Church Tabernacle

The tabernacle is the fixed locked box, often in the form of a tent (hence the word) in which, in a Catholic (including Eastern Rite) or other Catholic like Church , the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, or stored. Formerly universally, and now more occasionally, it is set upon the high altar. It is to be distinguished from a less obvious container, set into the wall, called an Aumbry .

HISTORY

The following historical information is found, for instance, in the article ''The casing of the Eucharist'' {Link without Title} by Mauro Piacenza in ''30DAYS'', No.6 Year XXIII - June 2005.

In early Christianity , priests and even lay people took bread consecrated at their Eucharistic celebrations to their homes, in order to give it to the sick and others unable to attend the celebration. But when the Peace of Constantine ended persecution, the practice was established of keeping the Eucharist only in churches and no longer in people’s homes.

The preferred container then had the form of a (usually gold) dove within a (usually silver) tower. There is mention of a gift of these two vessels, both of gold and adorned with 250 white pearls, that the Emperor Constantine gave to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and of silver towers and golden doves given to particular churches by Pope Innocent I and Pope Hilary .

The vessels were kept in a place called the "sacrarium" or "pastophorium" away from the central body of the church or were suspended by fine chains from the middle of the canopy (hence called a "ciborium" or bread store) above the altar of the church. Lorenzo Bernini ’s 29-metre-high Baroque baldacchino over the main altar in today’s Saint Peter’s Basilica is at present the best-known such structure. Later, simpler vessels replaced to some extent the dove and the tower.

By the Thirteenth Century , the Eucharist was most often kept in a highly embellished cabinet inserted into the wall to the right or left of the altar. The Sanctuary Lamp indicated the Presence of Christ.

In the late Fourteenth Century , special constructions for the Eucharistic bread began to be built, especially in northern Europe. In German churches of the period, some such structures can still be seen: tall towers, known as Sakramentshäuschen, often reaching almost to the ceiling. They were in use until the mid-nineteenth century.

In the early Sixteenth Century , Bishop Matteo Giberti ordered that, in his diocese of Verona, Italy , the container case for the consecrated bread should be placed on an altar. The custom spread through northern Italy. Saint Charles Borromeo , who became Archbishop of Milan, Italy in 1560 , had the Sacrament moved from the sacristy to an altar (not the main altar) of his cathedral; and in 1614 Pope Paul V imposed this rule on the churches of his diocese of Rome . Reaction to Protestantism ’s denial of the reality and permanence of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist then led to the spread of the placing of the tabernacle even on the high altar, so as to make it more evidently visible. Whether on the main altar of the church or in a special chapel, the tabernacle became more and more large and ornate, to the extent of dominating the altar.

PRESENT NORMS

One aim of the renewal of the Roman-rite Liturgy following the Second Vatican Council (see Novus Ordo Missae ) was to highlight the primacy of the Eucharistic celebration itself, seen as much more than just a means for providing the permanent Eucharistic presence. The altar, it was decided, should be "truly the centre to which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns" (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 299). {Link without Title}

The same Instruction lays down that:

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, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not
transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the
greatest extent possible. Moreover, it is appropriate that, before it is put into liturgical use, it be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual.

315. It is more in keeping with the meaning of the sign that the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved not be on an altar on which Mass is celebrated. Consequently, it is preferable that the tabernacle be located, according to the judgement of the Diocesan Bishop,

a. either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration;

b. or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adoration and prayer and which is organically connected to the church and readily visible to the Christian faithful.

316. In accordance with traditional custom, near the tabernacle a special lamp, fuelled by oil or wax, should be kept alight to indicate and honour the presence of Christ.

SEE ALSO

article in the Catholic Encyclopedia

REFERENCES

Information About

Church Tabernacle