Shouldn’t the tabernacle be the center of our prayer and be placed in the sanctuary?
The tabernacle should be in a place that is “truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer,” (GIRM #314) – a mandate that has been carefully followed by most of our churches, modern or traditional in architecture. Our Eucharistic theology teaches us that it is at the altar that Christ becomes truly and fully present to us. The altar “which in the gathering of the faithful will signify the one Christ and the one Eucharist of the Church” should be so placed “as to be truly the center toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns.” (GIRM #303, 299) According to the most recent teaching of the Church, the following options are given for the placement of the tabernacle: It may be located either in the sanctuary, apart from the altar of celebration, in a form and place more appropriate, not excluding on an old altar no longer used for celebration; or even in some chapel suitable for the faithful’s private adorat
