Exposition Of The Eucharist By An Extraordinary Minister

[Christophus]

I am the religion dept. head and sacristan at the Catholic high school where I work.

We are beginning First Friday adoration here tomorrow, and my principal has asked me to expose the MBS and, if no ordinary minister becomes available, to repose the MBS at the end of the adoration period. I was asked to do this given my position and experience as a former seminarian, and because we do not have any ordinary ministers available tomorrow.

My questions are these:

*What prayers should I use (if any) after exposing the MBS.

*What prayers from the Rite of Benediction should I use (or am allowed to use) prior to reposition? Can I lead the Divine Praises?

*We are using a monstrance for exposition. I will put the monstrance on a corporal. Should I be aware of any other special arrangements for the altar?

Thanks, C

 

[PhilotheaZ]

In every place where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, there is a priest who is responsible for Its care. It may be the school’s chaplain, a local pastor, the head of your deanery, etc.

Ask that priest for permission and instructions. A lay person should only expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament under the authority of the priest in charge.

 

[FrDavid96]

I am the religion dept. head and sacristan at the Catholic high school where I work.

We are beginning First Friday adoration here tomorrow, and my principal has asked me to expose the MBS and, if no ordinary minister becomes available, to repose the MBS at the end of the adoration period. I was asked to do this given my position and experience as a former seminarian, and because we do not have any ordinary ministers available tomorrow.

My questions are these:

*What prayers should I use (if any) after exposing the MBS.

*What prayers from the Rite of Benediction should I use (or am allowed to use) prior to reposition? Can I lead the Divine Praises?

*We are using a monstrance for exposition. I will put the monstrance on a corporal. Should I be aware of any other special arrangements for the altar?

Thanks, C

Actual benediction is strictly reserved to a priest or deacon (for the benefit of other readers), but in cases of necessity lay people may expose or repose the Bl Sacrament if the local bishop permits.

Once the Bl Sac. is exposed, we can say almost any appropriate corporate or private prayers, or hymns. It depends on the circumstances. Some suggestions might be the Rosary, or other prayers relevant to the HS students. Prayers for vocations to the priesthood would be most appropriate.
Praying the Divine Praises together would be appropriate.
Since it’s First Friday, a theme of prayers to the Sacred Heart would work.
You realy can pray just about anything.

The idea is that you want the participants to understand that what is happening is not Benediction as such, so avoid any appearance of doing so. Anything that gives the appearance of blessing the rest of the congregation with the Bl Sacrament would be out.

Candles should be used if possible, and the traditional number is 6, three on each side.

The local bishop regulates Eucharistic Adoration in his own diocese, so you realy should check for any diocese policy before doing anything, and follow that policy.

Edit; As the other poster has said, you should make sure that the priest who has pastoral care of the place gives his approval before doing anything.

 

[Christophus]

Thanks very much for the responses. They’re extremely helpful.

My principal first checked with the pastor/chancellor of our school before asking me. He gave me full permission to expose the MBS, as he was not available, nor any other ordinary minister.

I know that I can’t perform benediction, but I was curious about leading the Divine Praises.

I have to also share that I’m not terribly comfortable with doing this, but it is the situation I’m in. I feel that a priest or deacon should be presiding, but none are available tomorrow.

C

 

[John_Lilburne]

The liturgical book for the ceremony is “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass.”

Are you an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion? If you were instituted as an Acolyte at the seminary, then I think you are one, for life. If not, has a bishop of the diocese appointed you in another way? From the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum:
“[155.] In addition to the ordinary ministers there is the formally instituted acolyte, who by virtue of his institution is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion even outside the celebration of Mass. If, moreover, reasons of real necessity prompt it, another lay member of Christ’s faithful may also be delegated by the diocesan Bishop, in accordance with the norm of law,[256] for one occasion or for a specified time, and an appropriate formula of blessing may be used for the occasion. This act of appointment, however, does not necessarily take a liturgical form, nor, if it does take a liturgical form, should it resemble sacred Ordination in any way. Finally, in special cases of an unforeseen nature, permission can be given for a single occasion by the Priest who presides at the celebration of the Eucharist.[257]”

 

[Tim_Kirchoff]

Now that is quite a coincidence… the school I attend is starting Eucharistic Adoration tomorrow.

It would seem that, from the conversations I had with the priests when this was first brought up, that it is indeed alright for laymen to put out the Blessed Sacrament, although they could not perform benediction. It is my impression that no special prayers are necessary- the Sacrament can be set out silently. Any prayers you wanted to say on your own would probably not be out of line