Eucharistic Adoration

[tonyofpadua]

Hi y'all.

My student parish has recently started doing eucharistic adoration on Wednseday nights. I was just wondering if there were any guidlines, or rules, for how to conduct it. Like, for instance, at my home parish, we always ended with the divine praises (Blessed be God...etc.). Right now, all they do is bring out the monstrance, and walk around the church with incense at the start. At the end, they just walk the monstrance back to the tabernacle. I was just wondering if there were things that[i] had[/i] to be done in terms of procedure, or if things like the divine praises are at the discretion of the parish, or whoever's conducting the adoration. I hope my question makes sense. I'd just appreciate your input.

God bless,

Tony

Edited October 27, 2006 by tonyofpadua

[Red Knight]

I thought initially that I could answer your question, but my parish has perpetual adoration, so it's always there in the chapel.

[Theoketos]

I hope the "They" in your story is a priest. Look in Canon Law.

[tonyofpadua]

[quote name='Theoketos' post='1103688' date='Oct 28 2006, 10:52 PM']
I hope the "They" in your story is a priest. Look in Canon Law.
[/quote]

Oh how I wish it was. Unfortunatly, the "they" is just trained "mass coordinators." Where is canon law? How do I find it?

[veroni213]

I'm not an expert at all...so whoever can feel free to correct me but its sounds like this parish isn't having benediction, just exposition. I don't think you need a priest if you are just exposing the Blessed Sacrament.

Edited November 1, 2006 by TrueImage

[Resurrexi]

Because laypeople aren't allowed to touch the sacred vessels or the sacred species.

[journeyman]

[quote name='tonyofpadua' post='1103932' date='Oct 29 2006, 03:39 AM']
Oh how I wish it was. Unfortunatly, the "they" is just trained "mass coordinators." Where is canon law? How do I find it?
[/quote]


[url="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM"]Code of Canon Law at the Vatican[/url]

This may not be what you really want:
Can. 2 For the most part the Code does not define the rites which must be observed in celebrating liturgical actions. Therefore, liturgical laws in force until now retain their force unless one of them is contrary to the canons of the Code.

One mention:
Can. 898 The Christian faithful are to hold the Most Holy Eucharist in highest honor, taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice, receiving this sacrament most devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the highest adoration. In explaining the doctrine about this sacrament, pastors of souls are to teach the faithful diligently about this obligation.

CHAPTER II.

THE RESERVATION AND VENERATION OF THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST

Can. 934 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist:

1/ must be reserved in the cathedral church or its equivalent, in every parish church, and in a church or oratory connected to the house of a religious institute or society of apostolic life;

2/ can be reserved in the chapel of the bishop and, with the permission of the local ordinary, in other churches, oratories, and chapels.

§2. In sacred places where the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved, there must always be someone responsible for it and, insofar as possible, a priest is to celebrate Mass there at least twice a month.

Can. 935 No one is permitted to keep the Eucharist on one’s person or to carry it around, unless pastoral necessity urges it and the prescripts of the diocesan bishop are observed.

Can. 936 In the house of a religious institute or some other pious house, the Most Holy Eucharist is to be reserved only in the church or principal oratory attached to the house. For a just cause, however, the ordinary can also permit it to be reserved in another oratory of the same house.

Can. 937 Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, the church in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is to be open to the faithful for at least some hours every day so that they can pray before the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Can. 938 §1. The Most Holy Eucharist is to be reserved habitually in only one tabernacle of a church or oratory.

§2. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is to be situated in some part of the church or oratory which is distinguished, conspicuous, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.

§3. The tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved habitually is to be immovable, made of solid and opaque material, and locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is avoided as much as possible.

§4. For a grave cause, it is permitted to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist in some other fit-ting and more secure place, especially at night.

§5. The person responsible for the church or oratory is to take care that the key of the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is safeguarded most diligently.

Can. 939 Consecrated hosts in a quantity sufficient for the needs of the faithful are to be kept in a pyx or small vessel; they are to be renewed frequently and the older hosts consumed properly.

Can. 940 A special lamp which indicates and honors the presence of Christ is to shine continuously before a tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved.

Can. 941 §1. In churches or oratories where it is permitted to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist, there can be expositions with the pyx or the monstrance; the norms prescribed in the liturgical books are to be observed.

§2. Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament is not to be held in the same area of the church or oratory during the celebration of Mass.

Can. 942 It is recommended that in these churches and oratories an annual solemn exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament be held for an appropriate period of time, even if not continuous, so that the local community more profoundly meditates on and adores the eucharistic mystery. Such an exposition is to be held, however, only if a suitable gathering of the faithful is foreseen and the established norms are observed.

Can. 943 The minister of exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament and of eucharistic benediction is a priest or deacon; in special circumstances, the minister of exposition and reposition alone without benediction is the acolyte, extraordinary minister of holy communion, or someone else designated by the local ordinary; the prescripts of the diocesan bishop are to be observed.

Can. 944 §1. When it can be done in the judgment of the diocesan bishop, a procession through the public streets is to be held as a public witness of veneration toward the Most Holy Eucharist, especially on the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

§2. It is for the diocesan bishop to establish regulations which provide for the participation in and the dignity of processions.




[url="http://www.spiritdaily.org/Quickhive%20articles/adorationrules.htm"]An article bemoaning the increasing promulgation of rules and the restriction of the practice[/url]


[url="http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/HISTOREA.HTM"]History of Eucharistic Adoration: Development of Doctrine, by John Hardon (EWTN)[/url]


[url="http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/pea/history.htm"]From The Real Presence website, which contains much of Fr. Hardon's work[/url]

[shortnun]

[quote name='StThomasMore' post='1109209' date='Nov 2 2006, 05:58 PM']
Because laypeople aren't allowed to touch the sacred vessels or the sacred species.
[/quote]
I'm only familiar with the recent directing stating that laity cannot [i]purify [/i]the communion vessels. Could you elaborate on (cite support for) your statement please?

[beatty07]

There are rubrics, in the Order for Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist.

There is a distinction between Benediction or solemn exposition, and what we might call simple exposition. Benediction is done by a priest or deacon. In any solemn exposition (servers + incense), a priest or deacon presides. However, an instituted acolyte or an authorized extraordinary minister of the Eucharist may expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration in other circumstances.

Reposition of the Sacrament may also be done by an extraorinary minister. Note: if a priest or deacon is present, he must perform the exposition and reposition, rather than another. The following from zenit points out that the monstrance shouldn't really be carried in procession by a layperson:

[url="http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46954"]http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46954[/url]

The divine praises seem to be a widely practiced tradition in association with Eucharistic adoration, but there is no liturgical problem with their omission.

regarding laypeople touching the sacred vessels, I have no idea where that is coming from. I have celebrated Mass with plenty of Bishops and Cardinals where laypeople assisted as sacristans or in cleansing the vessels. N.B. "cleansing" does not equal "purifying." The recent document only specifies purifying.

Hope this helps

Edited November 4, 2006 by beatty07

[Matty_boy]

It would also be good not to play your guitar, flute, banjo, or any other instruments in the chapel when other people are around. There was a large hispanic population in my hometown, and it was not uncommon to go into the chapel and have a silent meditation interrupted by a hispanic person deciding that music is what everyone in the chapel needs.

I only say hispanic because those were the only people I saw doing such things. It's great to praise the Lord with one's talents, but not at the expense of the prayer and meditation of others in a specific place of silent worship.

[Resurrexi]

[quote]I'm only familiar with the recent directing stating that laity cannot purify the communion vessels. Could you elaborate on (cite support for) your statement please?[/quote]

I'm not talking about any recent document. I'm talking about the Sacred Tradition of the Holy Catholic Church

[cwc83]

it would be correct that if a extraordinary minister of the Eucharist can proform the exposition and reposition. benediction however i believe needs to be done by a priest or deacon. the new rule handed down i believe the priest can be the only one to purify chalaces and the patons durring mass or directly following. clensing and purifying in this sense would be the same. i'm glad this rule has been handed down. many a chalace have i seen put away with out purifying correctly. at camp this summer i took over this job because i saw that the ministers weren't doing it right. now i can rest because the priest will do it.

[beatty07]

Just a few clarifications, since I'm not sure we're all defining terms the same way:

Either a priest or a deacon may purify. "Cleansing" usually means the further washing of already-purified vessels. Cleansing in this sense may be done by anyone.

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='beatty07' post='1112800' date='Nov 6 2006, 01:58 PM']
Just a few clarifications, since I'm not sure we're all defining terms the same way:

Either a priest or a deacon may purify. "Cleansing" usually means the further washing of already-purified vessels. Cleansing in this sense may be done by anyone.
[/quote]

Get a copy of The Rites (Catholic Book Publishing). It contains the officials rites for Adoration Outside of Mass. When in doubt, call your diocesan Director of Pryaer and Worship. They will direct you to the appropriate resources.

Edited November 28, 2006 by VaticanIILiturgist