I try not to get my hopes up. The reform of the reform is going to be the work of a generation or more. This has been quite a summer on a global scale with the release of Summorum Pontificum and all the newly minted Traditional Latin Masses popping up. Exciting, but one has to be realistic about the effects. I have no doubt that the extraordinary form will eventually exert the ‘gravitational pull’ for which many of us hope. As I said, eventually.
I try to take the long view on these things. However, something happened yesterday that has me almost as excited as when the motu proprio was released. While at mass yesterday, the pastor got up to give the homily. After speaking for a few minutes on the readings and gospel, he began to speak about reverence in the church. During the summer, he published a series of articles in the bulletin that spoke of what our attitude in church should be along with some practical steps, like be quiet and turn off your phone. Our pastor spoke about this too. He then said, in order to foster the proper tone of reverence in the church proper, he would be relocating some events that currently occur in the church into the parish hall or the school auditorium. Great, I thought!
Then the pastor really threw me. He advised us all that at the request of Bishop Murphy (Diocese of Rockville Centre) that the church would be moving the tabernacle back to the center of the church. WOW!
While the blessed sacrament was by no means relegated to a broom closet, as is so common these days, as It is housed in a beautiful little side chapel I was still very excited to hear of this development. I assume that this request applies not just to my parish but I will have to verify this.
Over the past 15-20 years or so as I watched the tabernacle being placed in purposeful obscurity, I assumed that it would be the work of a generation to undo what had been done. I have never been so glad to find out that I was wrong.
Thank you so very much, Bishop Murphy!
September 24, 2007 at 12:25 pm
What parish do you belong to?
September 24, 2007 at 2:28 pm
St. John the Evangelist (Center Moriches)
September 24, 2007 at 3:56 pm
This discussion is going to gain some ground we have not seen in years especially in a liberal diocese.
Alot of prays have called for the tabernacle to be moved back to the center of the church where it really belongs. Over the past 15-20 years our churchs have resembled the auditorium of a monster truck rally.
Unfortunately, I was not there for this “WOW” moment when our pastor had announced the new changes. I heard that a number of people rose and clapped. Firstly, as a practicing Catholic of St. John the Evangelist; which is a powerhouse of prayer) and student, this is proud moment for Christ, me and Catholics around the world. It with prayer, a respect in a Catholic churches will Christ be more visible in the center of Our Hearts. Amen!!
September 25, 2007 at 12:14 am
During our wrektovation, our tabernacle was moved to a “eucharistic chapel” which was the darkest spot in the church.
When we were having our discussions about moving our chapel, one of the authors of that monstrosity said: “What are you going to do with that room when you move the tabernacle?”
I said: “Well, I’d like to get a votive candle rack in there, and it was suggested that all of the statues that were placed in the basement be put back in there”
The guy said: “Good. They’ll be out of the way”. Then silence as everyone realized the import of what he said. Jesus was in there right now and He was “out of the way”.
Within two months our tabernacle was moved. Our pastor hired some movers because the tabernacle was attached to a big marble table that was tough to move. The price agreed upon was $550. After the move, the man said to our priest: “Father, forget about the money. Just place a rose on the table and say a mass for my departed mom”.
Us guys who do the rosary on Sundays are going to remember his mom every year on the anniversary of the tabernacle being moved.
September 25, 2007 at 12:15 am
That should read “moving our tabernacle”
September 25, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Wow, I never thought about the connection between the lack of reverence in the church (especially just before Mass) while not having Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament right there in the church sanctuary. My current parish has the tabernacle front and center where it belongs and there is still some pre-Mass chatting going on, but it seemed worse at my old parish where the tabernacle was off in a side chapel somewhere.