Tabernacle...who can touch it?

rightyabe

There was a bit of drama in our local chapel here recently, to clarify i'm a non-believer. My Granny was at a addoration and when it was closing time there was no priest there and the Tabernacle had to be put away in its place behind the alter.

Apparently the priest can only touch it if:

1. he wears his cloak/dress (dont know what its called)
2. he cant touch it with his bare hands


Would this be the case? and why can't lay people touch it?

Thanks.

Ghost Buster

rightyabe wrote: »

There was a bit of drama in our local chapel here recently, to clarify i'm a non-believer. My Granny was at a addoration and when it was closing time there was no priest there and the Tabernacle had to be put away in its place behind the alter.

Apparently the priest can only touch it if:

1. he wears his cloak/dress (dont know what its called)
2. he cant touch it with his bare hands


Would this be the case? and why can't lay people touch it?

Thanks.

Something like this i guess....

Benny_Cake

As far as I know, a priest, deacon or Eucharistic Minister can touch the tabernacle (which isn't quite the same thing as the holy grail). So it's possible there were none of the above present during the Eucharistic adoration, although I'd be surprised if that was the case. No special garb required either afaik. I'm sure some of the more dedicated Catholics will be along shortly if I got anything wrong!

CiaranMT

Ghost Buster wrote: »

Something like this i guess....

Anybody else think he progresses into Christopher Lloyd there?

kelly1

rightyabe wrote: »

There was a bit of drama in our local chapel here recently, to clarify i'm a non-believer. My Granny was at a addoration and when it was closing time there was no priest there and the Tabernacle had to be put away in its place behind the alter.

Apparently the priest can only touch it if:

1. he wears his cloak/dress (dont know what its called)
2. he cant touch it with his bare hands


Would this be the case? and why can't lay people touch it?

Thanks.

I think you have your terminology wrong there. The tabernacle is the (usually gold) box/enclosure which holds the Blessed Sacrament or Host. The Host is normally held in some kind of holder (don't ask me what it's called) and this is placed in the monstrance during adoration. So nobody actually touches the Host.

rightyabe

kelly1 wrote: »

I think you have your terminology wrong there. The tabernacle is the (usually gold) box/enclosure which holds the Blessed Sacrament or Host. The Host is normally held in some kind of holder (don't ask me what it's called) and this is placed in the monstrance during adoration. So nobody actually touches the Host.

Correct Kelly1 it was the Blessed Sacrament that was left out, and the people in the chapel were afraid to touch the tabernacle to open it as only a priest in his "holy garments" can touch it.

I find it amazing that the 4 people left in the chapel, one a teacher and another who is nurse would have a fear of the consequences of touching a forbidden object and to cause the drama they caused in ringing every priest within 10-15 miles to get them to come and put the Blessed Sacrament away.

It makes me laugh, I personally would of loved to have been there to see these 2 clever people run around on their phones in fear of the invisible man in the clouds.

Donatello

Pope John Paul II at one time reminded us that: “To touch the Sacred Species, and to distribute them with their own hands, is a privilege of the ordained one.”

We've lost the run of ourselves. Nowadays, it seems anyone can handle the Blessed Sacrament. Only a priests, deacon, or one who has received permission from the priest or bishop can handle the Blessed Sacrament, such as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. We need to restore the respect and reverence due to the Lord. I am pleasantly surprised to hear that there are still places in Ireland where there is still a sense of wonder and awe in God's presence.

One good step is to get rid of EMHCs. They are only to be used in extraordinary circumstances, after all. Recent documents from the Holy See have underscored this point which is largely ignored.

noel farrell

it must be a very quite parish you live in if that is drama . as a non rc who due to family events attend services i have seen rc communion been received some took it in the mouth some in one hand and placed it in their mouth . as far as i can see the were handling it . so what was the problem as some rc posters said the bread was in some kind of case cop on

rightyabe

noel farrell wrote: »

it must be a very quite parish you live in if that is drama . as a non rc who due to family events attend services i have seen rc communion been received some took it in the mouth some in one hand and placed it in their mouth . as far as i can see the were handling it . so what was the problem as some rc posters said the bread was in some kind of case cop on

I think your not understanding the basics here, no offence. But not once has this topic been about holy communion.....

noel farrell

for your imfo tabernacle is on the alter you put the bread in it for safe keeping . what you are on about is the monstrance the consecrated bread is put in it for adoration . correct me if it a different bread than the one handed out at communion service .as i have posted earlier it is covered so i cant see any problem . in my church it is only bread and wine taken as a token of what our lord has done at the cross .a finished work

yawha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHAkqCls4A