I was alarmed by a statistic I heard this weekend. Only 27% of Catholics in the United States believe in the real presence. The doctrine of the real presence is at the very heart of the Catholic faith. The doctrine of the teal presence is the belief that Jesus is really, physically, present in the form of bread and wine. This idea draws together all the central teachings of Christian faith. It is the incarnation, the redemption, the resurrection, the unity of the body of Christ, and the promise and foretaste of heaven. If we don’t believe in the real presence, we might as well close the church and rent out the space.

I believe that much of the liturgical experiment that began thirty years ago has failed. We are not holier, nor more  Christ-centered  now than we were then.    In fact, we are facing a generation of young people who are largely lost to the church because we have not given them the precious gift that is at the heart of Catholicism, that is, the Real Presence of Jesus.     Mass has become simply a drama,  a vehicle for whatever agenda is currently popular.     The church building is no longer a place of encounter with the Lord but a sort of a social center, not a place of prayer, rather a place of chatter.

In many churches including our own, the Tabernacle was moved from the center of the church to add emphasis to Mass and the presence of the Lord in the reception of Holy Communion. The experiment, however, has failed. We have lost the sense of the sacred that formerly was the hallmark of Catholic worship. The behavior of many in the church is outrageous. When Mass is over it is impossible to spend time in prayer. The noise level reaches the pitch that one would expect at a sporting event. The kiss of peace seems like New Year’s Eve. Christ is forgotten on the altar.

You may counter that He is present in the gathering of the Church, and though this is true, it should not detract from the Lord present on the altar.     If the Lord is truly recognized in the congregation, it should serve to enhance the sacredness of the moment.     This is simply not happening.

The sign of peace in most churches has all the sacredness of an Elks convention, no offense to the Elks.        We  are  teaching our children by what we do and the way we are behaving that there is nothing special about that little white round thing.     It’s just a piece of bread.      Usually wedding photographers  set  up  their  equipment  right in front of the tabernacle and I have to ask them to move.   They have no idea what that little box is for. Worse still, I remember walking into church one afternoon to find some of the men of the parish smoking and drinking beer directly in front of the tabernacle as they worked on some "liturgical" project or other. After Mass on Sunday the church is littered with cigarette butts, gum wrappers, the refuse of snacks, broken toys brought to entertain unruly children, and all manner of filth.

         Therefore,    I have decided to restore the  tabernacle  to its former place in the middle of the sanctuary and to begin a campaign of reeducation as to the sacredness of worship and the meaning of the Real Presence. This means that I will nag and nag until a sense of the sacred is restored. I will be reminding you that a respectful quiet will have to be maintained in church.    Food and toys and socializing are welcome elsewhere, but the church is the place for an encounter with the Living God. It will not be a popular policy, but this is unimportant.

If you object please tell me why. I will not begin this change until July. Let me know what you think. I can hear one objection already. Where will the priest sit? I will sit where the priest has traditionally sat over on the side of the sanctuary. Here as in many churches the "presider’s" chair was placed where the tabernacle had been. I am sick of sitting on the throne that should belong  to  my  Lord.     The  dethronement  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  has  resulted  in  the enthronement of the clergy, and I for one am sick of it.

The Mass has become priest-centered. The celebrant is everything. I am a sinner saved by grace as you are and not the center of the Eucharist.    Let me resume my rightful place before the Lord rather than instead of the Lord. I am ordained to the priesthood of Christ in the order of presbyter, and as such I do have a special and humbling role.      I am older brother in the Lord and with you I seek to follow him and to worship.      Please,   please let me return Christ to the center of our life together where he belongs.