Profaned Church

Each Friday at Ball State the men meet at 7:00a.m. to pray the rosary. This morning when I arrived there were guys in the chapel, but no tabernacle. Since the church is being renovated, we thought somebody had moved the tabernacle somewhere. After a few phone calls and searches, we realized the tabernacle had been stolen. We were in a somber mood as we prayed the rosary. A few hours later while I was driving, I even cried. There was something very disturbing and upsetting about having the tabernacle and the Blessed Sacrament stolen.

Did you know that if a church is profaned or the Eucharist is desecrated in a church, the church may no longer be used for worship? Before it can be used again, the Rite of Reconciliation for a Profaned Church must be performed. The bishop told our chaplain to perform the rite. I have never seen nor read about the rite before.

We arranged the chapel for Mass and then all processed outside the church. The priest wore a cope. The rite began with the sign of the cross and then the recitation of several penitential Psalms. Afterwards, the priest sprinkles the outside of the church and the church door with holy water, then blesses the outside. Then we all processed in. More penitential Psalms were recited by the priest, prayers were read, and almost every interior surface of the chapel was sprinkled with holy water, including the altar. Afterwards prayers were read and the altar was dressed for Mass by putting altar cloths on it and lighting the candles. The church could now be used for worship again. We celebrated a Mass of forgiveness, the color being violet.

It was a valuable reminder for all of us that we should take the Blessed Sacrament more seriously. Pray for the safe return of the Blessed Sacrament and the tabernacle. Pray for the people who did this, that they may confess and be forgiven.