Question
What are we supposed to do for the procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday? Being a new Catholic, I've heard about a special "tomb" or receptacle that the Blessed Sacrament is supposed to go in? Our parish is new and does not have these items in storage. What do we do?
--Receptive in Raleigh
Answer
In the past, before the revision of the Sacred Triduum in 1955, there were many different practices of placing the Blessed Sacrament in vessels that resembled a tomb or other items. Many churches had several eucharistic devotions on Holy Thursday, during the day and at night. However, it is clear that there is one liturgy on this day and it must be after 4:00 p.m. contrary to previous times when there could be the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper at any hour of the day.
Preparing and Celebrating the Paschal Feasts, from the Congregation of Divine Worship in 1988 says in paragraph 55 with regard to the current practice of reserving the Blessed Sacrament after the service (with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament):
The blessed sacrament should be reserved in a closed tabernacle or pyx. Under no circumstances may it be exposed in a monstrance. The place where the tabernacle or pyx is situated must not be made to resemble a tomb . . . .Reservation of the Blessed Sacrament is to be in a place separate from the main church, in a Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Paragraph 56 says:
From midnight onward, however, the adoration should be made without external solemnity, for the day of the Lord's Passion has begun. (There is no exposition or organized prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on Good Friday because the focus moves to the veneration of the cross.)