Church: A Place Where Mystery Happens - #16

I occasionally ask retreatants to play a game with me. I ask them to complete the sentence: "If I were a pastor, I would....". Well, I think I'll play the game with you today. The last two columns have described the two camps in the "where to place the tabernacle" issue. It's now time for me to tell you where I stand.

If I were pastor, I would place the reserved Eucharist in its own distinct Chapel. I would situate the chapel so that anyone could have direct and easy access to it from the main church space. I would opt for this for a number of reasons. First, I think that it is important to dignify the reserved sacrament in a space where people can spend time in personal, contemplative prayer and a few moments of refreshing silence and quiet. There is a really big need for this kind of setting in our noisy, fast-paced society. Second, this kind of chapel could create a sense of intimacy for small group prayer and for devotional prayer. Third, the design, the art, the lighting, etc. could all be coordinated so that the space was a place of peace. Over the years I have had people come and ask to pray because they have just learned of something tragic or heart wrenching in their lives or in the lives of those close to them.

A small intimate chapel would suit this need immensely. In addition to this chapel, I would like to see contemporary churches with a chapel devoted to the Word of God. In this chapel, the Gospel Book, or a wonderfully decorated Lectionary might be enthroned in a worthy and dignified way. The holy book would be placed in a setting where catechumens and their sponsors, parents preparing for the baptism of their child, and couple preparing for marriage could meet. This would also be a fine setting for children's liturgy of the Word and for other moments of catechesis and quiet, holy learning and sung psalms, meditation on the Word and interior prayer. I also would hope that any chapel would connect the mystery of the Eucharist and/or the Word of God and the book of nature. This would mean an outer wall where some kind of clear glass could combine with stained glass to allow people to look out at carefully designed gardens and aesthetically pleasing landscaping.

My choice for distinct chapel is also based on a profound respect for the devotional and affective life of the church. I come out of a background - as a Passionist religious and as a student of popular religion - where I deeply cherish expressive feeling and piety as well as the liturgy. The liturgies of baptism, Eucharist, reconciliation, and services of the Word use silence and speech, wholesome piety and affectivity. When the liturgy is done in this manner, it touches the heart and inspires the assembly. The liturgy becomes the wellspring, the source, and the foundation stone for the prayer of the heart. Liturgy and devotion do not compete for the human heart. Both vivify the rich soil of the soul. Devotional prayer draws its inspiration from the liturgy and leads us back to it. Adoration before the Word of God or before the Blessed Sacrament, Benediction, the repetition of responses in litany prayer, and devotional prayer texts are meant to awaken and deepen the inner life.