Can a layperson preside over Adoration and Benediction?

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joeysmom

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Hello:
Last night my family attended adoration and benediction. I was a little surprised that a layperson was leading the prayers, etc. I was shocked when at the end, he vested in the humeral (sp?) and proceeded with the benediction. I thought I even saw him lift the Blessed Sacrament in his hands and replacing It in the monstrace when It slipped. Are laypeople now permitted to preside? I don’t think he was a deacon.
Thank you,
joey(name removed by moderator)
 
I can’t think of any reason that would make it inappropriate for a lay person to preside, as long as they understood the nature of what was taking place and were appropriately respectful.

In some areas where a priest is not always available, allowing a lay person to lead in such allows the faithful greater access to such.

It is a bit like having lay people bring Holy communion to shut ins when a priest is not able to handle all the appointments.

cheddar
 
I would have to say NO. Now leading the congregation in prayers is common in many parishes, but never heard of vesting and giving the blessing. Are you sure he isn’t a Deacon?

Kotton 🙂
 
joey(name removed by moderator):
Hello:
Last night my family attended adoration and benediction. I was a little surprised that a layperson was leading the prayers, etc. I was shocked when at the end, he vested in the humeral (sp?) and proceeded with the benediction. I thought I even saw him lift the Blessed Sacrament in his hands and replacing It in the monstrace when It slipped. Are laypeople now permitted to preside? I don’t think he was a deacon.
Thank you,
joey(name removed by moderator)
Click to expand...
A Lay person may Expose and Repose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration if a Deacon or Priest is not available, with the Pastors permission. He may NEVER offer a Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. He may NEVER put on priestly vestments and act in a priestly function. A Deacon cannot offer Benediction either, it is a priestly function only.
 
joey(name removed by moderator):
Hello:
Last night my family attended adoration and benediction. I was a little surprised that a layperson was leading the prayers, etc. I was shocked when at the end, he vested in the humeral (sp?) and proceeded with the benediction. I thought I even saw him lift the Blessed Sacrament in his hands and replacing It in the monstrace when It slipped. Are laypeople now permitted to preside? I don’t think he was a deacon.
Thank you,
joey(name removed by moderator)
Click to expand...
**Contrary to a prior post, the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction (no. 99 in Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass) expressly permits a deacon to preside at Benediction, which involves making the sign of the cross over the people. ** The deacon may preside since he is an ordinary minister of Holy Communion. Benediction does not involve the exercise of sacerdotal order.( I have been doing benedictions for 15 years, and certainly hope I am permitted.)

A lay person can not be authorized to impart Benediction, that is the blessing with the exposed Eucharist (raising and making the sign of the cross). He may be authorized to retrieve the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle, expose it for adoration, preside at prayers attached to Exposition and Adoration, and then repose it.

The instruction about vesture (no 93 in Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction) does not seem to prevent a layperson form using the humeral veil. A liturgical expert might have additional clarification or contradiction about that though.
 
I should have added, the use of an alb by an authorized layperson is appropriate on the basis of general liturgical principles. It pertains to the diocesan bishop to regulate this (no 92). The instructions permit installed acolytes and “special ministers of communion” (don’t blame me for that usage; it’s in the actual text of the instruction but should be read as “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion”) and members of “religious communion” (i.e., probably “communities”) or of a lay association of men or women which is devoted to eucharistic adoration, upon appointment by the local ordinary.

So more than approval by a pastor *might * be required. Again a liturgical expert might have better insight on this.
 
Thank you all who responded.
BTW, he was wearing an alb under the humeral veil (which he vested in prior to the Benediction).
I don’t want to cause any trouble in my parish but do you think I should ask our pastor about it or just leave it alone for now and do more research?
joey(name removed by moderator)
 
Br. Rich SFO:
A Lay person may Expose and Repose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration if a Deacon or Priest is not available, with the Pastors permission. He may NEVER offer a Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. He may NEVER put on priestly vestments and act in a priestly function. A Deacon cannot offer Benediction either, it is a priestly function only.
Click to expand...
#99 does in fact say that “the priest or deacon puts on a humeral veil…” The document I referenced before posting my original response said that the “Priest offers the blessing…” without any mention of a deacon.
 
Br. Rich SFO said:
#99 does in fact say that “the priest or deacon puts on a humeral veil…” The document I referenced before posting my original response said that the “Priest offers the blessing…” without any mention of a deacon.
Click to expand...

Sometimes various resources do not always reflect the actual text of the approved rites.

Catholic Book Publishing, I think, may still have this slice of the Roman Ritual for sale. The rubrics from the 1976 version would read “priest or deacon” throughout.

The faculty was also in *Sacrum diaconatus ordinem * (1967) in a provisional way (V, 21, 3), i.e., if the deacon were authorized by the local Ordinary.
 
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