Gestures during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament?

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Annabelle_Marie

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Our parish has Benediction every week but I can not find anything that discusses what gestures we should use during it-other than kneeling. Help?
 
I don’t know at this stage the source, but we were taught,
it we entered a church when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed or left during that period of time for an appointment or a family responsibility,
we should genuflect in the aisle on both knees and bow reverently.
Whether or not that is still a requirement, it is still practised here.

“The only requirement is that an attitude of reverence and humility is adopted in recognition of the Real Presence. … Before seating or kneeling in a pew, genuflect to recognize Christ in your midst. What you chose to do after that – pray, read, reflect –
is your personal decision and between you and our Lord!”
cadets.com/files/pg599/EuchAdoration.pdf
 
I don’t think there is anything presribed. One traditional gesture that seems to be practiced at most parishes is a very slow sign of the cross to coincide with the actual benediction with the monstrance.
 
It depends on what all is done during your benediction. We stand during the entrance hymn and kneel when the priest or deacon puts the Luna containing the consecrated Host into the monstrance. We sit during the reading, the homily and during the period of silence unless one prefers to kneel. Then we kneel while the Tantum Ergo is sung, through the benediction and Divine Praises. The Luna is removed from the monstrance and placed back in the tabernacle, and we stand for the closing hymn.
 
Mane Nobiscum Domine Apostolic Letter of John Paul II on the Eucharist

[Mane Nobiscum Domine Apostolic Letter of John Paul II on the Eucharist](Mane Nobiscum Domine Apostolic Letter of John Paul II on the Eucharist)
  1. There is a particular need to cultivate a lively awareness of Christ’s real presence, both in the celebration of Mass and in the worship of the Eucharist outside Mass. Care should be taken to show that awareness through tone of voice, gestures, posture and bearing. In this regard, liturgical law recalls"and I myself have recently reaffirmed(15)"the importance of moments of silence both in the celebration of Mass and in Eucharistic adoration. The way that the ministers and the faithful treat the Eucharist should be marked by profound respect.(16) The presence of Jesus in the tabernacle must be a kind of magnetic pole attracting an ever greater number of souls enamoured of him, ready to wait patiently to hear his voice and, as it were, to sense the beating of his heart. “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps 34:8).
I’ve searched for some time but have found nothing more specific to posture and gesture during Eucharistic adoration.
 
Trishie said:
I don’t know at this stage the source, but we were taught,
it we entered a church when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed or left during that period of time for an appointment or a family responsibility,
we should genuflect in the aisle on both knees and bow reverently.
Whether or not that is still a requirement, it is still practiced here…
Click to expand...
Both knees was the former form. The new rubrics only specify one knee. However, there is nothing wrong in going down on both knees. Many of us who learned the former way are too fixed in our ways to change. Many of the Asians even do a deep bow, almost to the floor while on both knees; I am beginning to copy them.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
Both knees was the former form. The new rubrics only specify one knee. However, there is nothing wrong in going down on both knees. Many of us who learned the former way are too fixed in our ways to change. Many of the Asians even do a deep bow, almost to the floor while on both knees; I am beginning to copy them.
Click to expand...
I thought there were no rubrics for it, as it is not codified in a liturgical book?
 
Customs exist, certainly

CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP…ON POPULAR PIETY AND THE LITURGY
PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

Vatican City

Rituale Romanum states “The faithful, when worshipping Christ present in the Sacrament of the Altar, should recall that this presence comes from the Sacrifice of the Eucharist, and tends towards sacramental and spiritual communion”(169).

Eucharistic Adoration
  1. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a form of Eucharistic cult which is particularly widespread in the Church and earnestly recommended to her Pastors and faithful. Its initial form derives from Holy Thursday and the altar of repose, following the celebration of the Coena Domini Mass. This adoration is a most apt way of expressing the connection between the celebration of the memorial of the Lord’s Sacrifice and his continued presence in the Sacrament of the Altar.
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20020513_vers-direttorio_en.html#Chapter%20Four

Paragraphs 160-165 relate to Eucharistic Adoration
Code: 
INSTRUCTION ON EUCHARISTIC WORSHIP
Sacred Congregation of Rites

III. Eucharistic Devotions
[ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWEUCH.htm](http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWEUCH.htm)
58. Devotion, both private and public, toward the Sacrament of the Altar even outside Mass, provided it observes the norms laid down by the legitimate authority and those of the present instruction, is highly recommended by the Church, since the Eucharistic sacrifice is the source and summit of the whole Christian life.118
In determining the form of such devotions, account should be taken of the regulations of the Second Vatican Council concerning the relationship to be maintained between the liturgy and other, non-liturgical celebrations. Especially important is the rule which states: "The liturgical seasons must be taken into account, and these devotions must harmonize with the liturgy, be in some way derived from it and lead the people toward the liturgy as to something which of its nature is far superior to these devotions."119"

Basically, YoungTradCath, you are correct.
 
Annabelle_Marie said:
Our parish has Benediction every week but I can not find anything that discusses what gestures we should use during it-other than kneeling. Help?
Click to expand...
the only gestures for the people are kneeling, where it is specified in the rite (when the Sacrament is exposed, during benediction itself and the divine praises, and as the sacrament is being reposed). In between times while there are readings, homily or other prayers, or silent adoration, sit, stand or kneel as you are able.

when I was a child the practice was a 3-fold sign of the cross, slowly, during the Benediction, but Father tells me that was only a regional custom, no longer necessary, just a simple sign of the cross. It also used to be the custom that if you entered the church or chapel after the Sacrament had already been exposed to genuflect on both knees, that also is no longer necessary, one knee is fine, and you don’t have to kneel the entire time if you cannot.
 
puzzleannie said:
the only gestures for the people are kneeling, where it is specified in the rite (when the Sacrament is exposed, during benediction itself and the divine praises, and as the sacrament is being reposed). In between times while there are readings, homily or other prayers, or silent adoration, sit, stand or kneel as you are able.

when I was a child the practice was a 3-fold sign of the cross, slowly, during the Benediction, but Father tells me that was only a regional custom, no longer necessary, just a simple sign of the cross. It also used to be the custom that if you entered the church or chapel after the Sacrament had already been exposed to genuflect on both knees, that also is no longer necessary, one knee is fine, and you don’t have to kneel the entire time if you cannot.
Click to expand...
Ok…we’ve got the kneeling…I was just curious if there was any specific thing during the actual Benediction with the Eucharist/Monstrance? I don’t remember Benediction when I was a kid 🤷 Benediction is done every Wed at our parish before Mass. I like it and don’t want to be having a lack of respect by not doing something I should be doing.
 
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