“Ask a Priest: Why Isn’t the Tabernacle on the Altar?”

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest
Q: Why is the tabernacle kept behind the altar of Sacrifice? If the tabernacle contains consecrated hosts, everyone who assists the priest at the altar, and the priest himself, have their backs to God. Why is not a small tabernacle kept front and center on the altar? Not obstructing the people’s view, but in a place of honor? – K.C.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: The tabernacle is often kept behind the altar because it is a central focal point for anyone entering a church. It is a natural place for the faithful to direct their attention and genuflect when entering a church.

During the Mass, however, and specifically at the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the center of attention is meant to be the altar, not the tabernacle, since the liturgy is a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice.

It is not disrespectful for the priest celebrants and acolytes to be focused on the altar at this moment. In fact, the U.S. bishops’ conference 2000 document “Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture and Worship” notes that “the Church teaches that ‘the altar is Christ’” (No. 56).

In any case, at and after the consecration the celebrants are facing Christ sacramentally and substantially present on the altar. It would be bizarre for people to have their backs turned to Christ on the altar and looking instead at the tabernacle.

For basically the same reason, the altar is not the appropriate place for the tabernacle, since it would distract attention from the sacrifice that is actually being carried out in the Mass.

For more reading, see Father Edward McNamara’s posting on the “Central Focus at Mass.”

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!