A Year of Adoration BY DOMINICAN FATHER GABRIEL B. O'DONNELL
Since Pope John Paul II proclaimed this to be the Year of the Eucharist, the Knights of Columbus Catholic Information Service has received a number of questions about eucharistic devotion.
In this Year of the Eucharist the pope is calling all Catholics to enter into a more intimate relationship with Christ by drawing closer to his presence in the Eucharist. The transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ is effected by the action of the Holy Spirit during the holy sacrifice of the Mass. But that change does not terminate with the end of Mass. Christ continues to be present, "body and blood, soul and divinity," in the eucharistic bread and wine, the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle.
It is this real, enduring, physical presence of Christ, under the appearances of bread and wine, that is the foundation for eucharistic devotion outside of Mass.
DEEPENING A FRIENDSHIP WITH CHRIST The traditional practice of making a "visit" to Our Lord, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, is strongly encouraged by Pope John Paul II in several of his writings on the Eucharist. To stop at a church and spend a few moments in conversation with Christ, present in the tabernacle, or in silent adoration is one of the most effective means for deepening our friendship with him.
The simple acts of genuflection and kneeling before the tabernacle express our faith and confidence in the power of Christ to convert and sanctify us. These gestures manifest our faith in the permanent presence of Jesus Christ in the eucharistic species, that is, in the consecrated host that has become his body and in the consecrated wine which has become his precious blood. Only the host is reserved in the tabernacle, but Christ is present, whole and entire, in either species of the Eucharist.
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS In some dioceses a growing number of parishes have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on a daily basis. Often this is located in a special chapel separate from the main church. In some instances adoration is perpetual, meaning that it continues 24 hours a day. Since exposition requires someone always to be present in prayer and adoration, the challenge and sacrifice required to provide around-the-clock adorers is great. So are the spiritual benefits.
During exposition of the Blessed Sacrament the consecrated host is ordinarily placed in a monstrance, a stand made of precious metal. The monstrance allows the host to be seen by all present. Christ is not more present in exposition, but our ability to gaze upon the sacred host is a powerful means to strengthen devotion and to bring our thoughts back when our attention wanders and distractions carry us far afield.
Many Catholics find in exposition a source of strength in bearing the sorrows and difficulties of daily life. They come to realize that they are not alone as they leave the adoration chapel. Christ, present in the eucharistic species, becomes their companion through the rest of the day. The silence and focus of a period of adoration flow from the action of the liturgy, of the Mass, and provide the leisure to relish the presence and nearness of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. There is a unique atmosphere of prayer in a chapel of adoration.
SOLEMN BLESSING Many parishes have a weekly holy hour in which songs, readings and prayers, interspersed with times of silent adoration, are directed to the person of Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. The exposed Blessed Sacrament is the focal point of these celebrations. The hour concludes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, the liturgical action in which the congregation is solemnly blessed by the priest with the Blessed Sacrament.
During such a holy hour, all prayers, readings and songs are directed to Christ. The rosary, because of its unique Christological and Marian character, may always be used, but one does not normally have prayers to our Blessed Mother or the saints during a eucharistic holy hour.
The private holy hour is a practice popular among priests and laity alike. Whether in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle or at home, one spends an hour in prayer and silent meditation. Most often the reading of Scripture or the praying of parts of the Liturgy of the Hours make up a good portion of such a holy hour. Silent meditation is an important element of such a time of prayer, and other vocal prayers such as the rosary, various litanies or prayers of devotion complete the hour.
As in any relationship, one must spend time with the beloved so that love may increase and grow strong. Christ is always present to us in the Eucharist. We are called to learn the way of being present to him. •
The Catholic Information Service offers two booklets on the Eucharist that readers may find helpful: Questions and Answers on the Eucharist (#312) and Catholic Worship: The Eucharist (#114). To order, send $1 (US/CAN) to Columbia, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326. All funds received are used to defray printing and mailing costs. The books may also be downloaded from the Order's Web site, www.kofc.org. From the home page, click on the "Catholic Information Service" link under the "Catholic Highlights" section at the left of the page.
