Benediction Returns on the First Sunday of February

Beginning next Sunday, February 3rd, Fr. Andrew will again be offering Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament to our people on the first Sunday of each month. This special devotion to the mystery of Jesus' presence in the Holy Eucharist will take place at the end of the Sunday Mass.

If you missed the original blog article about the history of Benediction, please click the following link:

http://stelizabethcc.blogspot.com/2007/07/benediction-adoration-and-blessing-with.html

The ritual for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is as follows:

1. The priest places the consecrated Host in a monstrance so that it can be viewed by the people for adoration. See the picture above.

2. At this time, a hymn of praise, such as the Latin or English version of Pange Lingua is sung as the priest incenses the Blessed Sacrament. This is a time of adoration, where the people pray quietly in order to come in closer spiritual communion with the Lord.

3. At the end of the period of adoration, the priest again incenses the Blessed Sacrament as the hymn of praise, the Tantum Ergo in Latin or English, is sung.

4. The priest then puts on the humeral veil, which is a special white rectangular cloth worn so as to cover the back and shoulders of the priest. Its two ends hang down in front and are used to hold the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament. To prevent its falling from the shoulders, the humeral veil is fastened with clasps or ribbons attached to the border. The use of this article probably dates back to the end of the Middle Ages.

5. The priest then blesses the people with the Blessed Sacrament, making the sign of the cross with the monstrance. After the blessing, the priest returns the Blessed Sacrament to the tabernacle.

6. There can be a concluding hymn at the end of the service.


~ Image by Two Hearts Design