Adoration after Holy Thursday Mass

[Holland]

We are having adoration after Holy Thursday Mass which continues to Good Friday eve. Most other churches are only doing it till midnight. Are we suppose to do it till midnight or continue on till Good Friday Eve?

 

[Phemie]

We are having adoration after Holy Thursday Mass which continues to Good Friday eve. Most other churches are only doing it till midnight. Are we suppose to do it till midnight or continue on till Good Friday Eve?

You can have adoration until Good Friday but “From midnight onward, however, the adoration should be made without external solemnity, for the day fo the Lord’s passion has begun.” Paschale Solemnitatis # 56

“The faithful should be encouraged to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable period of time during the night, according to local circumstances, but there should be no solemn adoration after midnight.” Roman Missal, last rubric for Holy Thursday.

 

[Holland]

Could you give me a link where I could read about this? I Googled it and got a 175,000 hits. I went through the first 10 or so and couldn’t find anything. I also look on USCB site and couldn’t find anything either. Thanks!

 

[Phemie]

Could you give me a link where I could read about this? I Googled it and got a 175,000 hits. I went through the first 10 or so and couldn’t find anything. I also look on USCB site and couldn’t find anything either. Thanks!

Many documents can be found on the Vatican website (vatican.va) but I couldn’t find Paschale Solemnitatis (1988) there. OTOH, there is a newer document DIRECTORY
ON POPULAR PIETY AND THE LITURGY PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES Vatican City
December 2001which says

Holy Thursday

Visiting the Altar of Repose

1. Popular piety is particularly sensitive to the adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the wake of the Mass of the Lord’s supper(145). Because of a long historical process, whose origins are not entirely clear, the place of repose has traditionally been referred to as a “a holy sepulchre”. The faithful go there to venerate Jesus who was placed in a tomb following the crucifixion and in which he remained for some forty hours.

It is necessary to instruct the faithful on the meaning of the reposition: it is an austere solemn conservation of the Body of Christ for the community of the faithful which takes part in the liturgy of Good Friday and for the viaticum of the infirmed(146). It is an invitation to silent and prolonged adoration of the wondrous sacrament instituted by Jesus on this day.

In reference to the altar of repose, therefore, the term “sepulchre” should be avoided, and its decoration should not have any suggestion of a tomb. The tabernacle on this altar should not be in the form of a tomb or funerary urn. The Blessed Sacrament should be conserved in a closed tabernacle and should not be exposed in a monstrance(147).

After mid-night on Holy Thursday, the adoration should conclude without solemnity, since the day of the Lord’s Passion has already begun(148).

145, 146, 147, 148 are all references to Paschale Solemitatis. The difference in the wording may be simply due to a particular translator.

 

[benedictgal]

Could you give me a link where I could read about this? I Googled it and got a 175,000 hits. I went through the first 10 or so and couldn’t find anything. I also look on USCB site and couldn’t find anything either. Thanks!

Here is the link:

adoremus.org/PaschaleSolemnitatis.html

Adoremus has an excellent online liturgical library of all of the authoritative documents of the Holy See. I hope this helps.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

That is very interesting. I have occasionally had cause to wonder what nuns whose apostalate is perpetual adoration do after midnight on Holy Thursday. Now, I assume they continue their adoration, but Jesus is in the Tabernacle rather than the monstrance.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

What constitutes “external solemnities”?

 

[Sunflower15]

In my parish the Adoration Chapel will be closed from Thursday at 8am to Sunday [can’t remember the time]…I’m suffering already! Why so long?

I’ll miss both my holy hours, Th midnight and Sat noon, besides the mornings in between…

It seems they could leave Him there longer…

 

[benedictgal]

In my parish the Adoration Chapel will be closed from Thursday at 8am to Sunday [can’t remember the time]…I’m suffering already! Why so long?

I’ll miss both my holy hours, Th midnight and Sat noon, besides the mornings in between…

It seems they could leave Him there longer…

Actually, your parish is doing the right thing. Imagine how the Blessed Mother felt when she knew that her Son was in the tomb for three days.

 

[Holland]

Thanks for all the info!

“From midnight onwards, however, the adoration should be made without external solemnity, for the day of the Lord’s Passion has begun.” (62)

So what exactly does external solemnity mean?

 

[Phemie]

Thanks for all the info!

“From midnight onwards, however, the adoration should be made without external solemnity, for the day of the Lord’s Passion has begun.” (62)

So what exactly does external solemnity mean?

In our parish it means that at midnight the candles are blown out, leaving only a solitary red ‘5 day’ candle to indicate the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[Phemie]

That is very interesting. I have occasionally had cause to wonder what nuns whose apostalate is perpetual adoration do after midnight on Holy Thursday. Now, I assume they continue their adoration, but Jesus is in the Tabernacle rather than the monstrance.

He’s not supposed to be in a monstrance before midnight. There is to be no exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Blessed Sacrament must be in a covered pyx or in a Tabernacle.

 

[Sunflower15]

Actually, your parish is doing the right thing. Imagine how the Blessed Mother felt when she knew that her Son was in the tomb for three days.

Which reminds us of when he was lost for 3 days and was found in the Temple. A foreshadowing…
When praying the Rosary, I always connect those 2.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

He’s not supposed to be in a monstrance before midnight. There is to be no exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Blessed Sacrament must be in a covered pyx or in a Tabernacle.

So what do Perpetual Adoration nuns do from Holy Thursday Mass to Easter Vigil?

 

[Sunflower15]

So what do Perpetual Adoration nuns do from Holy Thursday Mass to Easter Vigil?

The Stations of the Cross, the Adorations of the Holy Cross, the Tridium…Holy Week itself! In my parish there’s SO much going on!

 

[Marsha_Adams]

The Stations of the Cross, the Adorations of the Holy Cross, the Tridium…Holy Week itself! In my parish there’s SO much going on!

In your parish, yes, I totally agree. But do you know this for certain about the cloistered nuns whose entire vocation is perpetual adoration?

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Holland thanks for asking the external question again. As mine was not answered.

PS I grew up in Zeeland , MI. My sister lives in Holland , MI

 

[benedictgal]

Holland thanks for asking the external question again. As mine was not answered.

PS I grew up in Zeeland , MI. My sister lives in Holland , MI

I would hazard a guess and say that the externals would involve whatever goes on during a normal benediction: incense, organ music, chanting, prayers, etc. The adoration should be in silence.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

I would hazard a guess and say that the externals would involve whatever goes on during a normal benediction: incense, organ music, chanting, prayers, etc. The adoration should be in silence.

You can have adoration until Good Friday but “From midnight onward, however, the adoration should be made without external solemnity, for the day fo the Lord’s passion has begun.” Paschale Solemnitatis # 56

I am only guessing too, but I suspect that external means outside the temporary tabernacle on the Altar of Repose. The Eucharist should not be visible during this time of silent adoration.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

We are having adoration after Holy Thursday Mass which continues to Good Friday eve. Most other churches are only doing it till midnight. Are we suppose to do it till midnight or continue on till Good Friday Eve?

Only until midnight, not after.