BENEDICTION (Adoration and Blessing With the Sacred Host) ~ by Ethel Cooley

This liturgical action is a devotion to the Sacred Host outside the Eucharist. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the monstrance (a receptacle in which the consecrated Host, in a pyx, is held and displayed) outside the Eucharistic Celebration.

Historically,around the 15th Century, this devotion spread rapidly and became a custom, in order to look upon the Sacred Host apart from the Eucharistic Celebration. It has always been considered that the adoration is laudable but it doesn't replace the Grace we receive in the Eucharistic Celebration. Hence the Adoration to the Eucharist is reserved after the Eucharistic Celebration.

The following are the widely practiced procedures for Benediction:

1. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in an appropriate Altar. The Priest, Deacon, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or someone deputed by the Bishop may act as a Minister to expose the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance.



2. After the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in an appropriate Altar, incense, prayers, songs, meditations, prayers of the faithful, scripture passages are usually done, according to the timeframe. The Minister incenses the exposed Blessed Sacrament.



3. After a period of Adoration, the whole congregation kneels and recites the Eucharistic Hymn, which is usually Tantum Ergo. (The last two stanzas of the Pange Lingua.)



4. Benediction. The ordained minister puts on the humeral veil. With this veil covering his hands, he grasps the monstrance, makes the Sign of the Cross over the people, during which a small bell would be rung.



5. After the Benediction/Blessing, all recite together the Divine Praises, during which the minister reposes the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle.



6. There can be a concluding hymn at the closure.

The benefits of Benediction are numerous and speaks volumes. It is factual, that in France at Our Lady of Lourdes, most of the miracles take place during the candlelit Benediction. Also the individual lives of the Saints were enriched by the Adoration. Teresa of the Child Jesus said, "One hour with the Lord, would be the precious moment in anyone's lives." Because it is there that we know him and he knows us.

St. Anthony of Padua had a profound experience in and through Adoration. Teresa of Avila spent most of her time in blessed Adoration and she knew all that was going on around the world, as Jesus used to communicate to her during the Adoration. Of late, Mother Theresa used to spend at least one hour before the Blessed Sacrament before she took any steps.

Note: Frances Pope asked Fr. Andrew to elaborate on Benediction. Fr. Andrew requested me to write an article to the blog to attempt to explain the meaning and nature of Benediction.