Source: http://truegate.org/news/view_long_top_news.php?id=30036
Timestamp: 2020-01-29 17:30:51
Document Index: 488715595

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 22', '§ 64', '§ 71', '§ 72', '§ 73', '§ 78']

September 24, 2019. And More on Double-Door Fixturessed monstrance.
Q: In our parish about 25 years ago the pastor decided to remove the tabernacle from the main altar. They put it in a side altar. For 40 years, there has been an altar (simple table) with the priest facing the people. A member of the liturgy committee would like the pastor to move the beautiful tabernacle from the side alter to the main altar, like before 1960. Because I have a degree in theology, he asked me to find arguments and official texts from Rome or from the bishops of the U.S. or France helping to justify this change. What are the official texts giving a rule for the placement of the tabernacle? What are the advantages or obligation from a spiritual or liturgical point of view for this change? — J.L., Ottawa, Ontario
A: With respect to the placing of the tabernacle the most recent norms are from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). The 2011 English missal takes some slight modifications into account with respect to earlier editions:
“314. In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, conspicuous, worthily decorated, and suitable for prayer.
“315. It is more appropriate as a sign that on an altar on which Mass is celebrated there not be a tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved.
“Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgment of the Diocesan Bishop:
“b) or even in some chapel suitable for the private adoration and prayer of the faithful and organically connected to the church and readily noticeable by the Christian faithful.”
The tabernacle’s location is also mention in relationship with the priest’s chair.
“310. The chair of the Priest Celebrant must signify his function of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer. Thus the more suitable place for the chair is facing the people at the head of the sanctuary, unless the design of the building or other features prevent this: as, for example, if on account of too great a distance, communication between the Priest and the congregation would be difficult, or if the tabernacle were to be positioned in the center behind the altar. In any case, any appearance of a throne is to be avoided. It is appropriate that before being put into liturgical use, the chair be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.”
Also valuable are the guidelines issued by the U.S. bishops, “Built of Living Stones.” This document enters into more detail than the GIRM and offers some practical suggestions. Regarding the location of the tabernacle it says:
“Christ’s Presence in Sign and Symbol
“§ 22. In the liturgical assembly, Christ’s presence is realized in all the baptized who gather in his name, in the word of God proclaimed in the assembly, in the person of the priest through whom Christ offers himself to the Father and gathers the assembly, in sacramental celebrations, and especially, in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. In building a house for the Church that is also the house of God on earth, all the expressions of Christ’s presence have prominence of place that reflects their proper nature. Among these, the eucharistic species is accorded supreme prominence. From the very beginning of the planning and design process, parishes will want to reflect upon the relationship of the altar, the ambo, the tabernacle, the chair of the priest celebrant, and the space for congregation. […]
“§ 64. ‘The [most appropriate] place for the chair is at the head of the sanctuary and turned toward the people unless the design of the building or other circumstances [such as distance or the placement of the tabernacle] are an obstacle.’ This chair is not used by a lay person who presides at a service of the word with Communion or a Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest. (Cf. Congregation for Divine Worship, Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest [1988], no. 40.) […]
“§ 71. The Second Vatican Council led the Church to a fuller understanding of the relationship between the presence of the Lord in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist and in the reserved Sacrament, and of the Christian’s responsibility to feed the hungry and to care for the poor. As the baptized grow to understand their active participation in the Eucharist, they will be drawn to spend more time in quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle, and be impelled to live out their relationship in active charity. In reverent prayer before the reserved Eucharist, the faithful give praise and thanksgiving to Christ for the priceless gift of redemption and for the spiritual food that sustains them in their daily lives. Here they learn to appreciate their right and responsibility to join the offering of their own lives to the perfect sacrifice of Christ during the Mass and are led to a greater recognition of Christ in themselves and in others, especially in the poor and needy. Providing a suitable place for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament is a serious consideration in any building or renovation project. […]
“§ 72. The general law of the Church provides norms concerning the tabernacle and the place for the reservation of the Eucharist that express the importance Christians place on the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The Code of Canon Law directs that the Eucharist be reserved ‘in a part of the church that is prominent, conspicuous, beautifully decorated and suitable for prayer.’ It directs that regularly there be ‘only one tabernacle’ in the church. It should be worthy of the Blessed Sacrament—beautifully designed and in harmony with the overall decor of the rest of the church. To provide for the security of the Blessed Sacrament the tabernacle should be ‘solid,’ ‘immovable,’ ‘opaque,’ and ‘locked.’ The tabernacle may be situated on a fixed pillar or stand, or it may be attached to or embedded in one of the walls. A special oil lamp or a lamp with a wax candle burns continuously near the tabernacle as an indication of Christ’s presence.
“§ 73. The place of reservation should be a space that is dedicated to Christ present in the Eucharist and that is designed so that the attention of one praying there is drawn to the tabernacle that houses the presence of the Lord. Iconography can be chosen from the rich treasury of symbolism that is associated with the Eucharist.
“§ 78. Some parishes have inaugurated the practice of continuous adoration of the Eucharist. If, for some good reason, perpetual exposition must take place in a parish church, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has directed that this take place in a separate chapel that is ‘distinct from the body of the church so as not to interfere with the normal activities of the parish or its daily liturgical celebration.’
Since the above documents are fairly clear, I would simply make the following suggestions to our reader.
Given that the bishop has overall authority in this matter, our reader should first inquire if any official diocesan norms exist on this topic. Any norms officially issued by a former bishop retain their legal status unless revoked by the current bishop. The current bishop can also make ad hoc exceptions to any of these norms.
In recent years there has been a certain movement to return to the central location of the tabernacle, and some bishops have issued decrees in this regard. My personal preference is for a centrally located tabernacle in most parish settings. However, it is necessary to recognize that the reasons given in the official documents for possible other locations are sound and in some cases preferable.
For example, the restoration of a central tabernacle to a small sanctuary now containing a free-standing altar could leave little room for maneuver during the ceremonial actions at Mass and lead to a somewhat awkward celebration.
I would also highly recommend to our reader that if there has been a simple table for 40 years, then any proposal to restore the tabernacle to the sanctuary should be tied to an overall renewal of the sanctuary that contemplates a permanent and beautiful altar.