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CHNI Forums > Questions Not Covered Elsewhere > What Else Do You Need to Know? > Is one allowed to touch the tabernacle?


Is one allowed to touch the tabernacle?
 Moderated by: Marcus, Dave Armstrong  

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JillD
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 Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 03:38 pm

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I thought not, but our RCIA teacher the other night was crowing about how close you can get to the Tabernacle in his church and that you could get so close you could even touch it.

My eyebrows raised.

Is that kosher??

Jill



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David W. Emery
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 Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 07:03 pm

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On the primary level, only consecrated (priestly) hands should touch the tabernacle. However, deacons are also canonically allowed to do this. Further, under certain circumstances laymen who have been properly deputed to perform certain functions having to do with the Eucharist may, in the absence of a priest or deacon, open and close, place inside or remove a ciborium (containing the Eucharist) or a container of holy oil (chrism, etc., which is also kept in the tabernacle).

It is possible that the RCIA teacher was simply saying that it is possible for one to move unrestricted around the tabernacle. I have seen churches in which this is the case, and I have seen people actually touching it.

In Mexico touching and “rubbing off the holiness” from a holy vessel, tabernacle or statue is traditional, even though it is not an accepted Catholic practice. The “holiness” is then “spread” in a similar manner over the person’s face and body.

David


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Intercessor
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 Posted: Fri Feb 29th, 2008 06:30 pm

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Our local Marian shrine is used for perpetual adoration. For security reasons the tabernacle looks more like a gold box and is secured to a very heavy pedestal. The consecrated Host is behind a little round door (has a hinge on one side and a clasp on the other).

I was told by another lady who has been attending adoration there for some time, that if I arrive to an empty shrine, I should very reverently open the little door and expose the consecrated Host. If nobody else was there when I left, I was to reverently close the little door.

Always remembering the story of Uzzah in 1 Chronicles 13:9-10, I bow very reverently and ask God to have mercy on me before I touch the little door. Moderators, do any of you know for sure whether this practice is acceptable?



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Annie
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 Posted: Thu Mar 6th, 2008 01:04 pm

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In a regular parish church it would not be acceptable as only a priest can put the Host in repose after adoration. Or take Him out of repose. But in a shrine they may have a different rule written by whichever order of priests/brothers or nuns runs the shrine.

If you are scrupulous, as someone in charge who is wearing "the uniform."

Last edited on Thu Mar 6th, 2008 01:05 pm by Annie



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CHNI Forums > Questions Not Covered Elsewhere > What Else Do You Need to Know? > Is one allowed to touch the tabernacle?




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