Adoration! Tradition? Idolatry?

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Hi all,

I was wondering whether someone could enlighten me about the practice of Adoration.
At first glance it would pass as idolatry, especially for Protestants. Although I’m a Catholic and have been to Adoration many times, I have yet to properly understand what happens, why it happens, how it came to be, if there is any biblical evidence of this in the early church etc.

Is it mainly a tradition thing?

Why is it not idolatry?

So Christ is present not only in the Eucharist, but also in the ‘Host’ during adoration?

Thanks in advance,
God Bless!
 
The consecrated host IS the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. He is Real and Present not just during Mass but for as long as the host has the appearance of bread. So at adoration we are not adoring a simple piece of bread but Jesus Christ himself, truly and completely, it is not idolatry.

I know of no biblical references to adoration the way we do it today. In the earliest years of the Church consecrated bread was brought to those who could not attend the Eucharistic services. By the fourth century monasteries were regularly reserving the Eucharist and by the eleventh century reservation was a regular part of most churches, still mostly for the sick and dying. Eucharistic devotions began to develop around that time.

There’s a lengthy history of the development of the practice of adoration online at ewtn.com/library/homelibr/historea.txt.
 
As Mary explained, the consecrated host is the Eucharist. It is Jesus. Adoration is done with the consecrated hosts.

Adoration is not done with unconsecrated hosts. Adoration of unconsecrated hosts would be worship of bread.

-Tim-
 
At home, I have a book which as I recall is called “Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist.” by Brant Pitre and Scott Hahn,

This very interesting book mentioned that once per year (on the day of atonement?), the priests would remove the manna from the innermost parts of the temple, and display it overhead for the crowds outside. And they’d say something like “Behold the God who loves you.”

My memory if often a bit faulty, so I’ll try to look it up when I get home from work, and make corrections or additions as necessary 🙂
 
Jesus is physically present (Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity) in the Eucharist.
We are worshipping and adoring Jesus.
How could that possibly be idolatrous?
 
Mr_Ignatius said:
Hi all,

I was wondering whether someone could enlighten me about the practice of Adoration.
At first glance it would pass as idolatry, especially for Protestants. Although I’m a Catholic and have been to Adoration many times, I have yet to properly understand what happens, why it happens, how it came to be, if there is any biblical evidence of this in the early church etc.

Is it mainly a tradition thing?

Why is it not idolatry?

So Christ is present not only in the Eucharist, but also in the ‘Host’ during adoration?

Thanks in advance,
God Bless!
Click to expand...
Eucharistic Adoration was not a custom of the early Church but as the Church’s understanding of the Real Presence deepened the cult of the Eucharist increased. It is not idolatry because what appears to be mere bread, and has accidents of bread, is Jesus Christ. So yes, we worship and adore the Eucharist – Jesus.
 
Please forgive me if I speak in a profane matter. But it’s just that I don’t know enough right now.

I did a quick search and what’s constantly mentioned is the “Blessed Sacrament”.

During Adoration we see the Bronze/Gold item being presented. Is this the Blessed Sacrament?

Is the Body (previously the bread) located within a certain compartment of that Bronze/Gold item?

Or do we believe that the actual Bronze/Gold item IS the real presence? (Which is why I mentioned idolatry in the beginning)

I’m a little confused.

I just found out the ‘item’ is called the Monstrance! 👍
 
Mr Ignatius!

I think you’ve gotten it all figured out but here’s a breakdown in the terms again just to be clear.

During adoration, the Eucharist is displayed in a monstrance.

Monstrance = Eucharist holder (bronze/gold like you mentioned.)

Eucharist = Blessed Sacrament; Consecrated Host; Body of Christ; Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity.

Correct me if I’m wrong but is your confusion stemming from the use of Eucharist as a noun and not as the act of consecration that takes place during the mass.
 
Mr_Ignatius said:
Please forgive me if I speak in a profane matter. But it’s just that I don’t know enough right now.

I did a quick search and what’s constantly mentioned is the “Blessed Sacrament”.

During Adoration we see the Bronze/Gold item being presented. Is this the Blessed Sacrament?

Is the Body (previously the bread) located within a certain compartment of that Bronze/Gold item?

Or do we believe that the actual Bronze/Gold item IS the real presence? (Which is why I mentioned idolatry in the beginning)

I’m a little confused.
Click to expand...
In the center of that bronze/gold monstrance is the Sacred Host in a glass compartment.
 
The early Church did not practice Adoration. Eucharistic Adoration like we see today only came about in the Middle Ages.

The early Church usually did not reserve the Eucharist. The only time they did it is when they brought the Blessed Sacrament to people in their homes. However, there is an account of St. Basil reserving the Eucharist after Divine Liturgy, though I do not know how someone would define the time period of the early Church.

The Franciscans claim that St. Francis of Assisi started Eucharistic Adoration in Italy, so it was around by the early 1200s. King Louis VIII asked that the Blessed Sacrament be put on display to be adored after his victory over the Carthars; that was in 1226.
 
Eucharistic Adoration is a great way to make reparation to our Lord for those who are indifferent and for those who do not believe. It is good to adore the Lord in the Eucharist and ask for graces for others and for ourselves.
 
Mr_Ignatius said:
During Adoration we see the Bronze/Gold item being presented. Is this the Blessed Sacrament?

Is the Body (previously the bread) located within a certain compartment of that Bronze/Gold item?

Or do we believe that the actual Bronze/Gold item IS the real presence? (Which is why I mentioned idolatry in the beginning).
Click to expand...
The answers, respectively: no, yes (when the monstrance contains what it is intended to contain), no. In other words, the terms “the Blessed Sacrament” and “the Real Presence” apply not to the monstrance but to the consecrated Host which the monstrance contains.

The monstrance will usually have a central transparent “window” (I don’t know what the technical name is), through which the Host may be seen. (The Host is not intended to make direct contact with the main portion of the monstrance but instead is enclosed in an inner container known as the luna, which of course is made to be transparent on the side.) I said “usually” because I don’t know if there exist “approved” monstrances with non-central designs; the central location is at least the usual one, and you may well expect to look there first when you’re trying to see the Host.

The monstrance is made with precious materials not in order to become an idol but for the sake of being a fitting place for the Lord–patens, chalices, and other sacred vessels are similarly made.
 
I find the life and martyrdom of St. Tarcisius (3rd century) to be indicative of the reverence with which the early Christians held the Eucharistic Host. He was a twelve year old acolyte who was charged with bringing the Eucharist to Christians in prison. He was attacked by a mob on the way, but refused to reveal what he was carrying. When the mob killed him, they found the pyx empty.
 
Catholic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is to some Protestants what a Crucified Christ is to the Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23).

The Protestants do not understand or accept the Bobby, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist, just as some Jews will not understand or accept that the Messiah could be crucified as a criminal.
 
Miserissima said:
Catholic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is to some Protestants what a Crucified Christ is to the Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23).

The Protestants do not understand or accept the Bobby, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist, just as some Jews will not understand or accept that the Messiah could be crucified as a criminal.
Click to expand...
Agreed. At any rate, He was indeed a “stumbling block” for the Jews. (Is 8:14)
 
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