together to worship the Lord Jesus I surely can feel his real presence with us.

forever Baptist
allischalmers
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top