Exposition: what is it?

[taribomckay]

Every Sunday at Mass there is a bulletin with the week’s news and events printed on it.

After Mass on Saturday it says there is Exposition.

I am relatively new to the faith and have had a long period spent “out of touch” with God and the religion as a whole so I wondered if someone could tell me a bit about Exposition?

Hoping to go for the first time on Saturday but could do with knowing a wee bit about it first.

Thanks

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Sounds like Eucharistic Adoration with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance. It’s an opportunity to pray face-to-face with Jesus

What actually happens during a period of Exposition can vary. The vast majority of Adoration I have attended has been silent. It is not, however, forbidden to sing hymns, chant, read reflections out loud. Just do what everyone else does.

As a former head sacristan, I cannot stress this enough: If your parish’s Exposition is silent, please respect the silence and do not pray out loud or break into song

There may be a Final Benediction at the end of Exposition. This can manifest itself in a number of ways, the simplest I’ve ever seen being singing Tantum ergo followed by the priest donning a cope and/or humeral veil and lifting the monstrance to move it in a large Sign of the Cross over the people present. The blessing emanates from the Blessed Sacrament and not from the priest.

I’ve done a poor job of describing this but I assure you that it’s very beautiful