WHY IS EUCHARISTIC ADORATION A RITE? In part 7 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church Bishops’ document, I offer a history of Eucharistic Adoration. Past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, are on our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org; click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles. I begin with words from a familiar Eucharistic hymn; all its lyrics offer a ‘crash course’ in our venerable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
‘O Sacrament Most Holy’ – verse 1 & refrain O Jesus, we adore you, Who, in your love divine, |
OUR BELIEF FROM DAY ONE. An often-raised question from non-Catholics – and even Catholics – is: why did Eucharistic Adoration ‘only begin’ in the 13th/14th Century? They then go on to deduce that the Catholic Church did not believe in Christ’s Real, True Eucharistic Presence until that time; but nothing could be further from the truth! As a brief recap of Church history shows, there are many reasons why Eucharistic Adoration SEEMS to be a ‘latecomer’ to our doctrines and rites.
AD 33-300’s. On Easter evening, the Risen Lord revealed His REAL PRESENCE to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus “…in the breaking of the bread” [Luke 24:13-35] The first Christians “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) After asking: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16), Saint Paul then condemned all who receive Eucharist unworthily; why would he be so upset if it were just ‘regular food?’ And Saint Justin Martyr (died: 165) wrote in defense of Christians accused of being cannibals because of their belief in Christ’s Real Presence!
4TH – 11TH CENTURIES. After the Roman Empire ‘legalized’ the Church, persecutions ended, and she began to formalize her teachings and rites. Records show that in the 300’s, the Eucharist was kept in tabernacles, mostly in monasteries as the ‘Parish Church’ structure we know had not yet been developed. The ‘reserved’ Sacrament was kept mainly so that the sick and those who lived in communities without a Priest could receive weekly or even daily Holy Communion. Ancient tabernacles were crafted to look like: a tomb or church, from which the Risen Lord came forth; a dove, the biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit and peace; or a pelican, who pecks off her own flesh to feed her young, as Christ feed us with His own Body and Blood. By the 11th Century, it was normative that every church had a Tabernacle.
12th – 20th CENTURIES. Then things changed as some said Christ was only symbolically present, as a mere memorial, not as a way of participating in His Sacrifice. This ‘forced’ the Church to define more clearly – and honor with communal rites – Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. And as an over-emphasis on human sinfulness became more prevalent, fewer actually received the Sacrament. In 1215, the Easter Duty was promulgated, which requires all Catholics of age to receive Holy Communion at least once a year!
For centuries, the focal point was then the elevation of the Host and Chalice, which were added to the holy Mass. New rites, which help us honor and adore the Blessed Sacrament: Benediction, Eucharistic Processions, Forty Hours, etc., became more popular. The feast of Corpus Christi, now called the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ was created; we still use some of the orations and hymns written by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) for that feast!
TODAY’S CHURCH. In the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the Council Fathers stressed our need to learn – or relearn – the importance of regularly receiving and properly honoring the great gift of Eucharist. In the weeks to come, based on the 6 orations offered at Eucharistic Adoration or Benediction, I will reflect on the 6 various aspects of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
WHY IS EUCHARISTIC ADORATION A RITE? In part 7 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church Bishops’ document, I offer a history of Eucharistic Adoration. Past articles on this Revival, the whole document, and a free study guide, are on our Parish website: stmaryrutherford.org; click on National Eucharistic Revival Bulletin Articles. I begin with words from a familiar Eucharistic hymn; all its lyrics offer a ‘crash course’ in our venerable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
‘O Sacrament Most Holy’ – verse 1 & refrain O Jesus, we adore you, Who, in your love divine, |
OUR BELIEF FROM DAY ONE. An often-raised question from non-Catholics – and even Catholics – is: why did Eucharistic Adoration ‘only begin’ in the 13th/14th Century? They then go on to deduce that the Catholic Church did not believe in Christ’s Real, True Eucharistic Presence until that time; but nothing could be further from the truth! As a brief recap of Church history shows, there are many reasons why Eucharistic Adoration SEEMS to be a ‘latecomer’ to our doctrines and rites.
AD 33-300’s. On Easter evening, the Risen Lord revealed His REAL PRESENCE to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus “…in the breaking of the bread” [Luke 24:13-35] The first Christians “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” (Acts 2:42) After asking: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16), Saint Paul then condemned all who receive Eucharist unworthily; why would he be so upset if it were just ‘regular food?’ And Saint Justin Martyr (died: 165) wrote in defense of Christians accused of being cannibals because of their belief in Christ’s Real Presence!
4TH – 11TH CENTURIES. After the Roman Empire ‘legalized’ the Church, persecutions ended, and she began to formalize her teachings and rites. Records show that in the 300’s, the Eucharist was kept in tabernacles, mostly in monasteries as the ‘Parish Church’ structure we know had not yet been developed. The ‘reserved’ Sacrament was kept mainly so that the sick and those who lived in communities without a Priest could receive weekly or even daily Holy Communion. Ancient tabernacles were crafted to look like: a tomb or church, from which the Risen Lord came forth; a dove, the biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit and peace; or a pelican, who pecks off her own flesh to feed her young, as Christ feed us with His own Body and Blood. By the 11th Century, it was normative that every church had a Tabernacle.
12th – 20th CENTURIES. Then things changed as some said Christ was only symbolically present, as a mere memorial, not as a way of participating in His Sacrifice. This ‘forced’ the Church to define more clearly – and honor with communal rites – Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. And as an over-emphasis on human sinfulness became more prevalent, fewer actually received the Sacrament. In 1215, the Easter Duty was promulgated, which requires all Catholics of age to receive Holy Communion at least once a year!
For centuries, the focal point was then the elevation of the Host and Chalice, which were added to the holy Mass. New rites, which help us honor and adore the Blessed Sacrament: Benediction, Eucharistic Processions, Forty Hours, etc., became more popular. The feast of Corpus Christi, now called the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ was created; we still use some of the orations and hymns written by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) for that feast!
TODAY’S CHURCH. In the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the Council Fathers stressed our need to learn – or relearn – the importance of regularly receiving and properly honoring the great gift of Eucharist. In the weeks to come, based on the 6 orations offered at Eucharistic Adoration or Benediction, I will reflect on the 6 various aspects of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS