Altar, tabernacle call attention to the Eucharist

Photos of the altar and tabernacle featured in this article were taken at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Uptown New Orleans. Appropriately, the base of the altar at St. Francis of Assisi includes includes a beautiful carving of the Last Supper. (Photos by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald)

By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald

THE ALTAR

In Catholic churches, the altar is always located in the front of the church and is typically elevated so that everyone can see it – and for a very good reason!

The altar, a large table, reminds us of when Jesus gathered his disciples for the Passover meal on Holy Thursday – the gathering known as the Last Supper.

At this meal, Jesus took the bread and told his friends, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.”

Jesus then took his cup, filled with wine, and told them, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood.”
Jesus is telling us that he will sacrifice his very life so that all who believe in him and follow him will be forgiven of their sins and share in eternal life!

During the Mass, the priest draws people into Jesus’ offering of himself. He calls on the power of the Holy Spirit to consecrate two earthly, man-made gifts – bread and wine – into the divine body and blood of our Lord, which we later are able to receive at holy Communion.

Jesus gives us this gift of himself in the Eucharist, promising to live inside of us and to never abandon us.

The altar is also meant to remind us of the altars of the Old Testament on which animal sacrifices were made to God by priests in the temple. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us that he is the new “Lamb of God” – the Christ – who sacrifices himself on the cross for us!

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THE TABERNACLE

The Latin root of the word “tabernacle” hints at its important function within Catholic churches. The word translates into “tent” – something that provides shelter.

The person being sheltered in the tabernacle is Jesus himself, fully present in the Eucharist. Notice how the priest, after Communion, carefully places any consecrated hosts that were not consumed into the tabernacle – a special cabinet – to protect Jesus. These unconsumed hosts may be distributed at other Masses and also may be offered in home settings to those who are unable to attend Mass in person.

So sacred are the contents of the tabernacle, we genuflect or bow toward it when entering or exiting church as a sign of reverence for the Real Presence of Christ.

Although many Catholic churches, such as St. Francis of Assisi Church in New Orleans, position the tabernacle directly behind the altar, some churches set it off to the side of the sanctuary.

Tabernacles often are decorated with symbols of the Eucharist, such as wheat and grapes.

We invite you to share photos of your parish church's altar and tabernacle. Email submissions to [email protected] and we will post as many as we can on the Clarion Herald’s Facebook page!