Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Marian Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament

ROME, OCT. 18, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.

In the wake of our column of Oct. 4, a reader wrote: "I understand that praying the rosary during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is perfectly fine. But can we pray the rosary with the leader before the altar of the Virgin on the side, while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the central altar?"

There are no official rules to cover such a situation, probably because it never occurred to anybody that this would arise.

I would say that liturgical logic would avoid this arrangement. By remaining at the side altar, the leader would inevitably draw attention away from the Blessed Sacrament. This would be unfortunate, since the act of adoration of Christ's divine presence always holds precedence over the act of veneration toward an image of his Blessed Mother.

This is no lack of respect toward Mary, as she is most honored and most pleased whenever her Son is adored.

At the same time, there is no contradiction in adoring the Son while simultaneously venerating the Mother if an image is present in the vicinity of the Blessed Sacrament exposed, especially if the rosary takes place on a Marian feast.