Adoration for the layperson?

[tomch]

A local Novus Ordo Catholic Church has a 24-hour Adoration chapel (with the Eucharist exposed in a monstrance). It’s a small room with kneelers - seats 6 people. I’ve been participating in this - volunteering for hours for the past 4 years, since my conversion (from fundamentalism). I had no qualms about this when I was a Novus Ordo Catholic - in fact, this time has been one of the highlights of my week.

But now I’ve “converted” to Traditional Catholicism (FSSP parish), and am having second thoughts about my participation in this local Adoration chapel. Laypeople (in our FSSP parish) approach the altar rail to receive the Eucharist, but we do not enter the Sanctuary - we maintain a respectful distance and worship in the nave of the Church. So, is it appropriate for me to approach the Lord so “intimately” in this prayer chapel? Is this going beyond the proper bounds of respect?

As I read the Old Testament, the temple had appropriate areas for Gentiles, women and children, etc. The Holy of Holies (where the Lord dwelt) was restricted, and the priest entered but once per year - and only after careful preparation. In our little prayer chapel, I get the feeling that I (an ordinary layperson) have entered into the Holy of Holies -which is not my place. It just doesn’t feel appropriate anymore.

Would appreciate your comments - Thanks!

 

[Sirach2]

You are experience a scrupulous temptation right out of the pit to discourage you from spending prayerful adoration with Jesus. Do you really believe this is displeasing to Our Lord, that you would not be permitted to be in His sacred presence and pray?

I did not see anything in your post that designated you are in the actual sanctuary whenever you are in this chapel. Are you looking for a separation rail in this chapel to remind you that you aren’t worthy? The Old Testament prescriptions are no longer valid, and the temptation is to falsely connect them with today’s worship. Chapels are designed for prayerful intimacy, and to save the parish from heating and cooling bills that would be very costly if the entire structure had to use energy.

Jesus welcomes your presence and you are obviously benefitting from your time there. I wouldn’t sacrifice these visits for a minute!!! We only have adoration on First Friday and Saturday - 24 hours once monthly. You are indeed blessed!

 

[tomch]

Thank you for your response!

Our little chapel is not in the main church area - it’s a little room to the side before going in to the nave of the church.

The monstrance is placed on a low altar - so that when I kneel on the kneeler, I actually am looking “down” on the Lord, which has bothered me somewhat. Kneeling on the floor is an alternative.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

Thank you for your response!

After posting, I remembered that a recent pope (can’t remember which one, though) encouraged participation in Adoration.

The Holy of Holies in the Church is the tabernacle which is not supposed to be touched by ordinary laymen. This is the same with the monstrance if the Sacred Host is present within it. Since adoration does not involve touching either then you’re fine to participate in it.

I know of a Novus Ordo parish that also has a 24 hour adoration chapel and I love it. They veil the monstrance in the chapel when Mass is being said.

 

[TrueLight]

A local Novus Ordo Catholic Church has a 24-hour Adoration chapel (with the Eucharist exposed in a monstrance). It’s a small room with kneelers - seats 6 people. I’ve been participating in this - volunteering for hours for the past 4 years, since my conversion (from fundamentalism). I had no qualms about this when I was a Novus Ordo Catholic - in fact, this time has been one of the highlights of my week.

But now I’ve “converted” to Traditional Catholicism (FSSP parish), and am having second thoughts about my participation in this local Adoration chapel. Laypeople (in our FSSP parish) approach the altar rail to receive the Eucharist, but we do not enter the Sanctuary - we maintain a respectful distance and worship in the nave of the Church. So, is it appropriate for me to approach the Lord so “intimately” in this prayer chapel? Is this going beyond the proper bounds of respect?

As I read the Old Testament, the temple had appropriate areas for Gentiles, women and children, etc. The Holy of Holies (where the Lord dwelt) was restricted, and the priest entered but once per year - and only after careful preparation. In our little prayer chapel, I get the feeling that I (an ordinary layperson) have entered into the Holy of Holies -which is not my place. It just doesn’t feel appropriate anymore.

Would appreciate your comments - Thanks!

This is a very good question and I don’t believe it is scrupulous at all. I never thought about it that way.

What makes the Holy of Holies, well…holy?

The Ark of the Covenant.

What is contained int the ark of the covenant; The tablets which contain the ten commandments.

What makes the tabernacle in the CC holy? It contains the monstrance, which contains the Eucharist.

So to have the Eucharist exposed, easily reachable is sort of strange if you think about it.

What am I not getting?

Also, in the chapel, who is there to make sure nothing unseemly happens?

Disclaimer: I am not arguing against Eucharistic adoration. It’s an awesome practice.

 

[rachael_maria]

The Lord actually wants intimacy with us ,people! Why else would He have become Incarnate?!!! As a temple of the Holy Spirit, I know that Jesus is Lord and that He wants me to be close to Him. Maybe that is not the traditionalist understanding??

 

[TrueLight]

The Lord actually wants intimacy with us ,people! Why else would He have become Incarnate?!!! As a temple of the Holy Spirit, I know that Jesus is Lord and that He wants me to be close to Him. Maybe that is not the traditionalist understanding??

Interesting. Do traditional parishes not have 24-hour adoration? I have no idea.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

Interesting. Do traditional parishes not have 24-hour adoration? I have no idea.

From what I have seen its that most traditional parishes do not have their own church.

 

[puzzleannie]

A
As I read the Old Testament, the temple had appropriate areas for Gentiles, women and children, etc. The Holy of Holies (where the Lord dwelt) was restricted, and the priest entered but once per year - and only after careful preparation. In our little prayer chapel, I get the feeling that I (an ordinary layperson) have entered into the Holy of Holies -which is not my place. It just doesn’t feel appropriate anymore.

Would appreciate your comments - Thanks!

that was then this is now
we are not OT Jews so their temple laws do not apply to us

if the Adoration Chapel has been set up according to Diocesan guidelines with the approval of the bishop it is for all Catholics

If you think a preference for worship in an FSSP parish means you are no longer in the same Church with the same Eucharist that is a real problem you need to bring up with your priest.

 

[TheDoctor]

A local Novus Ordo Catholic Church has a 24-hour Adoration chapel (with the Eucharist exposed in a monstrance)…But now I’ve “converted” to Traditional Catholicism (FSSP parish)…Would appreciate your comments - Thanks!

Hello my dear friend. Since you asked, here are my comments:

Without meaning to sound harsh (apologies if I do because you just struck a really raw nerve), YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR MINDSET RIGHT NOW!!!

There is no “Novus Ordo Catholic Church”. We don’t “convert” to Traditional Catholicism. There are parishes which offer the OF and not the EF or the OF and the EF or the EF only. There are parishes which are more traditionally leaning. There are parishes which are more modern in style and setting, but they are ALL Catholic churches.

What you are doing is perpetutating this unholy “them” vs “us” mentality which harms the Body of Christ. How bad can it get, why, bad enough to make a faithful Catholic question going to Adoration before our blessed Lord because of their assumptions and opinions of the Catholic parish that the Blessed Sacrament is housed in.

We are all Catholic. We are all sinners. We are all unworthy. We are all different. We are all the same. We are all entitled to wroship how we want as long as it does not violate Church rules or teaching. We are all the Body of Christ. We should not be trying to tear apart His body.

 

[TrueLight]

Right before this thread get derailed into another EF vs OF/ Traditional vs Modernist thread, can we address the issue of the monstrance in the sanctuary vs. in the chapel? I’m really curious.

Then it can get derailed.

 

[TheDoctor]

Right before this thread get derailed into another EF vs OF/ Traditional vs Modernist thread, can we address the issue of the monstrance in the sanctuary vs. in the chapel? I’m really curious.

Then it can get derailed.

In the chapel or in the Church, 24 hour adoration means (or should mean) there is someone there with the Eucharist all the time.

If you think about it, someone really intent on getting a Host would be able to (most Church doors and tabernacles would not stand up against a halligan bar and sledge) so unless you want to post armed guards 24x7 there is always the chance. However, weighed against having the Lord visable to pray to and to heal the heart and soul seems like an acceptable risk to me.

Did I get to what you were getting at?

P.S. - …thread derailed……never happens here!

 

[puzzleannie]

Right before this thread get derailed into another EF vs OF/ Traditional vs Modernist thread, can we address the issue of the monstrance in the sanctuary vs. in the chapel? I’m really curious.

Then it can get derailed.

if the adoration chapel has been set up as the local bishop has directed there is no issue, so no discussion is necessary or helpful

 

[TrueLight]

if the adoration chapel has been set up as the local bishop has directed there is no issue, so no discussion is necessary or helpful

Any discussion is helpful if it clears up confusion.

 

[TrueLight]

In the chapel or in the Church, 24 hour adoration means (or should mean) there is someone there with the Eucharist all the time.

If you think about it, someone really intent on getting a Host would be able to (most Church doors and tabernacles would not stand up against a halligan bar and sledge) so unless you want to post armed guards 24x7 there is always the chance. However, weighed against having the Lord visable to pray to and to heal the heart and soul seems like an acceptable risk to me.

Did I get to what you were getting at?

P.S. - …thread derailed……never happens here!

Thanks. It does answer the question about someone standing watch.

How about the question about the fact that only certain people are allowed near the tabernacle in the church, but it is not the same in the chapel?

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

Can we address the issue of the monstrance in the sanctuary vs. in the chapel? I’m really curious.

I didn’t know there was an issue?

 

[TheDoctor]

Thanks. It does answer the question about someone standing watch.

How about the question about the fact that only certain people are allowed near the tabernacle in the church, but it is not the same in the chapel?

Without giving it too much thought, I would say that the Church and the Chapel are two different venues for two different things.

In our parish the Tabernacle is set at the back of the Sanctuary. When we have exposition in the Church, the monstrance is on the altar hence also in the Sanctuary. Since the layity are not normally allowed in the Sanctuary, there is no issue. If you think about it, there is no reason for the layity to be in the Sanctuary normally outside of Mass hence the prohibition.

At our Adoration Chapel, the monstrance and candles are on a table. There is room for 6 pews and not much more. There is no tabernacle and I have yet to see anyone approach the Monstrance. Now, if there were a tabernacle in the Adoration Chapel, only our Priest and Deacon would access it to expose or repose the Blessed Sacrament. It really would be the same, except that in the Chapel the Tabernacle would be closer to the people simply due to the lack of a formal Sanctuary.

I am not sure I am getting to what you asked but maybe it helps?

 

[Phemie]

Thanks. It does answer the question about someone standing watch.

How about the question about the fact that only certain people are allowed near the tabernacle in the church, but it is not the same in the chapel?

Not sure what you mean. Would you have the same problem if the Monstrance was exposed on the altar in the church? What’s the difference?

 

[TrueLight]

Without giving it too much thought, I would say that the Church and the Chapel are two different venues for two different things.

In our parish the Tabernacle is set at the back of the Sanctuary. When we have exposition in the Church, the monstrance is on the altar hence also in the Sanctuary. Since the layity are not normally allowed in the Sanctuary, there is no issue. If you think about it, there is no reason for the layity to be in the Sanctuary normally outside of Mass hence the prohibition.

At our Adoration Chapel, the monstrance and candles are on a table. There is room for 6 pews and not much more. There is no tabernacle and I have yet to see anyone approach the Monstrance. Now, if there were a tabernacle in the Adoration Chapel, only our Priest and Deacon would access it to expose or repose the Blessed Sacrament. It really would be the same, except that in the Chapel the Tabernacle would be closer to the people simply due to the lack of a formal Sanctuary.

I am not sure I am getting to what you asked but maybe it helps?

Yes, it does. Thanks.

 

[TrueLight]

I didn’t know there was an issue?

Not sure what you mean. Would you have the same problem if the Monstrance was exposed on the altar in the church? What’s the difference?

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply there was an issue. There isn’t for me.

I just thought the OP had a good question. I have only been in adoration in churches, and in those cases, the monstrance was on the Altar, behind the rail. So there is still the impression of no one going near it except for the priests and altar boys.

I’m just curious as to how one maintains that same sense of reverence when the monstrance and Eucharist are right there in your face.

And yes, I know Christ is supposed to be accessible. I’m coming from Evangelical Protestantism after all. , where we have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ”.

I just see a disconnect between the two.