Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Adoration Without Exposition
ROME, FEB. 2, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Pursuant to our commentaries on adoration without exposition (Jan. 19), a reader from Columbus, Ohio, outlined this case: "I know of a situation where a priest goes to the tabernacle and brings the Blessed Sacrament to the altar and places it in the monstrance before the students of the school come to the church for Benediction. Only one person is present in the church while the priest leaves and comes back to the church later for Benediction. When the liturgy of Benediction begins, the Blessed Sacrament is already displayed on the altar. Also, should the priest presiding at Benediction leave the sanctuary and go to the confessional to hear confessions while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed?"
While the procedure described is perhaps imperfect, it is not, strictly speaking, contrary to the liturgical law with respect to a simple exposition. The presence of at least one person at all times is necessary for exposition, so this rule appears to be fulfilled.
There is also a specific rule that the Blessed Sacrament may not be exposed just to impart Benediction. Thus, if the students arrive only for Benediction, then it is correct that they should find the Blessed Sacrament already exposed and somebody in adoration.
Preferably, though, the best procedure would be to await the arrival of the students, expose the sacrament with song, have about 20 minutes of adoration and then give Benediction.
Regarding the second question, since exposition and Benediction are two separate liturgical acts, there is no difficulty, and may even be commendable, for a priest to hear confessions while the faithful are engaged in adoration.
A Chicago priest had asked earlier: "Is it ever proper or permissible to have exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament right before the celebration of Mass on the same altar and in the same church?"
Again, it would be incorrect to expose the Blessed Sacrament only to give Benediction, but the norms foresee the possibility of longer periods of adoration on the same altar upon which Mass is celebrated.
If the exposition ends before the Mass, then Benediction may be given before the celebration but as separate celebrations. This means that after Benediction the priest and other ministers should return to the sacristy, change to appropriate Mass vestments, and form a new procession.
If adoration is to continue after Mass, then the Blessed Sacrament may be simply reserved before Mass and restored after it is over. However, this should not be done more than twice in one day.
Pursuant to our commentaries on adoration without exposition (Jan. 19), a reader from Columbus, Ohio, outlined this case: "I know of a situation where a priest goes to the tabernacle and brings the Blessed Sacrament to the altar and places it in the monstrance before the students of the school come to the church for Benediction. Only one person is present in the church while the priest leaves and comes back to the church later for Benediction. When the liturgy of Benediction begins, the Blessed Sacrament is already displayed on the altar. Also, should the priest presiding at Benediction leave the sanctuary and go to the confessional to hear confessions while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed?"
While the procedure described is perhaps imperfect, it is not, strictly speaking, contrary to the liturgical law with respect to a simple exposition. The presence of at least one person at all times is necessary for exposition, so this rule appears to be fulfilled.
There is also a specific rule that the Blessed Sacrament may not be exposed just to impart Benediction. Thus, if the students arrive only for Benediction, then it is correct that they should find the Blessed Sacrament already exposed and somebody in adoration.
Preferably, though, the best procedure would be to await the arrival of the students, expose the sacrament with song, have about 20 minutes of adoration and then give Benediction.
Regarding the second question, since exposition and Benediction are two separate liturgical acts, there is no difficulty, and may even be commendable, for a priest to hear confessions while the faithful are engaged in adoration.
A Chicago priest had asked earlier: "Is it ever proper or permissible to have exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament right before the celebration of Mass on the same altar and in the same church?"
Again, it would be incorrect to expose the Blessed Sacrament only to give Benediction, but the norms foresee the possibility of longer periods of adoration on the same altar upon which Mass is celebrated.
If the exposition ends before the Mass, then Benediction may be given before the celebration but as separate celebrations. This means that after Benediction the priest and other ministers should return to the sacristy, change to appropriate Mass vestments, and form a new procession.
If adoration is to continue after Mass, then the Blessed Sacrament may be simply reserved before Mass and restored after it is over. However, this should not be done more than twice in one day.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
3:44 PM
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