Eucharistic Adoration Chapels?

[revelations]

Hello all,

I was just listening to some of Fr. Corapi’s catechism series, lent to me by my sponsor. I can’t get enough of him, it’s like a talking catechism. He was talking about the sacrament of the Eucharist, the most blessed one, and about all the abuses and what you need to know the make sure it’s valid, etc etc.

Then he mentioned that some of his parishioners had set up a great number of independent adoration chapels, outside of the building of the church. He mentioned some across the street from abortion clinics and what not.

Has anyone heard anything about this? Did i misunderstand what he was talking about? Sounds like an awesome idea.

-revelations

 

[cameron_lansing]

. . Then he mentioned that some of his parishioners had set up a great number of independent adoration chapels, outside of the building of the church. He mentioned some across the street from abortion clinics and what not.

Has anyone heard anything about this? Did i misunderstand what he was talking about? Sounds like an awesome idea.

-revelations

I think that there might be a misunderstanding.

By themselves, parishioners could not establish oratories (which is often what is meant by the word “chapel”) or private chapels at which the Blessed Sacrament could be reserved for adoration. Nor could the parish priest. This would require the permission of the local ordinary.

I would wonder about “a great number” being so established and would need more information. There is a growing number across the nation, but I would be hard pressed to understand how parishioners of a parish would obtain permission for several of them in the same area. The multiplication of places for reserving the Blessed Sacrament at the same general site is strongly confined by canon law.

The notion of establishing oratories of perpetual adoration, however, is indeed an awesome idea. We have one attached to our parish, and it is a source of great blessing to all of us beyond my ability to describe. I would commend any participant in these forums to learn more about them, and approach their parish priest. They do require a number of people who will commit to hours of adoration, assist in the safeguarding of the Blessed Sacrament, and help to maintain the dignity of the sacred place. So the effort would begin with gathering those people and obtaining more information from the parish priest or diocese.

 

[revelations]

The notion of establishing oratories of perpetual adoration, however, is indeed an awesome idea. We have one attached to our parish, and it is a source of great blessing to all of us beyond my ability to describe. I would commend any participant in these forums to learn more about them, and approach their parish priest. They do require a number of people who will commit to hours of adoration, assist in the safeguarding of the Blessed Sacrament, and help to maintain the dignity of the sacred place. So the effort would begin with gathering those people and obtaining more information from the parish priest or diocese.

What exactly is an oratory of perpetual adoration?

It sounds like a wonderful blessing, most churches close their doors up here around 6 pm, leaving those of us who study late out in the cold so to speak :S

Thanks for the information

 

[jc-servant]

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (PEA) is when the Blessed Sacrament is always visible on an altar in a monstrance for adoration. It requires a chapel to be dedicated for that sole purpose so that the Eucharist can remain exposed at all times.

I’ve included a link to my parish website where PEA is explained. There is also info on how our PEA works in case someone is thinking of trying to get it started in their parish. Even when the main church and large chapel are locked, PEA continues. The doors to the PEA chapel are locked at night with a keypad for access and only men or married couples can adore in the late hours for safety per our pastor.

stannparish.org/orgs/organizations/49/information.html?id=382

Currently our parish is the only one in the diocese with perpetual adoration. Other parishes have some adoration hours, but the Eucharist must be reposed at other times. We used to have our adoration in our main chapel from morning until about 10pm on most days, but weddings, funerals and other such things kept requiring the Eucharist to be reposed.

 

[cameron_lansing]

What exactly is an oratory of perpetual adoration?

Very generally . . .

An oratory is a place designated by permission of the ordinary for divine worship for the benefit of some community or assembly of the faithful who gather there; other members of the faithful may also have access to it with the consent of the competent superior (c. 1223). All sacred celebrations can be carried out in legitimately established oratories unless some liturgical norm prevents it or the local ordinary has made some exception (c. 1225).

The Most Holy Eucharist must be reserved in the cathedral church or its equivalent, in every parish church and in the church or oratory attached to the house of a religious institute or society of apostolic life (c. 934 §1, 1º). With permission of the local ordinary, it can be reserved in other oratories (c. 934 §1, 2º).

Still, the Eucharist is reserved in a tabernacle that is immovable, made of solid and opaque material (c. 938 §3).

Thus, typically, the Blessed Sacrament remains unexposed in the tabernacle for adoration. But, also, it can be exposed (exposition) for adoration and benediction.

Special permission is needed for perpetual exposition.

A “chapel” of perpetual adoration would be an oratory or chapel at which the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and at which the local ordinary (this generally means the diocesan bishop) permits the faithful to have access 24 hours a day (with exceptions during the Triduum). Perpetual exposition can be permitted.

Whether the Sacrament is exposed or not, Jesus is never left unattended and “un adored” by the faithful of the Church visible. The saints and angels make other arrangements, I should think, and need not be calculated for purpose of kneeler space.

Now at this point, I will refer you to read the material at a few excellent sites on your area of interest. The last will reference the norms on perpetual exposition.

therealpresence.org/eucharst/intro/a11.html

ewtn.com/faith/teachings/euchd3.htm

dioceseoflansing.org/worship/adoration.pdf

 

[revelations]

Thank you very much, this has been greatly enlightening.

Peace of Christ be with you all,

-revelations

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello all,

I Then he mentioned that some of his parishioners had set up a great number of independent adoration chapels, outside of the building of the church. He mentioned some across the street from abortion clinics and what not.

in general the Blessed Sacrament can be reserved only in Church or in an oratory established for that purpose with the permission of the bishop. Parishioners certainly cannot do this on their own, take the Blessed Sacrament anywhere without permission, and certainly not to reserve it anywhere unapproved. Since Fr. Corapi says it is being done, we must assume it is certainly done with the permission of the bishop, and that these are chapels erected for the purpose.

an example would be the perpetual adoration chapel by our local Franciscan sisters from Mexico. Our bishop invited them to come and live here, in a residence the diocese owned, and use a old, small church that had been replaced by a larger building and left empty, as the chapel. It is centrally located in the Valley, a great use for an otherwise unused building, and its presence has begun to do what bishop has hoped for, restore the practice of Eucharistic adoration in the diocese, as other parishes are now increasing hours of adoration, or even establishing perpetual adoration.

 

[MarieVeronica]

The two parishes we attend, both have Adoration Chapels to one side of the main Church. But they are connected to the Church building, not separate.

The smaller of the two parishes does not have a Tabernacle in the main Church. The Tabernacle in the adjacent Adoration Chapel is where the Blessed Sacrament resides. And is brought into the main Church, during the Mass. The larger Church, has a Tabernacle in both the main Church and the Adoration Chapel.

I miss the days when the layout of each Catholic Church was more uniform. Because you knew exactly where Our Lord would be… and when and where to genuflect, etc. But I am so grateful for the appearance in our age… of so many SPECIAL Adoration Chapels… set aside, for just this purpose! The adoration of Our dear Lord!