Eucharistic Adoration

  • Thread starter Thread starter Connie_O
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

Connie_O

Guest
Are lay people allowed to expose and repose the Blessed sacrament in the event that an adorer does not show up to relieve the adorer ?
Suddenly, after 8 years of Adoration in our parish, one of our adorers said that a priest told her that we are blaspheming when this happens and that NO ONE , except a priest, may do this. We think she’s wrong. Why would it be different that a Eucharistic minister, or receiving Communion in the hand?Certainly, we do not want to do anything wrong. Please advise. She said she can prove it in some Vatican directive. Is this true? Help- she’s bailed ship and taken many adorers with her and our chapel is floundering now. We need proof to convince her ( if in fact she is wrong.) Thank you. Connie O
 
Connie O:
Are lay people allowed to expose and repose the Blessed sacrament in the event that an adorer does not show up to relieve the adorer ?
Suddenly, after 8 years of Adoration in our parish, one of our adorers said that a priest told her that we are blaspheming when this happens and that NO ONE , except a priest, may do this. We think she’s wrong. Why would it be different that a Eucharistic minister, or receiving Communion in the hand?Certainly, we do not want to do anything wrong. Please advise. She said she can prove it in some Vatican directive. Is this true? Help- she’s bailed ship and taken many adorers with her and our chapel is floundering now. We need proof to convince her ( if in fact she is wrong.) Thank you. Connie O
Click to expand...
The list of those who can expose/repose is very limited, and the duties are slightly different.

A priest or deacon is the Ordinary minister for exposition, and may expose or repose **and ** bless people with the Sacrament.

In the event a priest is unavailable, an acolyte or special minister of Communion, a lay member of a religious community or lay association dedicated to eucharistic adoration (upon appointment by the Ordinary). BUT they may **not ** give the blessing with the Sacrament.
 
Last year there was a blizzard coming in during my adoration hour and we were not being relieved. It was obviously inappropriate to leave the blessed sacrament uncovered but we were the only two people there. We quietly reposed the sacrament without saying any blessing. Based on what Barrister said was this incorrect? How should we handle it next winter if it happens again?
 
Our area has three perpetual adoration chapels in the area. We are very blessed, indeed!

Two of these chapels have monstrances that are mounted in the wall and have a “little door” that we can close in the rare event that someone isn’t able to make their scheduled hour (like a blizzard) and the prior person is alone and MUST leave. The door just covers the luna in this monstance that is built into the wall. There is no way that anyone can repose or touch the Eucharist except the pastor who has the key.

It was my understanding that laity could repose the Eucharist from a regular stand alone monstrance (if no priest is available at the time) - but check the prior link to the official document for sure.
 
In our 24 hr adoration chapel, if someone doesn’t show up, whoever is there just stays until someone else arrives.

So you get an extra hour with the Lord.

No layperson ever reposes the Eucharist.

JimG
 
40.png
Charles:
Last year there was a blizzard coming in during my adoration hour and we were not being relieved. It was obviously inappropriate to leave the blessed sacrament uncovered but we were the only two people there. We quietly reposed the sacrament without saying any blessing. Based on what Barrister said was this incorrect? How should we handle it next winter if it happens again?
Click to expand...
IMHO, on this matter there is a difference between letter of the law and intent of the law. What you experienced was an unusual circumstance. In the situation you experienced it was OK to respectfully repose the sacrement as long as you didn’t do it in any way that is reserved to a priest (i.e. blessing with the sacrament.)

Just don’t let things that occur in highly unusual circumstances start occuring for mundane reasons (i.e. person just doesn’t show up, etc.)
 
40.png
Marauder:
IMHO, on this matter there is a difference between letter of the law and intent of the law. What you experienced was an unusual circumstance. In the situation you experienced it was OK to respectfully repose the sacrement as long as you didn’t do it in any way that is reserved to a priest (i.e. blessing with the sacrament.)

Just don’t let things that occur in highly unusual circumstances start occuring for mundane reasons (i.e. person just doesn’t show up, etc.)
Click to expand...
Thanks Marauder, I hope you are correct in this. But as we average at least one heavy snow a year, I plan to check with my priest before winter!
 
Hi Folks!

JimG where did you get your answer from? I am not sure it is too correct;)

The definitive answer comes from Canon Law as follows:

Can. 943 The minister of exposition of the blessed Sacrament and of the eucharistic blessing is a priest or deacon. In special circumstances the minister of exposition and deposition alone, but without the blessing, is an acolyte, and extraordinary minister of holy communion, or another person deputed by the local Ordinary, in accordance with the regulations of the diocesan Bishop.

God Bless,
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
 
Thank you for posting that Fergal. It seems to answer my question. At least now I know who to talk to !
 
Thanks for the Canon Law clarification, Fergal. My reply pertained only to what we do locally. Actually the adorers do not even have the key to the tabernacle, so would not be able to repose the Eucharist.

JimG
 
40.png
Fergal:
Hi Folks!

JimG where did you get your answer from? I am not sure it is too correct;)

The definitive answer comes from Canon Law as follows:

Can. 943 The minister of exposition of the blessed Sacrament and of the eucharistic blessing is a priest or deacon. In special circumstances the minister of exposition and deposition alone, but without the blessing, is an acolyte, and extraordinary minister of holy communion, or another person deputed by the local Ordinary, in accordance with the regulations of the diocesan Bishop.

God Bless,
Fergal
Naas
Ireland
Click to expand...
…for those who are curious (as I was), you can find the link to the Code of Canon canon is: vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3C.HTM

I had to find out – for sure – whether or not this was allowed, because tonight at Adoration, a lay minister did the exposition and I was quite alarmed having never seen or heard of this practice.

Anyways, hope this is edifying.

pax,
Corey
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top