The Sanctuary of a Catholic Church:
There is g
reat significance of the layout of the Sanctuary and Altar area in a Catholic church.
The layout is not just something put together by chance, but by design. Like many things in the Catholic Church, the Sanctuary of a church is full of symbolism.
In Catholic churches, the sanctuary is the area where the altar is located and where the priest and other ministers perform their duties during Mass. It is usually elevated from the nave, where the congregation sits.
The sanctuary was historically at at the eastern end of the building (but not necessarily in newer churches) and represents heaven, while the nave, or main body of the church, symbolizes the Church as the Body of Christ.
The altar is the center piece of the Sanctuary. Additionally, there is a lectern (also known as an ambo): a stand used for reading scripture and delivering homilies. This also called the pulpit…yes, it can get confusing!
Image courtesy adoremus.org
The Tabernacle:
The Tabernacle is where the Blessed Sacrament is kept, is where Christ’s presence in the Eucharist is kept. Sadly, it is not always in a prominent place in some of the churches designed after Vatican II, although there is a trend toward restoring its place in many churches.
The Sanctuary normally has an Epistle side and a Gospel side from which the Epistle and Gospel are each read separately; however this is not always the case, especially in many newer churches.
The Epistle Side:
The Epistle Side, to the right of the altar from the congregation’s perspective, is where the Epistle, called the First Reading and the Second Reading (usually passages from the Old and New Testaments, respectively) is read and can be used by lay people.
Note that the Epistle side of the church is also informally referred to as the “Saint Joseph side” of the church because it is there a statue of him is often placed.
The Gospel Side:
The Gospel Side, to left side of the altar from the congregation’s perspective, is where where the Gospel is read from during Mass and which is reserved for clergy.
Note that the Gospel side of the church is also informally referred to as the “Mary side” of the church because it is there a statue of her is often placed. In regards to the placement of Mary, she is typically on the left, in light of the fact that placed there, she is on Jesus’ right hand from his point of view, that is someone looking out from the from the sanctuary toward the congregation.
This is in accordance with the Jewish tradition of having the Queen Mother sit at the right hand of the King. It is narrated in 1 Kings, “Bathshe′ba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adoni′jah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right” (1 Kings 2:19).
In the Tridentine Mass, which is still used by Latin Mass communities, the lectern is physically moved from the Epistle side to the Gospel side after the Epistle reading.
Not all churches have both a lectern and a pulpit (see above); some just have one single speaker’s podium called an ambo.
You can remember which side of the Church is which by taking the vantage point of Christ on the Crucifix..or from the Tabernacle if place on the altar: To His right is the Gospel (Mary side) of the Church; His left is the Epistle (Joseph side) of the Church. Mary and the Gospel are greater than Joseph and the Epistle so are at Jesus’ right.
This will be so unless there is a statue of, say, our Lord, in which case it will be placed to the right of Jesus’ vantage point from the Crucifix while Mary is to the left.
In most Catholic churches, the differentiation between epistol and gospel side has been abandoned. In older churches there was a large Ambo on the left side from which the gospel was proclaimed. It was usually elevated, and many times very ornate. A smaller lectern was on the right side, which was used for the readings or epistles, ergo a gospel and an epistle side of the altar. You may find certain Catholic churches, and high church Anglican churches still have these.