| Eucharistic Adoration St. Peter Chanel's Catholic Church 848 Ballarat Road, DEER PARK. 24 Hours a day 7 days a week (In the chapel) ***************** |
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| Adoring the Blessed Sacrament ============================================================ To understand what adoring the Blessed Sacrament is all about, you need to understand Catholicism's perspective on the Holy Eucharist. So we're going to take a roundabout way of getting to the tradition itself. Catholicism has three perspectives on the Holy Eucharist: Sacrifice: The same sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross for the remission of sins occurs during Mass at the Consecration in the form of the Holy Eucharist. This is called a sacrifice, because Jesus, the Son of God , is being offered by the priest to God the Father. Sacred Banquet: After the Consecration of the Mass, wherein what was wine and bread became the real body and blood of Christ, the faithful walk up to the altar to receive the Holy Eucharist. Entering a person's body, soul, mind and heart all at once, Jesus - really, truly, and substantially - in the Holy Eucharist is placed on the tongue or in the hand. This is called a sacred banquet because the Holy Eucharist is food and nourishment for the soul. Blessed Sacrament: Catholics believe that this is Christ himself - his real, true body and blood, soul and divinity, and substantial presence under the appearances of a wafer or bread. Some Christian religions regard it as a symbolic, spiritual, or moral presence, but Catholic Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy staunchly hold to his Real presence in the Eucharist. So the Eucharist, whether in the tabernacle or in the monstrance on the altar, warrants the same adoration and worship given only to God. This is called the Blessed Sacrament, because of all the seven sacraments, this one not only gives divine grace, but it's also God himself. The Holy Eucharist, also known as the Blessed Sacrament, is placed in a monstrance and left on the altar for public adoration and worship - 24/7 in some churches. Catholics consider it a great privilege and blessing to be able to adore the Blessed Sacrament, however, Jesus must never be left exposed in the monstrance without anyone in attendance. So those parishes that offer adoration 24/7, which is called Perpetual Adoration, also maintain a list of individual parishioners who commit about one holy hour - usually the same hour each week - to private adoration, saying prayers, such as the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet, silently in the company of Jesus. The Eucharist should never be exposed at home. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament can only take place in a church, a chapel, or and oratory, but adoration and Benediction can't take place during Mass. Benediction A formal service, Benediction takes place while adoring the Blessed Sacrament and can only occur if a priest or a deacon leads it. Sacred scripture is read, a homily may be preached, the Rosary may be said, and silent prayer is offered. At the end, the priest, his shoulders enveloped in a special stole called a humeral veil, blesses the faithful kneeling in attendance with Jesus exposed in the monstrance, making the sign of the cross. During Mass, a priest wears a chasuble, a coloured outer garment, but during Benediction, the priest wears the humeral veil over a cope, the gold or white full - length liturgical cape worn for Eucharistic devotions. By covering his hands with the humeral veil, the priest or deacon symbolizes that the blessing being given isn't his own as a sacred and ordained minister (as at the end of Mass), but the blessing of Christ himself present in the Holy Eucharist contained in the monstrance. Bells are normally rung three times as the blessing is given with the Blessed Sacrament. Candles surround the monstrance that holds the Blessed Sacrament resting on the altar. That same Blessed Sacrament is incensed. As a sign that the people are now in the presence of divinity, incense is burned in a container and waved in front of the monstrance. Benediction also consists of the singing of certain hymns (often in Latin) and litanies, such as the Divine Praises, that follow: Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chase spouse. Blessed be God in His angels and in His saints. *********************** (From Catholicism for Dummies pp, 293-296. Wiley Publications: NY, 2003) |
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