Adoration Behind Plexiglass

[dUSt]

Here's my question...

Would it be possible to have an adoration chapel built where the monstrance is behind plexiglas or some type of bullet-proof glass, therefore protecting the Body from theft or vandalism--and also eliminating the need for someone to always be present?

[franciscanheart]

like so there could be one in the phatmass studio?

[zabbazooey]

I've never heard of it

[dUSt]

[quote name='hugheyforlife' date='Sep 6 2005, 02:35 PM']like so there could be one in the phatmass studio?
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No. I actually don't feel that the studio would be an appropriate place for that. I was thinking about this idea for actual churches.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Sep 6 2005, 02:38 PM']No. I actually don't feel that the studio would be an appropriate place for that. I was thinking about this idea for actual churches.
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It's an interesting thought but I'm not sure it would work so much. Would the plexiglass really be considered a wall? If so then the faithful kneeling before it would actually be in a different room. It might be good for security reasons to have some sort of barrier but I'm not sure it would work as a 'wall' so that it was unnecessary for someone to be present while it was exposed.

[dUSt]

Also, if the issue is that the Body cannot be left exposed at all, even behind glass, unless someone is present... then what about having the monstrance be kept inside a tabernacle behind the plexiglass, and then when someone comes in, they can flip a swicth and the tabernacle doors would mechanically open, and then can be closed when the person leaves.

[Theoketos]

Seems reasonable to me. Let me look into the Code of Canon Law and come back.

[jezic]

interesting comments.

I wonder if they thought of things like this when they were writing the code of canon law.

[franciscanheart]

That seems like it would work, complicated but possible. Would the issue though of someone other than a priest opening the tabernacle be an issue? Technically the ordinary people coming in would be activating the opening of the tabernacle. It's an interesting thought though and I'm curious to know if it would work.

[Era Might]

I don't like the idea of the Holy Eucharist remaining exposed while there is no Parish representative there to monitor it. I suppose it's possible, but inadvisable, IMO.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Sep 6 2005, 02:54 PM']I don't like the idea of the Holy Eucharist remaining exposed while there is no Parish representative there to monitor it. I suppose it's possible, but inadvisable, IMO.
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That would be the point of the tabernacle and the switch that could open it only if someone was present. Of course there is the issue of a lay person opening the tabernacle and then of course someone forgetting to close it before leaving.

[p0lar_bear]

While this could be done to protect the Eucharist, that would not remove the need for someone to be there. The point of having someone always present isn't about protection (though that is generally a beneficial side-effect), it's about adoration and respect. The Eucharist would still be exposed and an adorer would still need to be present.

In the document Eucharistiae Sacramentum (Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass), the Church instructs, “This kind of exposition, however, may take place only if there is assurance of a reasonable participation of the faithful.” The Church adds in the same document:

[quote]Where there cannot be uninterrupted exposition because there is not a sufficient number of worshipers, it is permissible to replace the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle at fixed hours that are announced ahead of time.  But this may not be done more than twice a day, for example, at midday and at night. [/quote]

The second quote would seem to indicate that having something set up so adorers essentially expose the Eucharist themselves (by opening the tabernacle) would not be acceptable. If there is going to be perpetual adoration, it cannot be halted more than twice a day. If adorers can open and close the tabernacle at will, it is most likely that it would be opened and closed more than twice a day

[Tony]

leave it up to a piece of plexiglass to protect Jesus, I dunno.. it seems as if that was our responsibility. Next thing you know, someone will want those lasers that art museums use

[Fides_et_Ratio]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Sep 6 2005, 03:42 PM']Also, if the issue is that the Body cannot be left exposed at all, even behind glass, unless someone is present... then what about having the monstrance be kept inside a tabernacle behind the plexiglass, and then when someone comes in, they can flip a swicth and the tabernacle doors would mechanically open, and then can be closed when the person leaves.
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... "Eucharistic Adoration of the 21st Century: Mechanical Adoration, the push-button command tabernacle... Eucharistic Adoration on command!"



It sounds really "space-agey" to me. I'm not sure how well I like that idea...

[Brother Adam]

I think P0lar_bear has adequately answered the question. Ironically there is a glass window in the Port adoration chapel, between the faithful and the monstronce, but it would still be possible to lift the entire structure and walk off with it.

[p0lar_bear]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Sep 6 2005, 05:47 PM']I think P0lar_bear has adequately answered the question. Ironically there is a glass window in the Port adoration chapel, between the faithful and the monstronce, but it would still be possible to lift the entire structure and walk off with it.
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Actually, I think the tabernacle itself may be physically connected to the stand (which would be difficult to carry around campus without being noticed). They put the plexiglass up after someone had removed the Eucharist from the monstrance and walked off with it.

[Dreamweaver]

What about having a plexiglass door on the tabernacle? Or has that already been thought of and refuted?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='Sep 6 2005, 04:47 PM']I think P0lar_bear has adequately answered the question. Ironically there is a glass window in the Port adoration chapel, between the faithful and the monstronce, but it would still be possible to lift the entire structure and walk off with it.
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Does the little wooden structure (is it proper to call it a tabernacle?) lift up? I figured it was fixed down.

[Piccoli Fiori JMJ]

There was something in one of my parish's bulletins about some of these things, I know that you cannot have a box made of plexiglass or glass with a monsterance inside it... I so wish I could remember this... If one really wants to, they could look through the bulletin archives on my parish's website...

[mariology21]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Sep 6 2005, 03:32 PM']Here's my question...

Would it be possible to have an adoration chapel built where the monstrance is behind plexiglas or some type of bullet-proof glass, therefore protecting the Body from theft or vandalism--and also eliminating the need for someone to always be present?
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Yes it is possible. This is what we have at work. We have a beautiful Adoration Chapel. The Monstrance is always exposed behind a bullet-proof very thick piece of glass (the Church is in a TERRIBLE neighborhood....we have had 2 murders around here in the past 6 months.) The glass is of a special kind (not sure what though) and one cannot tell that glass is seperating you from the Monstrance. (unless of course you get up close and run into it! Don't laugh....our bishop did just that!!)

There are also beautiful drapes around the glass. If you have to leave and there isn't another Adorer in the Chapel....simple pull the drapes closed. Jesus is no longer Exposed to the room. I HATE it when I have to do that. I hate to leave Him all by Himself but at least He isn't sitting there staring at an empty room. I kind of feel like I'm "putting Him to bed."

But anyway...yes it is possible to have Him Exposed without threat of any one harming Him. I'm not sure who designed our Chapel it's only been in existence for 2 years...I think maybe our paster and Deacon designed it. But it works very well and our parish is most certainly blessed to have it!!!

~Jen