Courageous Bishop Promulgates Norms for Tabernacle Placement
FREE Catholic Classes
'My experience is that our people, with their instinct of faith, have always desired that the tabernacle be central and visible'.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
7/17/2009 (1 decade ago)
Published in U.S.
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
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

New $23 Million AI Academy Aims to Put Teachers in Control of Tech in the Classroom

California Rejects Federal Order on Transgender Athletes, Keeps Males in Girls’ Sports

Catholic Online AI Open Letter
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Daily Readings for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
St. Veronica Giuliani: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
- Prayer for a Happy Death: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.