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Wisconsin bishop instructs pastors to move tabernacles to center of churches
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Phil502
Guest
Still behind the Altar though, right?
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zz912
Guest
Excellent news! One of the worst things that was done during the “spirit of VII” days. Setting the tabernacle off to the side undermines the teaching on the Real Presence.
I wish every bishop across the planet did this.
I wish every bishop across the planet did this.
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twf
Guest
Good move. A few years back, the Archbishop of Vancouver issued the same order to local parishes.
Unfortunately the cathedral itself was exempt as doing so would require major costly renovations (after Vatican II the high alrar was ripped out and replaced with the cathedra- the tabernacle is thus slightly to the right… Though still very visible… But hey pick your battles… There’s an altar rail and it’s actually used even at Novus Ordo masses).
Unfortunately the cathedral itself was exempt as doing so would require major costly renovations (after Vatican II the high alrar was ripped out and replaced with the cathedra- the tabernacle is thus slightly to the right… Though still very visible… But hey pick your battles… There’s an altar rail and it’s actually used even at Novus Ordo masses).
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MissRose73
Guest
I wish my bishop would do the same as not all churches in our diocese have them in a centralized area where people can see the tabernacle. I think it would bring back more reverence and acknowledging the true presence of Jesus.
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Tim_D
Guest
Tabernacles were placed in side chapels in the days before St. Francis. It was St. Francis who starting putting the tabernacle on the high altar because of space considerations.
The “spirit of VII days” habit of placing the tabernacle in side areas was to allow space for adoration and private devotions outside of Mass. There was nothing diabolical about it.
No, it doesn’t.
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Tim_D
Guest
So, having the tabernacle in a non-centralized location somehow instills less reverence and a non-acknowledgement of the true presence of Jesus? Please explain.
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Johann_du_Toit
Guest
Good. a lot of Traditional Catholics list the moving of the tabernacle as their biggest beef with Vatican II.
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dreamer29
Guest
A step in the right direction…
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gardenswithkids
Guest
:extrahappy:
Yeah! I find it awkward to walk into a church I’ve never been in before and not know which direction to genuflect towards, or even if I should genuflect.
Yeah! I find it awkward to walk into a church I’ve never been in before and not know which direction to genuflect towards, or even if I should genuflect.
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twf
Guest
While I applaud placing the tabernacle in the centre of the sanctuary, preferably on the high altar, this wasn’t the universal practice historically. It was quite normal for great cathedrals to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in a special side chapel even prior to Vatican II.
I would hardly call this the worst post-Vatican II innovation.
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detoutcoeur
Guest
This is wonderful.
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Brendan
Guest
That was due to some of the features of Mass. The celebrant priest could not leave the sanctuary. Nor could a layman repose the Blessed Sacrament.
In a Cathedral, a Sunday or Holy Day, a Cathedral would hold a High Mass, with a Deacon and a Subdeacon ( who were most likely ordained priests fulfilling the roles of Deacon and SubDeacon).
The celebrant would not leave the sanctuary, and the Blessed Sacrament be reserved by the Deacon\Priest.
But the daily Masses would be held in a side chapel, were the celebrant priest could repose the Blessed Sacrament by himself.
What IS relative new ( and NOT a feature of a pre-Vatican II Cathedral or Basillica) is the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament outside of the location where Mass is most commonly held.
There is a parish church in downtown Detroit that I attended daily Mass when I worked nearby. This church was the Cathedral for Detroit from the 1860’s to the 1930’s. It was arranged as you said, but even today, the daily Masses are held in the side chapel where the tabernacle resides. The celebrant has no need to leave the sanctuary of the chapel to repose the Blessed Sacrament.
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ProVobis
Guest
Good, but now he’ll have his back to the tabernacle? 
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JimG
Guest
I was visiting at a different church recently. Normally I just automatically genuflect toward the altar. When Mass was finished, I noticed one man stepped out of his pew, turned around, and genuflected toward the back of the church. Sure enough, the tabernacle and adoration chapel were located in the very back of the church to one side.
My own parish has the tabernacle directly behind he main altar. There is also a separate adoration chapel, but it has its own tabernacle.
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twf
Guest
Of course this wouldn’t be an issue if the holy mass was celebrated Ad Orientem as encouraged by the current prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Cardinal Sarah.Good, but now he’ll have his back to the tabernacle?
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Which isn’t necessarily right either as God is among us, not out in the cosmos as was celebrated Ad Orientem, before Vatican II.
Also, the celebrant at Mass, the priest is Christ en-persona.
He celebrates the Mass as Christ did at the last Supper, facing the people.
That all being said, its not up to me, but the magisterium as to how all these things must be handled.
Currently, my Bishop has directed that the tabernacle be placed in a prominent and reverent place to the side of the altar and sanctuary where Mass is to be celebrated…
Jim
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zz912
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God’s not in the cosmos?
And is that really why you think the priest faced Ad Orientem?
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
God is not out in the cosmos exclusively and that we have to look out to the heavens to worship him.
God is omnipresent, among us, dwelling within.
One of the reasons the priest faced Ad Orientem, was because God was thought to be in “heaven above,” exclusively.
Another reason had to do with the fact that when Constantine gave public buildings to the Church, the altar was a shelf attached to the wall and it became the altar.
Lastly. when the priest faced Ad Orientum, the wealthy who paid for the good seats up front could see the Eucharist. When the priest elevated the host , he held it above his head so the poor people in the back could see it. We came to believe he was presenting the consecrated host to the Father out in the heavens. Such was not the case and Vatican II sought to correct this. Today the priest facing the people, does not raise the consecrated host and chalice above his head, for he is Christ en-persona and does as God the Son did.
Jim
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