13
Nov
MORE ON EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. In part 14 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church US Bishops’ document, I explain the rubrics guiding who may, and how to conduct 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.
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Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s (aka ‘Mother Teresa’) “The time you spend with Jesus |
RUBRICS FOR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. A lit Sanctuary Lamp near a Tabernacle signifies that Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, is there. To engage more of our senses in worship, the Blessed Sacrament may be ‘exposed’ so we can more easily ‘adore’ Christ. It was once permissible to simply open the Tabernacle door. Neither the 1973 document ‘Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass’ nor the 2004 document ‘On Certain Matters to be Observed or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy Eucharist’ forbid this – but they offer two options making it unnecessary: 1) conducting Eucharistic Adoration using a Ciborium – or 2) a Monstrance.
WHAT’S A CIBORIUM? Latin for ‘covered container,’ a ‘ciborium’ is a metal vessel that holds the Eucharist. It is also Latin for ‘cup,’ so some ciboria look like capped chalices. We have a large ciborium that holds the Hosts in the Tabernacle. To distribute Holy Communion, we have 3 sets: a pewter set for Advent/Lent; a simple brass set for Ordinary Time; and a festive brass set for Christmas, Easter, Weddings, Funerals, and other special times. It is permissible to place a Ciborium on a Corporal on an Altar to adore the Eucharist.
WHAT’S A MONSTRANCE? From the Latin word ‘to demonstrate,’ a ‘Monstrance’ ‘displays’ a Consecrated Host as seen in the photo. It is also called an Ostensorium, from the Latin ‘ostendere’ or ‘to show.’ Often cruciform or cross-shaped, it may be studded with gems or jewels, icons, images or statuettes; made of precious metals, they cost from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars! A smaller ‘Luna’ or ‘Lunette’ (from the Latin word ‘Lunar’ or ‘Moon,’ which it resembles), containing a Consecrated Host, is placed in the Monstrance. In the Tabernacle, the ‘Luna’ is kept in a leather or cloth pouch, or in a metal pyx similar to what we use to bring Holy Communion to the Sick and Homebound.
WHO LEADS EUCHARISTIC ADORATION? In normal circumstances, an Ordained Minister, in vestments proper to his level: Deacon, Priest or Bishop, conducts the Service. If he is absent or impeded, a trained Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EM) or suitable Lay Person may lead; while no dress code is stipulated, local custom permits Lay Ministers, as do our Altar Servers, to wear an alb or cassock and surplice. In some places, like in shore areas, Lay Readers and EMs also wear liturgical garb. The only further restriction is only Ordained Ministers give the Eucharistic Blessing by making a profound Sign of the Cross over all with the Blessed Sacrament.
WHO INCENSES THE BLESSED SACRAMENT? While the 1992 document, ‘Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist,’ under ‘Signs of Reverence to the Blessed Sacrament’ states “incense may be used” (#10) … it then states that “It is not lawful (for Lay Ministers) to give the blessing with the Sacrament, nor do they incense it.” (#26) However, while the 1975 2nd edition of the Roman Missal makes no mention of it, the 2008 3rd edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that “If incense is used (at holy Mass), when the host and chalice are shown to the people after the Consecration, a minister incenses them.” (#150) These contradictory directives obviously require further clarification, as in many places, Lay Ministers (Altar Servers) incense the Blessed Sacrament! Next week: the rubrics for the Rite of Eucharistic Adoration.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
MORE ON EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. In part 14 of my series on The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church US Bishops’ document, I explain the rubrics guiding who may, and how to conduct 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.
|
Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s (aka ‘Mother Teresa’) “The time you spend with Jesus |
RUBRICS FOR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. A lit Sanctuary Lamp near a Tabernacle signifies that Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, is there. To engage more of our senses in worship, the Blessed Sacrament may be ‘exposed’ so we can more easily ‘adore’ Christ. It was once permissible to simply open the Tabernacle door. Neither the 1973 document ‘Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass’ nor the 2004 document ‘On Certain Matters to be Observed or to Be Avoided Regarding the Most Holy Eucharist’ forbid this – but they offer two options making it unnecessary: 1) conducting Eucharistic Adoration using a Ciborium – or 2) a Monstrance.
WHAT’S A CIBORIUM? Latin for ‘covered container,’ a ‘ciborium’ is a metal vessel that holds the Eucharist. It is also Latin for ‘cup,’ so some ciboria look like capped chalices. We have a large ciborium that holds the Hosts in the Tabernacle. To distribute Holy Communion, we have 3 sets: a pewter set for Advent/Lent; a simple brass set for Ordinary Time; and a festive brass set for Christmas, Easter, Weddings, Funerals, and other special times. It is permissible to place a Ciborium on a Corporal on an Altar to adore the Eucharist.
WHAT’S A MONSTRANCE? From the Latin word ‘to demonstrate,’ a ‘Monstrance’ ‘displays’ a Consecrated Host as seen in the photo. It is also called an Ostensorium, from the Latin ‘ostendere’ or ‘to show.’ Often cruciform or cross-shaped, it may be studded with gems or jewels, icons, images or statuettes; made of precious metals, they cost from a few hundred to many thousands of dollars! A smaller ‘Luna’ or ‘Lunette’ (from the Latin word ‘Lunar’ or ‘Moon,’ which it resembles), containing a Consecrated Host, is placed in the Monstrance. In the Tabernacle, the ‘Luna’ is kept in a leather or cloth pouch, or in a metal pyx similar to what we use to bring Holy Communion to the Sick and Homebound.
WHO LEADS EUCHARISTIC ADORATION? In normal circumstances, an Ordained Minister, in vestments proper to his level: Deacon, Priest or Bishop, conducts the Service. If he is absent or impeded, a trained Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EM) or suitable Lay Person may lead; while no dress code is stipulated, local custom permits Lay Ministers, as do our Altar Servers, to wear an alb or cassock and surplice. In some places, like in shore areas, Lay Readers and EMs also wear liturgical garb. The only further restriction is only Ordained Ministers give the Eucharistic Blessing by making a profound Sign of the Cross over all with the Blessed Sacrament.
WHO INCENSES THE BLESSED SACRAMENT? While the 1992 document, ‘Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist,’ under ‘Signs of Reverence to the Blessed Sacrament’ states “incense may be used” (#10) … it then states that “It is not lawful (for Lay Ministers) to give the blessing with the Sacrament, nor do they incense it.” (#26) However, while the 1975 2nd edition of the Roman Missal makes no mention of it, the 2008 3rd edition of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that “If incense is used (at holy Mass), when the host and chalice are shown to the people after the Consecration, a minister incenses them.” (#150) These contradictory directives obviously require further clarification, as in many places, Lay Ministers (Altar Servers) incense the Blessed Sacrament! Next week: the rubrics for the Rite of Eucharistic Adoration.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS