‘Some scholars have expressed concerns that the practice could distract from the centrality of the Mass in Catholic life, or that people might feel compelled to join in.’
Well, this happens to be true, silly as it seems to me at least!
Some theologians, and some clergy, believe that maybe some people will get so devoted to just ‘adoring’ the Blessed Sacrament that they will stop going to Mass and having communion…does that make sense to you? It seems to me that anyone who sits in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour a week develops a consuming love and longing for the Eucharist that happily culminates in Mass and communions [at least on Sundays, if not daily!].
Every time I mention to a priest that I go daily to the Adoration Chapel, the first thing out of their mouths is ‘but of course, that doesn’t replace going to Mass & Communion!’…as if they had to mention that!
The ‘compelling part’ simply means that it is not mandatory in Catholic worship, doctrine or liturgy…which it isn’t…obviously, since not all parishes/areas even have it available…though the practice is growing…Thanks be to God!
The writer could have ‘walked on eggshells’ or at least have been more explicit, but he chose not to, maybe thinking it wasn’t necessary. I understood, so it didn’t bother me at all. Now, it seems he could have been more careful, since he chose a particular type of subject that is very sacred to a large population. That is why we get so defensive, because Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is SO holy and sacred to us as Catholics. Unlike other sacred objects, we are contemplating the ACTUAL LORD!