Adoration without a priest

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DakotaJay

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Our parish has adoration every Saturday morning without a priest present. The Blessed Sacrament is placed in the monstrance and morning prayer is read out of the Magnificat. The prayers for Benediction are prayed at the beginning and end of adoration. Is adoration in this form ok. I just feel uncomfortable with the exposition of our Lord without a priest present and wanted some clarification before I participate. Any reference to where I should read to get clarification on this practice would be greatly appreciated.
 
DakotaJay said:
Our parish has adoration every Saturday morning without a priest present. The Blessed Sacrament is placed in the monstrance and morning prayer is read out of the Magnificat. The prayers for Benediction are prayed at the beginning and end of adoration. Is adoration in this form ok. I just feel uncomfortable with the exposition of our Lord without a priest present and wanted some clarification before I participate. Any reference to where I should read to get clarification on this practice would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi DakotaJay,

It is possible for what you describe to be acceptable. One source is the code of canon law. It states:

Can. 943 The minister of exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament and of eucharistic benediction is a priest or deacon; in special circumstances, the minister of exposition and reposition alone without benediction is the acolyte, extraordinary minister of holy communion, or someone else designated by the local ordinary; the prescripts of the diocesan bishop are to be observed.

So, if the person who does the exposition and reposition is properly authorized, then it’s ok. Seems like a priest could carve out a few minutes to do it, though. But, that’s my opinion.

Dan
 
Note that only a priest or deacon may give the blessing with the exposed host.
 
DakotaJay said:
Our parish has adoration every Saturday morning without a priest present. The Blessed Sacrament is placed in the monstrance and morning prayer is read out of the Magnificat. The prayers for Benediction are prayed at the beginning and end of adoration. Is adoration in this form ok. I just feel uncomfortable with the exposition of our Lord without a priest present and wanted some clarification before I participate. Any reference to where I should read to get clarification on this practice would be greatly appreciated.
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Note that canon 943 refers to “the acolyte, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, or someone else…” as “the minister of exposition and reposition alone without benediction.”

Therefore, you should not be praying the prayers of benediction because that would constitute…benediction. (It also doesn’t really make sense that you would say benediction at both the beginning and end of adoration anyway, since a benediction is traditionally a final prayer.)

Eucharistae Sacramentum qualifies what the Code of Canon Law has to say by defining the duties of the “special minister of Communion” who leads a simple form of Eucharistic exposition:
Such ministers may open the tabernacle and also, as required, place the ciborium on the altar or place the host in the monstrance. At the end of the period of adoration, they replace the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle. It is not lawful, however, for them to give the blessing with the sacrament.

…]

Other ministers should wear either the liturgical vestments that are used in the region or the vesture that is befitting this ministry and is approved by the Ordinary (91-92).
I hope that helps.
 
Thank you for your quick and informed answers. To clarify my first post we don’t have a resident priest at our parish so that is why adoration is held without him. Also, there is no Benediction as part of the adoration. A Eucharistic Minister removes our Lord from the tabernacle and at the end of adoration he places our Lord back in the tabernacle. I want to thank you again for your help. God Bless.
 
This thread leads me to a question. I go to adoration sometimes a couple times a week in an adoration Chapel. In one Chapel the Blessed Sacrament in encased in a glass covering, and sometimes when I go in there is no one there with Jesus. This Chapel is closed at night time, but Jesus is not put away, or covered up. Is this acceptable?

The other one I go into is a room in the rectory next to the Church. Jesus is in the Tabernacle, with a glass door always closed and locked, and they have curtains like doors on the outside of that that are closed when no one is there. When you enter, you open the curtain doors for your private adoration time, and when you leave you close them. Is this acceptable?

Thanks.
 
DakotaJay said:
Thank you for your quick and informed answers. To clarify my first post we don’t have a resident priest at our parish so that is why adoration is held without him. Also, there is no Benediction as part of the adoration. A Eucharistic Minister removes our Lord from the tabernacle and at the end of adoration he places our Lord back in the tabernacle. I want to thank you again for your help. God Bless.
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What you have described is appropriate.
 
Isabella1 said:
This thread leads me to a question. I go to adoration sometimes a couple times a week in an adoration Chapel. In one Chapel the Blessed Sacrament in encased in a glass covering, and sometimes when I go in there is no one there with Jesus. This Chapel is closed at night time, but Jesus is not put away, or covered up. Is this acceptable?
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No, this is not OK at all. The Blessed Sacrament should never be left alone while it is exposed.
Isabella1 said:
The other one I go into is a room in the rectory next to the Church. Jesus is in the Tabernacle, with a glass door always closed and locked, and they have curtains like doors on the outside of that that are closed when no one is there. When you enter, you open the curtain doors for your private adoration time, and when you leave you close them. Is this acceptable?
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No, a tabernacle (what you have described here) cannot be made of glass.
The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the greatest extent possible (314*GIRM *).
 
What constitutes a exposition or benediction prayer? Does that mean that person exposing or reposing the Eucharist just puts in in and takes it out of the monstrance without saying or praying anything aloud?
 
passus said:
No, this is not OK at all. The Blessed Sacrament should never be left alone while it is exposed.

No, a tabernacle (what you have described here) cannot be made of glass.
The one tabernacle should be immovable, be made of solid and inviolable material that is not transparent, and be locked in such a way that the danger of profanation is prevented to the greatest extent possible (*GIRM *314).
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This second one is not enclosed in glass, just the front of it has a glass door with a lock on it so there is no danger of profanation, and curtains like a door to cover that. The curtains is what is opened to view Jesus. But we cant open the lock to the glass. The Tabernacle itself is made of solid material that is not transparent. A side note, not anyone can go into this adoration Chapel, there is a code just to get into the front door. So even further measures were taken to protect Jesus. Your thoughts?
 
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