Eastern Catholic Benediction

[Resurrexi]

The priest, standing before the holy table, begins aloud:

BLESSED + is our God, at all times now and always and for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

While the priest incenses the Blessed Sacrament, the people say:

Let the Armies of heaven be present, and all the hosts of the holy angels. Let them stand with fear before their Creator and God, deeply worshiping Him who is most good, Jesus. He who is feared by the Cherubim is present now, in an invisible manner, hidden under the sensible species. We see Him, and we see Him not, for He is the visible and invisible God.
-Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O Lord!

The priest: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O Lord!


R. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory to You, O Lord!

Together: O our God and our Hope, glory to You!

While the people are chanting the last Alleluia, the priest incenses. At the end of the chanting, the priest blesses with the covered holy Host saying:

May God the Father bless you, + He who saved us through the Incarnation of his beloved Son.

R. Amen.

- May God the Son bless you, + He who gave us the admirable Sacrament of his love.

R. Amen.

- May God the Holy Spirit bless you, + He who sanctified us by his awe-inspiring descent.

R. Amen.

- Glory be to the holy, consubstantial, life-giving and indivisible Trinity, now and always and for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

The priest places the covered Host on the holy table and incenses it while the people say:

IT IS INDEED a tremendous miracle to see God taking flesh and becoming man, and a greater miracle still to see Him suspended on the cross. But the highest of all miracles, O Christ our God, is your ineffable presence under the mystic species. Truly You did institute, through this great Sacrament, a remembrance of all your marvels. How merciful of You, O God, to give Yourself as food to those who fear You! To recall your covenant forever, and to remember your passion and your death until the day of your glorious coming! Let us, O faithful, receive our food and our life, our King and our Saviour, and cry out: "Save, O Lord, those who worship your glorious and venerable presence."

The priest replaces the Host in the tabernacle, while the people recite the

HYMN TO CHRIST IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST

CHRIST, having loved his own, loved them until the end, and gave them his body and blood as food and drink. Therefore let us adore them with veneration and say with fear: "Glory to your presence, O Christ! Glory to your compassion, glory to your condescension, O You who alone are the Lover of Mankind!"

The priest: Glory to You, our God! Glory to You!

- O Christ, our true God, O You who gave us your body and your blood as food and drink for our salvation, through the intercession of your Mother all-pure and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us! Amen.

Together: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord, Jesus Christ, our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

[Era Might]

How old is this service? I was under the impression that the Eucharist is traditionally not exposed in the East, as it is in the West.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Era Might' post='1889778' date='Jun 13 2009, 04:37 PM']How old is this service? I was under the impression that the Eucharist is traditionally not exposed in the East, as it is in the West.[/quote]

In the wake of the process of de-Latinization undertaken by many Eastern Catholic Churches since the 1960's, the rite of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Corpus Christi processions have largely disappeared from their liturgical lives, even though many great champions of pure Byzantine use such as Andrei Sheptytsky and Joseph Slipyj supported the retention of these acts of worship to the Blessed Sacrament. However, some Melkite and Ukrainian churches continue to have these rites. Keep in mind that many Greek Catholic parishes that set aside the rite of Benediction did so not so much out of any "anti-Latin" prejudice as out of a preference to make use of other Eastern services (Hours, etc.) and devotions (Akathists, for instance).

[url="http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/06/light-from-east-iii-melkite-catholic.html"]http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/06/l...e-catholic.html[/url]

Edited June 13, 2009 by Resurrexi

[Apotheoun]

The Latin practice of Benediction of the Eucharist makes little sense in an Eastern Church that follows the Typikon correctly, because the Holy Doors and curtain are only to be opened at certain specified points during the liturgy, and so the altar cannot be seen outside of those appointed times.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889809' date='Jun 13 2009, 07:02 PM']The Latin practice of Benediction of the Eucharist makes little sense in an Eastern Church that follows the Typikon correctly, because the Holy Doors and curtain are only to be opened at certain specified points during the liturgy, and so the altar cannot be seen outside of those appointed times.[/quote]

Benediction is a liturgical service.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889873' date='Jun 13 2009, 06:15 PM']Benediction is a liturgical service.[/quote]
No, it is a para-liturgical devotion, and it is not an Eastern practice, which is why it is not in the typikon. Moreover, the altar is rarely seen in an Eastern Church that follows the typikon correctly because even when the curtain is open the holy doors remain closed, and so it makes no sense to display anything upon the altar. It is the iconostasis that functions in the role that the West gives to the exposed Eucharist.

Taking Latin para-liturgical practices, or private devotions, or theological formulations, into the Eastern Churches is ultimately destructive of Eastern praxis and theology.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889885' date='Jun 13 2009, 08:28 PM']No, it is a para-liturgical devotion, and it is not an Eastern practice, which is why it is not in the typikon. Moreover, the altar is rarely seen in an Eastern Church that follows the typikon correctly because even when the curtain is open the holy doors remain closed, and so it makes no sense to display anything upon the altar. It is the iconostasis that functions in the role that the West gives to the exposed Eucharist.

Taking Latin para-liturgical practices, or private devotions, or theological formulations, into the Eastern Churches is ultimately destructive of Eastern praxis and theology.[/quote]

In the Roman Rite at least, the Benediction itself, along with the last to stanzas of "Pange Lingua" are considered liturgical. I would say that, since this practice first developed in the West and was then brought to the East, that it is liturgical in the East as well. Since it is a liturgical ceremony, there should be no problem with opening the holy doors while it is going on.

As to ceremonies like Benediction being destructive to Eastern praxis, perhaps the Latin West should get rid of the blessing of palms and procession with them on Palm Sunday, since that ceremony, which originated in the East, detracts from the simplicity of the Roman Rite.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Resurrexi

[OraProMe]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889885' date='Jun 13 2009, 08:28 PM']No, it is a para-liturgical devotion, and it is not an Eastern practice, which is why it is not in the typikon. Moreover, the altar is rarely seen in an Eastern Church that follows the typikon correctly because even when the curtain is open the holy doors remain closed, and so it makes no sense to display anything upon the altar. It is the iconostasis that functions in the role that the West gives to the exposed Eucharist.

Taking Latin para-liturgical practices, or private devotions, or theological formulations, into the Eastern Churches is ultimately destructive of Eastern praxis and theology.[/quote]

My Latin Rite parish has booklets entitled "Devotion to the Mother of God" and it has a whole lot of Eastern Catholic prayers in their. I don't see what's wrong with Eastern Catholics adoring the Blessed Sacrament. We're all in the same Church and we all worship the one God. Why not enrich eachothers liturgical lives with our own heritage?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889901' date='Jun 13 2009, 06:48 PM']In the Roman Rite at least, the Benediction itself, along with the last to stanzas of "Pange Lingua" are considered liturgical. I would say that, since this practice first developed in the West and was then brought to the East, that it is liturgical in the East as well. Since it is a liturgical ceremony, there should be no problem with opening the holy doors while it is going on.[/quote]
It is a recent Latinization, and that is why it is being expunged from our Churches. Rome has advised the hierarchies of each of the Eastern Catholic Churches that they should be able to use the liturgical books of the corresponding Eastern Orthodox Church, and those books most certainly do not contain Latin para-liturgical services like Exposition and Benediction.

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889901' date='Jun 13 2009, 06:48 PM']As to ceremonies like Benediction of the most holy Sacrament being destructive to Eastern praxis, perhaps the Latin West should get rid of the blessing of palms and procession with them on Palm Sunday, since that ceremony, which originated in the East, detracts from the simplicity of the Roman Rite. [/quote]
The West should be faithful to its own tradition, just as the East should be faithful to its patristic patrimony. That said, in the Eastern Churches the Holy Eucharist is not supposed to be stared at; instead, it is to be consumed. Exposition and Benediction are Latin practices that have absolutely no place in the Eastern Churches.

Resurrexi,

You seem most intent on Latinizing the Eastern Churches, and I find your attitude offensive and degrading.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889919' date='Jun 13 2009, 08:59 PM']The West should be faithful to its own tradition, just as the East should be faithful to its patristic patrimony. That said, in the Eastern Churches the Holy Eucharist is not supposed to be stared at; instead, it is to be consumed. Exposition and Benediction are Latin practices that have absolutely no place in the Eastern Churches.[/quote]

Throughout the history of the Church, there has been a lot of trans-ritual diffusion between the West and the East. I would argue that Benediction is one legitimate example of this.

Far from discouraging the reception of Holy Communion as you seem to imply by, "The Holy Eucharist is not supposed to be stared at; instead, it is to be consumed," devotion to the Blessed Sacrament outside of the Eucharistic Liturgy leads the faithful to receive more frequently and with greater devotion.

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889919' date='Jun 13 2009, 08:59 PM']You seem most intent on Latinizing the Eastern Churches, and I find your attitude offensive and degrading.[/quote]

I find your attitude that the Ecumenical Councils of Florence, Trent and Vatican I were merely local synods to be offensive and degrading to the dogmas which those councils defined.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Resurrexi

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889938' date='Jun 13 2009, 07:09 PM']Throughout the history of the Church, there has been a lot of trans-ritual diffusion between the West and the East. I would argue that Benediction is one legitimate example of this.

Far from discouraging the reception of Holy Communion as you seem to imply by, "The Holy Eucharist is not supposed to be stared at; instead, it is to be consumed," devotion to the Blessed Sacrament outside of the Eucharistic Liturgy leads the faithful to receive more frequently and with greater devotion.[/quote]
Devotion to the Eucharist outside of the liturgy is a Western development that has no place in the East. Eastern Catholics are to celebrate the divine liturgy according to the customs of our Eastern Orthodox brothers, as the Vatican itself has stated on several occasions.

What you do not seem to be able to grasp is the fact that the liturgical and theological bigotry of Latin Catholics over the past two hundred years in the United States (and other countries) has inflicted great harm upon the Eastern Catholic Churches. In the United States alone more than half of all Orthodox Christians were once Eastern Catholic, but the misguided and punitive actions of the Latin bishops in America in relation to the Eastern Catholic Churches caused mass conversions to Orthodoxy among our members. Thankfully Cardinal Keeler some years ago apologized for the improper actions of the Latin episcopate in the United States, but the apology -- as kind as it was -- does not change the fact that the Latin Church in America harmed (often intentionally) the Eastern Catholic Churches in order to try and secure ascendancy for Latin liturgical, spiritual, and theological customs.

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889938' date='Jun 13 2009, 07:09 PM']I find your attitude that the Ecumenical Councils of Florence, Trent and Vatican I were merely local synods to be offensive and degrading to the dogmas which those councils defined.[/quote]
Many of the things taught at those Western councils are contrary to our Tradition because they involve Scholastic theological formulations that have their foundation in pagan philosophy, which our Churches condemned more than one thousand years ago as inappropriate, and so to accept them would be to embrace the false notion that the Catholic Church is -- by its very nature -- a Latin, medieval, and Scholastic entity. I, as an Eastern Catholic, will never accept any of the fourteen Western councils as ecumenical, because to do so would require that I repudiate the patrimony of the Eastern Fathers, and I will never do that.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Apotheoun

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889945' date='Jun 13 2009, 09:18 PM']What you do not seem to be able to grasp is the fact that the liturgical and theological bigotry of Latin Catholics over the past two hundred years in the United States (and other countries) has inflicted great harm upon the Eastern Catholic Churches. In the United States alone more than half of all Orthodox Christians were once Eastern Catholic, but the misguided and punitive actions of the Latin bishops in America in relation to the Eastern Catholic Churches caused mass conversions to Orthodoxy among our members. Thankfully Cardinal Keeler some years ago apologized for the improper actions of the Latin episcopate in the United States, but the apology -- as kind as it was -- does not change the fact that the Latin Church in America harmed (often intentionally) the Eastern Catholic Churches in order to try and secure ascendancy for Latin liturgical, spiritual, and theological customs.[/quote]

I completely understand the bad effects of the extreme liturgical Latinization that occurred in previous centuries. I do not support forcing Eastern Catholics to celebrate their liturgy in Latin, or having Eastern servers wear cassocks and surplices, or making Eastern priests celebrate the Divine Liturgy with leavened bread. I agree that those kind of Latinizations, and others like them, were very harmful on the Eastern liturgy.

In past centures, Eastern Catholic Benediction often included the Body of Christ having the appearance of leavened bread, a monstrance exactly like those used in Latin churches, and [i]Tantum Ergo[/i] chanted in Latin. I agree that Eastern Benediction celebrated in that manner would be an example of harmful Latinization. The rite of Benediction in the original post of this thread, however, is a ceremony that is completely in line with Eastern liturgy. As was mentioned in an earlier post, many of those who were strong supporters of de-Latinization of the Eastern liturgy also supported the Byzantine retention of Benediction.

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889945' date='Jun 13 2009, 09:18 PM']Many of the things taught at those Western councils are contrary to our Tradition[/quote]

No dogma ever defined by an Ecumenical Council of the Church has ever been contrary to Sacred Tradition.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Resurrexi

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889959' date='Jun 13 2009, 07:35 PM']In past centures, Eastern Catholic Benediction often included the Body of Christ having the appearance of leavened bread, a monstrance exactly like those used in Latin churches, and [i]Tantum Ergo[/i] chanted in Latin. I agree that Eastern Benediction celebrated in that manner would be an example of harmful Latinization. The rite of Benediction in the original post of this thread, however, is a ceremony that is completely in line with Eastern liturgy. As was mentioned in an earlier post, many of those who were strong supporters of de-Latinization of the Eastern liturgy also supported the Byzantine retention of Benediction.[/quote]
Benediction and Exposition are Latin practices. If an Eastern Catholic wishes to go to such a service he should attend a Latin parish for that purpose. It is offensive in my view to expose the Eucharist in an Eastern Church, because it is contrary to our tradition, which has always held -- as the Latins used to hold -- that the Eucharist is so sacred that it should always be veiled in the Holy of Holies. We will never agree.

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889959' date='Jun 13 2009, 07:35 PM']No dogma ever defined by an Ecumenical Council of the Church has ever been contrary to Sacred Tradition.[/quote]
We will never agree. Trent, Florence, Lyon I and II, etc., are not ecumenical councils; and moreover, they taught error on several issues, and so I will never accept the theories espoused at those local synods as dogma.

Edited June 14, 2009 by Apotheoun

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1889962' date='Jun 13 2009, 09:39 PM']We will never agree. Trent, Florence, Lyon, etc., are not ecumenical councils; and moreover, they taught error on several issues, and so I will never accept the theories espoused there as dogma.[/quote]

It is not possible for the Ecumenical Councils of the Universal Church to have taught error in defining dogmas.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1889966' date='Jun 13 2009, 07:43 PM']It is not possible for the Ecumenical Councils of the Universal Church to have taught error in defining dogmas.[/quote]
I agree, and that is why I have said to you over and over that those particular synods of the Latin Church are not, nor will they ever be, ecumenical.