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HOLY
COMMUNION AND WORSHIP
OF THE EUCHARIST OUTSIDE MASS
(Published by the CBCI Commission for Liturgy – NBCLC Ban galore
1980)
The Sacrament of the Eucharist is Christ’s gift to his bride, the Church.
Worship of the Eucharist outside the Mass springs from, and directs Christians back to the Mass itself, and the real reason for reserving the Blessed Sacrament, is to allow those who cannot attend Mass in the ordinary way to be one with Christ in his redeeming death by their sharing in the Sacrament.
Eucharistic worship in its turn, by which we honor the Sacrament
as we honor God also derives from the custom of reserving consecrated hosts
for the purpose of communion This worship is based on sound theology and in
some of its forms was started by the church.
3) “When the faithful honour the Blessed Sacrament, they are offering
true worship to the one true God …”
9) A place of some beauty should be chosen for the reservation of the Blessed
Sacrament. It should be suitable for private prayer so that the habit of paying
visits to the Blessed Sacrament may be encouraged.
Forms of worship of the Holy Eucharist
79. The Eucharistic sacrifice is the source and culmination of the whole Christian life. Both private and public devotion toward the Eucharist, therefore, including devotion outside Mass, are strongly encouraged when celebrated according to the regulations of lawful authority
80. When the faithful honor Christ present in the Sacrament,
they should remember that this presence is derived from the sacrifice and is
directed toward sacramental and spiritual communion.
The same piety which moves the faithful to “Eucharistic Adoration”
attracts them to a deeper participation in the paschal mystery.
It makes them respond gratefully to the gifts of Christ who by his humanity
continues to pour divine life upon the members of his body.
Living with Christ the Lord, they achieve a close familiarity with him and in
his presence pour out their hearts for themselves and for those dear to them;
they pray for peace and for salvation for the world.
Offering their entire lives with Christ to the Father in the Holy Spirit, they
draw from this wondrous exchange an increase of Faith, Hope and Love.
Thus they nourish the proper dispositions to celebrate the memorial of the Lord
as devotedly as possible and to receive frequently the bread given to us by
the Father. The faithful should make every effort to worship Christ the Lord
in the Sacrament, depending upon circumstances of their own life.
* Pastors should encourage them in this by example and
word.
81. Prayer before Christ the Lord sacramentally present extends the union with
which the faithful have reached in communion. It renews the covenant which in
turn moves them to maintain in their lives what they have received by faith
and by the sacraments
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPOSITION AND THE MASS
82. Exposition of the Holy Eucharist either in the ciborium or in the monstrance, is intended to acknowledge Christ’s marvellous presence in the Sacrament. Exposition invites us to the spiritual union with him that culminates in sacrametal communion. Thus it fosters very well the worship which is due to Christ in Spirit and in truth.
Extract from the Encyclical letter “ Ecclesia De Eucharistia” of Pope John Paul II (Dt 17 April 2003)
25. The worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church. This worship is strictly linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The presence of Christ under the sacred species reserved after Mass -- a presence which lasts as long as the species of bread and of wine remain -- derives from the celebration of the sacrifice and is directed towards communion, both sacramental and spiritual.
It is the responsibility of Pastors to encourage, also by their personal witness, the practice of Eucharistic adoration, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in particular, as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the Eucharistic species.
It is pleasant to spend time with him, to lie close to his
breast like the Beloved Disciple (cf. Jn. 13:25) and to feel the infinite love
present in his heart. If in our time Christians must be distinguished above
all by the ‘art of prayer’, how can we not feel a renewed need to
spend time in spiritual converse, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love before
Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament? How often, dear brothers and sisters,
have I experienced this, and drawn from it strength, consolation and support!
This practice, repeatedly praised and recommended by the Magisterium, is supported
by the example of many saints. Particularly outstanding in this regard was Saint
Alphonsus Liguori, who wrote: "Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus
in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest
to God and the one most helpful to us". The Eucharist is a priceless treasure:
by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we
are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace. A Christian community
desirous of contemplating the face of Christ in the spirit which I proposed
in the Apostolic Letters Novo Millennio Ineunte and Rosarium Virginis Mariae
cannot fail also to develop this aspect of Eucharistic worship, which prolongs
and increases the fruits of our communion in the body and blood of the Lord.
Dear friends, this article does not seek to teach or preach,
but rather to share my own experience of people whose lives have been transformed
through Eucharistic Adoration - One grace all received was “ To let go,
to Trust and to Accept God’s Will ”
There were others who whose faith helped to elevate my own. These people were
going to parishes which had Blessed Sacrament chapels - even Prathnalaya as
they could not find that ‘Quiet place’ at home, nor did they have
chapels in their parish.. They, no doubt, had churches, but they were often
engaged for other legitimate activities like classes, parish meetings, prayer
meetings, weddings and funerals. They could easily engage in ‘community
prayer’ but found it hard to engage in ‘Personal Prayer’.
I hope through this sharing I have highlighted the yearning in people for contemplative
personal prayer. May we enjoy His Sacred Presence Always.
Fr .Tony Robins,
St Theresa Church, Airoli