Posted on 07/17/2009 1:31:31 PM PDT by NYer
That’s the formal instruction of Bishop John D’Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., in a statement posted at his diocesan website.
Bishop D’Arcy was front and center of the controversy that erupted over the University of Notre Dame’s decision to honor President Barack Obama at its commencement in May. As the Catholic college’s diocesan bishop, Bishop D’Arcy publicly denounced the university’s decision.
His statement promulgating norms for tabernacle placement in his diocese, instructing that it be placed in a central and visible location in diocesan churches, won’t excite the same kind of national controversy as the commencement scandal. For many faithful Catholics, though, it’s just as important to insist that the Blessed Sacrament be given the place of honor it deserves as it was to oppose Notre Dame’s improper bestowing of honors to the nation’s pro-abortion president.
Here’s an excerpt from Bishop D’Arcy’s statement:
To Priests, Deacons, Religious, and to All the Faithful,
The presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is at the center of our faith and of the devotional life of our Catholic people.
In recent years, the place of the tabernacle in our churches has become a source of controversy. This should not be. The Eucharist, whether we are referring to its celebration or to the place of reservation, should always be a means of unity and communion, and never of division.
The place of the tabernacle in our church should reflect our faith in the real presence of Christ, and should always be guided by Church documents.
On the other hand, there is a GORGEOUS church downtown which is very old and very traditional, has a beautiful High Altar hand carved in marble that fills the entire east wall. Unfortunately this beautiful church is inhabited by a bunch of hippie Franciscans, and they hauled the tabernacle out and shoved it off into a corner where it cannot even be seen from the nave. There's a big blank spot where it used to be.
Even the loony Episcopalians allow ad orientem celebration in historical churches. Do some Catholic bishops allow this as well?
Nice start, but how about something more specific? Like “In the Main, in the front”? The Presider’s chair should not be replacing the tabernacle. And for heaven’s sake, stop bowing to the Bible and ignoring the tabernacle! I want my kids to hug me, not my notes about their chores.
I was at a parish in Caseville, MI two weekends ago.
Not only was there NO tabernacle to be found, but the “Hostesses” (yes, that was what they were called in the bulletin) removed all vessels from the altar and whisked them away to be cleaned in the back room. I’m praying it was the Priest who did it, but I doubt it. The Priest encouraged everyone to “Join hands, come on! Join hands!” for the Our Father and when the cantor sang the Agnus Dei there was a little chime after each verse. My DH labeled it “Light Rock meets a Game Show”. They did the Kyrie in Greek, but didn’t sing Christe Eleison. Maybe they didn’t get that memo. This was Saginaw Diocese so it’s a bit forgivable.
(And what is it with liberal parishes singing “Amazing Grace” and “Here I am Lord”? Everyone we go to does them.)
Anyway, last weekend we were at a parish in Wellington Ohio. Glass goblets, pottery vessels, Altar girls who walked the vessels to a back room eventhough the tabernacle was in the main. But the kicker was the “Happy” Priest who gladhanded everyone in the first two rows around the parish. Even my 11 year old was uncomfortable with that. But guess what they did have? Patens!!!! I guess there is a little good everywhere!
I will be happy to be back in my parish this weekend.
I don’t know if it’s allowed, but theoretically it’s not even forbidden. Of course, the bishop could make the priest’s life very unpleasant if he doesn’t like the practice, though...
We have a side chapel next to the main altar and visible from it (the wall is semi-open on that side) where the Tabernacle is located. It’s not as hidden as in some churches, but it’s still not exactly the focal point.
Sadly, we don’t even have a crucifix behind the altar (in the place where the tabernacle was and should be). We have one of those awful “Resurrection Jesus” figures, larger than life and very spectral looking, especially since it’s lighted from underneath. He looks like the King of the Dead from Lord of the Rings.
We have a "Christ the High Priest" suspended from the ceiling of the sanctuary.
Could be worse (it doesn't look objectionable in context):
I think the style is too modern, and I would prefer one of the old-fashioned linden-wood carved crucifixes myself. But that's really just my personal preference. Overall the church is traditional and reverent.
If we went back to ad orientem celebration, it would be relatively easy (although you'd need a LARGE lift) to move the altar back against the roodscreen and install a traditional tabernacle in the center. Which might allow enough room to have a proper chancel choir . . . I wish they'd designed it with a chancel, but then I'm a former Piskie and that's what I'm used to. Technically speaking it was never a monastic foundation so it's not SUPPOSED to have a chancel . . . but so many of the great English churches do. Of course, you have to behave yourself when you're up there in front of God and everybody, the choir loft in the back allows one to shuffle music, fish out cough drops, and ask your neighbor WHICH anthem is for the offertory? And parishioners who sneaked into the choir loft after the Gospel NEVER complain . . . . :-D
The goofy downtown parish I mentioned above sang "We Shall Overcome" as an entrance hymn on Tuesday. Yikes!
God forgive me, I LOATHE that 'hymn'.
I agree, a crucifix would be better, but it doesn’t look absolutely awful and at least it’s cruciform!
Much of the old altar is still in place at the Cathedral and they could even celebrate ad orientem as is. I have heard ominous rumblings about redesigning the sanctuary, though, and I’m not sure exactly what they have in mind.
On the one hand, we need a redesign; our choir loft was removed when the new organ was installed (the pipes had to go somewhere...), so the choir lines up on what looks like bleachers along the side. Not a great effect, and it doesn’t help their sound much. Of course, with the choice of music, their sound is the least of their problems.
If I were confident that the redesign were directed simply at solving some problems, I’d feel better about it, but I suspect it may also be directed at making the altar permanently unsuitable for celebration of the EF.
BTW, I try to avoid hustling for my blog, but I do have some interesting photos of restored altars and Colonial Spanish art from my trip through the Central California missions last week. You can see them here: http://spanishnativity.typepad.com
It’s hard to believe that these things were done by Franciscans, the worst of the religious orders now, but the Spanish Franciscans who went to the New World spent literally years assembling the music they wanted to take with them, devoted much time to soliciting donations of art, and created beautiful environments for their humble converts.
Only at the Traditional Latin Mass, AFAIK. Then again, I have little experience here in Albany. My former RC parish had a tabernacle on the Epistle side, as well. After I left, they built a separate room and moved it there. The presider's chair gradually moved further and further to just behind the altar and just below the Risen Christ statue. FWIU, there was an uproar from the more traditional catholics on moving the tabernacle. To accommodate them, the pastor installed a window in the room.
One priest I know, explained that in the post VCII period, several dioceses embraced this more 'progressive' view of the church and taught it in the seminaries. My former pastor was one of its beneficiaries. He was uncomfortable around a crucifix or benediction and especially adoration. At the request of those same orthodox Catholics, he attempted Eucharistic Adoration. There were sign up sheets and I joined the list. I just happened to be assigned the final hour, followed by Benediction. First off, the 'monstrance' was a small box that held the standard sized host - practically invisible. Traditional hymns were sung and the pastor elevated the monstrance but you could immediately tell that he was quite uncomfortable with these movements. It was the first - and - last time adoration was celebrated in that parish.
That's very sad - for him as well as for the parish.
We have a relatively new pastor who I thought would be a complete modernist, but because of popular demand (our people are very traditional), he has been having Benediction. He had to learn how to do it.
He first seemed a little uncomfortable, but now I think he actually likes it and as a result feels - well, more priestly is probably the best way of expressing it. I think Eucharistic devotion enriches priests enormously.
I think your experience in your old parish took away some of your Purgatory time!
YIKES! is right!
Love your site, but is there any way you could provide graphic files that are much, much, much larger? Four or five megs would be good.
Don’t mean to criticize or complain, but my CRS syndrome has been augmented by CSS syndrome.
“but I suspect it may also be directed at making the altar permanently unsuitable for celebration of the EF.”
Satan never sleeps.
**(And what is it with liberal parishes singing “Amazing Grace”**
I know this song is a favorite of many, but I can’t stand it.
It isn’t very Catholic.
All things considered, your sanctuary and crucifix are rather nice. I think there is some historical precedent for a crucifix like yours.
I’m very aware of that. I won’t sing it and it drives me nuts when it is sung at funerals!
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