When no one is in the Adoration Chapel

  • Thread starter Thread starter dmission
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
dshix said:
The monstrance really shouldn’t be left alone at any time during exposition. I would actually advise talking to the priest and informing him that there was no one keeping Jesus company at the time you arrived.
Click to expand...
The monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament could easily be viewed inside of a highly secure “vault” with a hardened window – at least as secure as the Blessed Sacrament is in repose in a typical tabernacle.

Not sure why some don’t want to admit to this? I wish more would because it might open more opportunities for adoration.
 
Solomonson said:
Like many tabernacles they might be bolted down.
Click to expand...
I would hope so. I know we have a chalice filled with hosts inside a tabernacle with doors. and our adoration chapel is locked - a code is needed to enter but the chalice could easily be picked up and carried away if the wrong person got in.

our tabernacle is built into the wall and can be accessed from the church side or the Adoration chapel.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I would hope so. I know we have a chalice filled with hosts inside a tabernacle with doors. and our adoration chapel is locked - a code is needed to enter but the chalice could easily be picked up and carried away if the wrong person got in.

our tabernacle is built into the wall and can be accessed from the church side or the Adoration chapel.
Click to expand...
Our tabernacle has a lock on it as well as being bolted down. I think most do.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I would hope so. I know we have a chalice filled with hosts inside a tabernacle with doors. and our adoration chapel is locked - a code is needed to enter but the chalice could easily be picked up and carried away if the wrong person got in.

our tabernacle is built into the wall and can be accessed from the church side or the Adoration chapel.
Click to expand...
I would hope it’s a ciborium.
 
Just out of curiosity, for those with code protected chapels how do you share the code with interested parties? I once had an experience with a local parish that has perpetual adoration. I was driving through said part of town late at night and wanted to spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament. I got to the chapel and it was locked, but I couldn’t find any way to get in or information on who to contact :(. I tried knocking but nobody heard me. I ended up kneeling outside the door of the chapel. I think it’s great that we keep our churches secure but it’s sad that we live in an age where there needs to be a constant worry about theft or vandalism.
 
victrolatim said:
Just out of curiosity, for those with code protected chapels how do you share the code with interested parties? I once had an experience with a local parish that has perpetual adoration. I was driving through said part of town late at night and wanted to spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament. I got to the chapel and it was locked, but I couldn’t find any way to get in or information on who to contact :(. I tried knocking but nobody heard me. I ended up kneeling outside the door of the chapel. I think it’s great that we keep our churches secure but it’s sad that we live in an age where there needs to be a constant worry about theft or vandalism.
Click to expand...
There could have been someone inside, but since it was night and the person maybe did not recognize you they did not let you in. The code is not advertised as that would defeat the purpose of keeping it locked.
 
It is forbidden to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed without the presence of adorers.

It is forbidden to have non-opaque tabernacles for the reserved Sacrament as a way of achieving a de facto exposition.

The sacrament can be exposed if the norms of exposition are followed…but if it is reserved, the tabernacle must be opaque.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
It is forbidden to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed without the presence of adorers.

It is forbidden to have non-opaque tabernacles for the reserved Sacrament as a way of achieving a de facto exposition.

The sacrament can be exposed if the norms of exposition are followed…but if it is reserved, the tabernacle must be opaque.
Click to expand...
Could you be more specific? I am a convert so have not been in many Adoration chapels. I know if we have a scheduled hour and the next person does not show up and we cannot cover their hour we have to close the doors to the tabernacle before we leave. What do non-opaque tabernacles look like?
 
victrolatim said:
Just out of curiosity, for those with code protected chapels how do you share the code with interested parties? I once had an experience with a local parish that has perpetual adoration. I was driving through said part of town late at night and wanted to spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament. I got to the chapel and it was locked, but I couldn’t find any way to get in or information on who to contact :(. I tried knocking but nobody heard me. I ended up kneeling outside the door of the chapel. I think it’s great that we keep our churches secure but it’s sad that we live in an age where there needs to be a constant worry about theft or vandalism.
Click to expand...
It is not simply a concern about theft or vandalism – there is also the danger of an adorer.being violently assaulted. Security codes help to assure those doing nocturnal adoration that they are in a secure space.
 
Don_Ruggero said:
It is not simply a concern about theft or vandalism – there is also the danger of an adorer.being violently assaulted. Security codes help to assure those doing nocturnal adoration that they are in a secure space.
Click to expand...
Yes, safety of the adorer is a big factor. I used to do the 11pm-midnight hour and our church is isolated on top of a mesa surrounded by forest. There also is a walking trail nearby and in the summer homeless encampments. I would never have opened the door to anyone I didn’t recognize.
 
7_Sorrows said:
Could you be more specific? I am a convert so have not been in many Adoration chapels. I know if we have a scheduled hour and the next person does not show up and we cannot cover their hour we have to close the doors to the tabernacle before we leave. What do non-opaque tabernacles look like?
Click to expand...
I apologise. It can be a problem when one is writing in a language in which one does not think…to use the term that means the opposite of what one intended. Your question made me realise the error of my choice of words.

The tabernacle must be opaque; it must be solid and of material that one cannot see through. I wrote “non-opaque” which is the wrong word for saying that it is forbidden for the tabernacle to be transparent or in any way semi-transparent or even “translucent”.

Canon Law states, in English translation:
*Can. 938 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist is to be reserved habitually in only one tabernacle of a church or oratory.

§2. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is to be situated in some part of the church or oratory which is distinguished, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

§3. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved habitually is to be immovable, made of solid and opaque material, and locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is avoided as much as possible.

§4. For a grave cause, it is permitted to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist in some other fitting and more secure place, especially at night.

§5. The person responsible for the church or oratory is to take care that the key of the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is safeguarded most diligently.*
Inaestimabile donum states:
25. The tabernacle should be solid, unbreakable, and not transparent
“Non transparent” was the concept I was grasping for in English when I wrote “non-opaque.”
 
Don_Ruggero said:
I apologise. It can be a problem when one is writing in a language in which one does not think…to use the term that means the opposite of what one intended. Your question made me realise the error of my choice of words.

The tabernacle must be opaque; it must be solid and of material that one cannot see through. I wrote “non-opaque” which is the wrong word for saying that it is forbidden for the tabernacle to be transparent or in any way semi-transparent or even “translucent”.

Canon Law states, in English translation:
*Can. 938 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist is to be reserved habitually in only one tabernacle of a church or oratory.

§2. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is to be situated in some part of the church or oratory which is distinguished, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

§3. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved habitually is to be immovable, made of solid and opaque material*, and locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is avoided as much as possible.

§4. For a grave cause, it is permitted to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist in some other fitting and more secure place, especially at night.

§5. The person responsible for the church or oratory is to take care that the key of the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is safeguarded most diligently.
Inaestimabile donum states:
25. The tabernacle should be solid, unbreakable, and not transparent
“Non transparent” was the concept I was grasping for in English when I wrote “non-opaque.”
Click to expand...
Thank you. I thought nontransparent is what you meant, but I wasn’t sure. At our church, the doors to the tabernacle on the church side might lock with a key, but the doors on the Adoration side definitely do not.
Thank you for taking the time to answer. 🙂
 
victrolatim said:
Just out of curiosity, for those with code protected chapels how do you share the code with interested parties? I once had an experience with a local parish that has perpetual adoration. I was driving through said part of town late at night and wanted to spend some time before the Blessed Sacrament. I got to the chapel and it was locked, but I couldn’t find any way to get in or information on who to contact :(. I tried knocking but nobody heard me. I ended up kneeling outside the door of the chapel. I think it’s great that we keep our churches secure but it’s sad that we live in an age where there needs to be a constant worry about theft or vandalism.
Click to expand...
Our parish has had 24/7 adoration for 35 years. For many years, our doors were unlocked 24/7. At times there used to be a person or two sleeping over night on the pews. For many years, the pastor didn’t mind. However, eventually we were have to deal with more and more incidents of homeless and/or mentally ill people fighting, breaking a window, and stealing. So it was decided to lock the doors at night. Now, only the people that are assigned to a late evening and night hour are in the Church at that time and they have a code to get in. We are not supposed to let anyone else in during the night. But anyone can visit during the day. (We now also have security cameras.)
 
A vault with a hardened glass window would not be a tabernacle per se. It would seem that using one could make adoration a great deal more available.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top