Holy Hour requirements

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sr.christinaosf

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Our women’s group meets once a month, and we’ve just started including a Eucharistic Holy Hour to start it out (with permission from the pastor).
I have read that there are supposed to be readings, hymns, prayers during a time of Exposition, but I am wondering about this.
The rosary is said half way through, and then there is a little quiet time at the end.
Do we really (to be liturgically correct) need to cram 2 or more songs and readings into that half hour. We would like to have a good amount of time for quiet prayer, and it’s such a short time.
Thanks.
 
No.
It is an option.
Generally after repose the Tantum Ergo is sung.
After the Divine Praises are said and normally Holy God we Praise thy Name at the end.
 
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From the official liturgical book “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass”:

“ADORATION

95 . During the exposition there should be prayers, songs, and readings to direct the attention of the faithful to the worship of Christ the Lord.

To encourage a prayerful spirit, there should be readings from scripture with a homily or brief exhortations to develop a better understanding of the eucharistic mystery. It is also desirable for the people to respond to the word of God by singing and to spend some periods of time in religious silence.

96 . Part of the liturgy of the hours, especially the principal hours, may be celebrated before the blessed sacrament when there is a lengthy period of exposition. This liturgy extends the praise and thanksgiving offered to God in the eucharistic celebration to the several hours of the day; it directs the prayers of the Church to Christ and through him to the Father in the name of the whole world.

BENEDICTION

97 . Toward the end of the exposition the priest or deacon goes to the altar, genuflects and kneels. Then a hymn or other eucharist song is sung. [Footnote 11: See below, nos. 192-199.] Meanwhile the minister, while kneeling, incenses the sacrament if exposition has taken place with the monstrance.

98 . Afterward the minister rises and sings or says:

Let us pray.

After a brief period of silence, the minister continues:”

Several prayers are given.

“99. After the prayer the priest or deacon puts on the humeral veil, genuflects, and takes the monstrance of ciborium. He makes the sign of the cross over the people with the monstrance or ciborium, in silence.

REPOSITION

100 . After the blessing the priest or deacon who gave the blessing, or another priest or deacon, replaces the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects. Meanwhile the people may sing or say an acclamation, and the minister then leaves.”

The rosary is permitted. The 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...0423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html#_ftn236 has:

“[137.] Exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist must always be carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of the liturgical books. [Footnote 235: Cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, nn. 82-100; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 317; Code of Canon Law, can. 941 § 2.] Before the Most Holy Sacrament either reserved or exposed, the praying of the Rosary, which is admirable “in its simplicity and even its profundity”, is not to be excluded either. [Footnote 236: Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, diei 16 octobris 2002: AAS 95 (2003) pp. 5-36; here n. 2, p. 6.]”

[Excerpts from the English translation of Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass, © 1974, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
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But…what if no priest or deacon is present? A lay person does not give a homily.
 
I didn’t think incense was used without a priest or deacon.
 
For Exposition without a Priest or Deacon can there be a homily?

One argument is “yes” because “ Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass ” says there is to be a homily.

Another argument is “no” because the 1983 Code of Canon Law has “Can. 767 §1 The most important form of preaching is the homily, which is part of the liturgy itself, and reserved to a priest or deacon.” (From New Revised English Translation, 1997, HarperCollins).

In the 1988 Directory for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest it has:

“43. In order that the participants may retain the word of God, there should be an explanation of the readings or a period of silence for reflection on what has been heard. Since only a pastor or a deacon may give a homily, [footnote 36: See CIC, can. 766-767.] it is desirable that the pastor prepare a homily and give it to the leader of the assembly to read. But in this matter the decisions of the conference of bishops are to be followed.”

In the 1997 Instruction On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest (at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/p...ocuments/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html ) it has in Article 3 §4 “Homilies in non-eucharistic liturgies may be preached by the non-ordained faithful only when expressly permitted by law and when its prescriptions for doing so are observed.”

In The Order of Celebrating Matrimony it describes a ceremony without a Priest or Deacon, in Chapter 3 The Order of Celebrating Matrimony in the Presence of an Assisting Layperson. It has in n. 125:

“The Gospel reading is introduced in this way:

Listen, brothers and sisters,
to the words of the holy Gospel according to N.

It is appropriate that the assisting layperson give an exhortation or read a homily indicated by the Bishop or the pastor.”

I think “give and exhortation or read a homily” is also appropriate for what a lay person should do at Exposition without a Priest or Deacon.
 
Regarding incense at Exposition in a monstrance without a Priest or Deacon. Incense is clearly required, from Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass:

“85. For exposition of the blessed sacrament in the monstrance, four to six candles are lighted, as at Mass, and incense is used.”

In Ceremonial of Bishops it describes how a bishop does things near the beginning of the ceremony.

“1109 The bishop rises, the censerbearer goes to him, and, as the deacon holds the incense boat before him, the bishop puts incense into the censer and blesses it. Kneeling, the bishop takes the censer from the deacon, bows together with the ministers assisting him, then incenses the blessed sacrament. After again bowing to the blessed sacrament, he returns the censer to the deacon.”

If there are only laypeople then I think it would be incorrect to do a sign of the cross for blessing the incense in the thurible/censer. This is based on this kind of rubric, for grace before meals in Book of Blessings (USA edition) n. 1033, original Latin edition n. 785:

“The one presiding then signs himself or herself with the sign of the cross (a priest or a deacon also makes the sign of the cross over the food) and says:

Bless + us, O Lord, and these your gifts
which we are about to receive from your goodness.
Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.”

[Excerpts from the English translation of The Order of Celebrating Matrimony © 2013 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL), the English translation of Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass © 1974 ICEL, the English translation of Ceremonial of Bishops © 1989 ICEL, the English translation of Book of Blessings © 1987 ICEL. All rights reserved.]
 
sr.christinaosf said:
But…what if no priest or deacon is present? A lay person does not give a homily.
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I attend Flame of Love Holy Hours quite frequently. The exposed Eucharist is present, we almost never have a priest, there is usually a deacon doing benediction. There is generally a reflection, not necessarily on Scripture (it could be on a saint’s life, or on a challenge the speaker faced in his or her personal life and how they overcame it with God’s and Mary’s help), to open the hour, and it is almost always given by a lay person, unless it is given by an IHM Sister who usually attends. Then there is a prayer program including Rosary, prayers to St Joseph and St Michael, two prayers specific to the Flame of Love devotion, and prayers for the Holy Father and specific petitions. Near the end of the Holy Hour, the deacon will sometimes speak, generally focusing on Mother Mary, the Holy Spirit, or a mystery of the Rosary. He doesn’t always speak. Then he does Benediction and we finish.
 
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