V.

Continuing on the explanation of the Catholic Mass, we saw last time the significance of the Altar in the Church.

“The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 295). Then you find the tabernacle in the sanctuary. There is a lamp always found in front of the tabernacle.

Tabernacle lamp: the small red flicker of the flame burning before tabernacle – a sign that Christ is truly Emmanuel, “God among us.” In the Old Testament, God told Moses that a lamp filled with the pure oil should perpetually burn in the Tabernacle (Ex 27:20-21). This is the precedent for the Catholic Church’s custom of burning a candle (at all times) before the tabernacle – the gold house where the Eucharistic Body of Christ is reserved under lock and key.

According that zealous Doctor of the Church, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, it would be a grave sin to leave the altar of the Blessed Sacrament without this candle or lamp burning for any prolonged length of time, such as a day or several nights (St. Alph. Lig., VI, 248).

When the Mass begins the altar is the center of attention in the Church not the Tabernacle. On the altar Christ is performing his last supper and the sacrifice on Calvary. Both combined are re-enacted at the mass. The real presence in the tabernacle is the result of Jesus’ action at the Last supper and the sacrifice on the Cross. When the mass is not done the tabernacle is the center of the Catholic Church. When the mass takes place, the altar takes prominence.

Protestants often note that Catholic churches always seem to be open to the public, whereas Protestant congregations are typically closed throughout the week. The difference is the Holy Eucharist. Praying in a Catholic church before the Eucharist is different than praying at home. Christ is substantially present in the tabernacle. The lamp is always burning in the Catholic Church – it is a sign saying, “Christ is here in the Holy Eucharist within this tabernacle. His heart is burning with love for you.” Mystically, Christ is the “true light which enlightens every man” (Jn 1:9).

Catholic Churches are designed mostly to reflect not only what it worships but also what it believes. In every case, the church buildings firmly establish a sacred place to be used for worship of the triune God, both in private devotion and in public liturgy, and they make Christ's presence firmly known in their surroundings.

As the Protestants believe that Bible alone is sufficient, their churches are designed only to celebrate the word of God. Therefore their churches are designed mostly in a theater like model where the music and preaching is done from the stage. And the congregation is allowed to recline and relax and they are allowed to carry drinks or anything that would help them enjoy the celebration. Families with little children would feel more comfortable there than in a Catholic Church where one does not have a very comfortable seating arrangements. One may have to sit, kneel, stand and process to communion during the liturgy which is not the case in a non-Catholic Churches. You are entertained more in a non-Catholic Church by the different variety music and preaching. But the Catholic Churches do not have that option. The priests are not allowed to change anything from the prescribed text of the Mass. The Church has been following the same thing for centuries as they have been handed down from the first century.  Here the focus is God, not ourselves. While in a Non-Catholic Church it is the worshiper the focus and the church is made to fit to that purpose. For the Catholic Church the Mass is the center and summit of everything done in the Church. The Church has been built on the tradition of the Apostles and so there is no scope for change.