Courageous Bishop Promulgates Norms for Tabernacle Placement

'My experience is that our people, with their instinct of faith, have always desired that the tabernacle be central and visible'.

NOTRE DAME (Catholic Online) - Bishop D'Arcy is one of our heroes here at Catholic Online. His behavior at the commencement showed the dignity of his office. He respected civil authority without compromising the authority of the Church and the truth.

Now, word from his diocese demonstrates that this successor of the Apostles "gets it." Some misguided folks think that those of us who want the tabernacle given a place of prominence in order to promote adoration, prayer and real spiritual warfare are trying to somehow "turn the clock back." No, we just understand the words of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians about the real struggle we face and we know that Prayer is the key! (See, Eph. 6: 12)! We also know that prayer is the only hope we have!

So does this wonderful Bishop:

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.

My experience is that our people, with their instinct of faith, have always desired that the tabernacle be central and visible. They find it confusing when the tabernacle in their churches is not visible, and if possible, central.

Because of my responsibility to foster the devotional life of our people, and to keep it sound, I have asked our Office of Worship to prepare norms for the placement and design of the tabernacle in this diocese. These norms were brought before the Presbyteral Council, the Liturgical Commission and the Environment and Arts Committee. Suitable refinements and improvements were prepared.

These norms are promulgated to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend on June 14, 2009, the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of the Lord. They will be effective on Aug. 4, 2009, the feast of St. John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of priests, in whose honor the present Year for Priests has been dedicated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI.

I urge all priests to follow these norms carefully and completely, and most importantly -- to foster devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Sincerely yours in our Lord,
Most Reverend John M. D'Arcy

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