Concert in the church building
I'm singing in a choir at my church, and we'll be putting on a concert in a few weeks. I just found out today where we'll be singing from, and it bugs me a litte.
The way the sanctuary is set up in my church is this: in the middle is the altar, with 5 steps leading up to it, and the Tabernacle is off to the right in Its own little spot. (Not exactly the spot He deserves in my opinion, but well... whatcha gonna do.) We'll be in the sanctuary standing on the steps leading up to the altar.
What bothers me about that... is what will happen during our intermission. I assumed we'd be singing over in the auditorium, and they would set up tables and chairs and have coffee and cake or something... so everyone would grab a snack and drink and mingle during intermission. But we'll be in the church... and I think we both know what people will do as soon as intermission starts: walk around and mingle, chat with friends and meet new people... that's just what you do during intermission.
But in the church where Jesus is physically present... isn't that disrespectful? Or am I just making too much out of this?
Would it be okay for a priest to bring the Blessed Sacrament to a Tabernacle in the sacristy during our performance? I had seen that done once. I wouldn't feel so weird singing from the altar steps if He weren't physically present off to the side... but with Him there, I'd feel like I was drawing attention away from Him and like I'm using His sanctuary as a stage, and that is definately not something I want to do.
QUESTION from Rosa on May 24, 2004
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on May 28, 2004
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Dear Rosa: I agree with you. The Nave is not a concert hall, and the sanctuary area is very holy ground that is not to be walked on by anyone unless they have be consecrated to do so, like a priest or deacon or a man installed in the ministry acolyte or Lector. or to one temporarily deputed to serve at Mass (a non-installed extraordinary minister). Otherwise no one should be tramping their feet on this holy ground. In addition, in my view, it is a sacrilege to have show-biz (and that includes religious concerts) in the Church, and especially common conversation and loitering during intermissions. I pray for those who, before or after Mass, stand around in the Church chit-chatting. The priest removing our Lord to another location is at least making lip service to reverence to our Lord, but I still feel it is wrong to use the Church for concerts and such; and the choir in the Sanctuary is TOTALLY disrespectful and the Holy Sanctuary of our Lord and God is not a stage. The Church has been sanctified (set apart for sacred purposes) and thus cannot be used, in my view, and I believe in the traditional view of Church thinking, for non-worship/liturgical/prayer purposes. Performances should be in the Fellowship Hall, or a rented hall. There is NO excuse to not have the performance elsewhere as far as I am concerned. If I was in your choir, I would refuse to participate. That is me. You will have to make your own decision according to your conscience. We will be praying for you.
God Bless, |