Posted on 06/23/2004 11:09:16 AM PDT by Alfred Hitchcock
This is an interesting article, not only becasue it reports on the ghastly theft of a tabernacle from a Catholic church, but becasue it's clear that parishioners there are very concerned about profanation of the Blessed Sacrament.
Another good argument for the traditional high altar with the locking door on the tabernacle.
We had some thefts a few years ago; our Church is no longer open during the week, but the daily Mass chapel is open all day. The tabernacle is anchored with a large bolt driven through the base of the tabernacle, down a long brass tube. The end of the bolt and tube is cemented into the floor.
The tabernacle, made of a gold-plated metal, is about 1.5 feet high and 1 foot in diameter. Inside it is a ciborium, a covered cup used to hold the consecrated wafers.
"This is an extreme violation of the basis of our entire Catholic faith," Larry Prunty, who serves as chairman of the parish council, said Monday. "Without the tabernacle, our church is empty. They have taken the body of Christ from our church."
Mission members Roger and Cathy Post discovered the items missing around 1:30 p.m. Friday. The actual time of the burglary has not been determined, and it could have occurred between the night of June 13 and Friday afternoon.
The value of the stolen items, according to church officials, is in excess of $4,000.
In addition to the tabernacle, the perpetrators took every picture of Jesus that was in the church, along with several replicas of the Last Supper, including one that was believed to be several generations old.
Also stolen were table candles, angels, food and beverage items, a cooler, large rolls of aluminum foil and Saran wrap and two floral arrangements that had been dedicated in memory of deceased members of the church.
"It appears they tried to remove the ciborium but were unable to get it out because the tabernacle is locked with a key," said Prunty. "They couldn't find the key, so they took the tabernacle, although they left the lid behind."
On Sunday, the Rev. Joseph Ezharath conducted a special atonement Mass to clarify the church for the wrong done to it by the perpetrators, said Prunty.
"We consider this a very serious offense," Prunty said. "The tabernacle and its contents need to be recovered, if at all possible."
Entry to the church reportedly was gained through a basement window at the rear of the building.
"We believe it probably took more than one person and that they would have had to use a vehicle to take the items away," said Prunty.
Tyler County Chief Deputy Sheriff Tony Thomas is in charge of the investigation.
"We're talking with neighbors who live near the church to determine if anyone saw or heard any suspicious activities during the week, Thomas said.
Anyone with information about the tabernacle or ciborium is encouraged to contact either Prunty at (304) 758-4300, Ezharath at (304) 337-9837 or Thomas at (304) 758-4229.
Mission members Roger and Cathy Post discovered the items missing around 1:30 p.m. Friday. The actual time of the burglary has not been determined, and it could have occurred between the night of June 13 and Friday afternoon.The Church was left unattended for six days? That's pretty scary.
It's a "mission." That means there's no resident priest, and likely no daily mass or communion service. So, even if the Church is locked, there's no one around from Sunday to Sunday.
If the Church is going to be locked, the Blessed Sacrament should not be left there.
I'd like to see 'em try to get an entire high altar in the back of their pickup truck.
If the Church is going to be locked, the Blessed Sacrament should not be left there.No more calls, please, we have a winner.
The value of the stolen items, according to church officials, is in excess of $4,000.
A currently popular CCM tune has lyrics which say "...I'll never know how much it cost / to see my sins upon that cross..."
Looks like we've arrived at the cost, at least for insurance purposes. I wonder who Jesus' insurance agent was, and if the resurrection invalidated His whole life policy?
Some people aren't satisfied with just going to hell. They want to take the express bus.
ROFL!!!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with that one.
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