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To: american colleen
Those guidelines are sadly ambiguous, IMO. One could make a case for the tabernable or the "presiders" chair being placed just about anywhere as long as it is "suitable."

The renegades will renegade regardless. The problem with this is that it doesn't really address the two situations well. That being your basic parish church with no need for a seperate Eucharistic chapel and a larger more busy Cathedral or historically significant or touristy church that is too active to allow private Eucharitic adoration, where a smaller chapel makes sense.

In any event, the priest mentioned above is being dishonest in telling his flock that the new GIRM is requiring him to move the tabernacle. Which was my original point.

SD

26 posted on 07/17/2003 9:11:37 AM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave
I agree with you that the priest in question was being somewhat dishonest.

I think I figured out why the tabernacle is not always on the main altar in parishes where it should be (eliminating as you say, busy Cathedrals and historically significant/busy parishes and including only the bulk of regular local parishes). I've observed around my area that parishes who use EEMs regardless of the need have the EEMs, have them take the hosts out of the tabernacle and put them on the altar table right before the consecration... if the tabernacle was behind the altar table and located on the main altar, then the EEMs couldn't do that as it would be really unseemly to have them going back and forth behind the priest. And so many parishes like the laity to be "involved" (which means a visible job, preferably on the altar) that they place the tabernacle on a side altar (appropriately decorated, of course!) instead of on the main altar as the focal point of the parish.

Not explained well, I know! But IMO, the tabernacle has been relegated to a place of lesser importance so the laity can be more active on the altar without looking too unseemly.

I think the tabernacle is the first thing you should see on entering the church. And I can't figure out why some people still genuflect to the empty altar and don't genuflect in the direction of the tabernacle.

31 posted on 07/17/2003 9:24:13 AM PDT by american colleen
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