Lay person exposing Christ

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richiejm3

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At my parish we have “Perpetual Adoration” in a little chapel. Well its not quite Perpetual. When some one comes for adoration they will go to “the hiding spot” which contains the keys to the Tabernacle in this chapel. From there they will remove the Eucharist which is already encased in a round container (sorry, I don’t know the proper name for it) and place it in the monstrance. After they are done if someone isn’t there to relieve them the Eucharist is put back into the Tabernacle. I was told that I could at any time do this. Is this something a lay person is aloud to do? I just dont feel comfortable doing this. Does anyone have any info on this matter. Thanks.
 
richiejm3 said:
At my parish we have “Perpetual Adoration” in a little chapel. Well its not quite Perpetual. When some one comes for adoration they will go to “the hiding spot” which contains the keys to the Tabernacle in this chapel. From there they will remove the Eucharist which is already encased in a round container (sorry, I don’t know the proper name for it) and place it in the monstrance. After they are done if someone isn’t there to relieve them the Eucharist is put back into the Tabernacle. I was told that I could at any time do this. Is this something a lay person is aloud to do? I just dont feel comfortable doing this. Does anyone have any info on this matter. Thanks.
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It is permitted, only if absolutely necessary (i.e. scheduled exposition/adoration, but no priest or deacon available) and with proper authorization. However, it is NOT permitted for a layperson to perform Benediction (i.e. the sign of the Cross with the Blessed Sacrament).

That round container is called a pyx.
 
richiejm3 said:
At my parish we have “Perpetual Adoration” in a little chapel. Well its not quite Perpetual. When some one comes for adoration they will go to “the hiding spot” which contains the keys to the Tabernacle in this chapel. From there they will remove the Eucharist which is already encased in a round container (sorry, I don’t know the proper name for it) and place it in the monstrance. After they are done if someone isn’t there to relieve them the Eucharist is put back into the Tabernacle. I was told that I could at any time do this. Is this something a lay person is aloud to do? I just dont feel comfortable doing this. Does anyone have any info on this matter. Thanks.
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The glass holder is known as the luna. After it is removed from the monstrance, it should be placed in a special pyx before being reposed in the tabernacle.
 
If this happens so much at your parish then most likely there is not enough interest in Adoration and it should cease or more people should be encouraged to attend. In our diocese the guidelines are that there should be at least three people in attendance and the Eucharist should not be left alone. I feel that the situation you described is not allowed, or should not be allowed. Lay people can remove the Blessed Sacrament from the Tabernacle but it should only be an EMHC if not a priest or deacon. As I said, if the Blessed Sacrament has to be taken in and out of the Tabernacle perhaps the parish should reconsider their practice and shorten the hours for Exposition.
 
richiejm3 said:
At my parish we have “Perpetual Adoration” in a little chapel. Well its not quite Perpetual. When some one comes for adoration they will go to “the hiding spot” which contains the keys to the Tabernacle in this chapel. From there they will remove the Eucharist which is already encased in a round container (sorry, I don’t know the proper name for it) and place it in the monstrance. After they are done if someone isn’t there to relieve them the Eucharist is put back into the Tabernacle. I was told that I could at any time do this. Is this something a lay person is aloud to do? I just dont feel comfortable doing this. Does anyone have any info on this matter. Thanks.
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A lay person is permitted to do this is necessary, for public adoration when a group of people are there, for instance at the beginning of 24 hr. parish Adoration that takes place once a month. There is also a Rite that should be followed when exposing and reposing the Blessed Sacrament. But it does seem odd to allow this for personal individual adoration. The vatican has said that the keys of the tabernacle should never be left in the door or in a place where they might be easily located. The tabernacle should be secure as well as it’s key(s). The round glass thing is called a Lunette.
 
Having had to place the Monstrance for exposition on a couple occasions, there are times and reasons when a layman might be asked to do it.

The times I’ve seen the appropriate use of laymen:
twice, due to clerical retreat.
Once, due to Father having an emergency call to the hospital. He came back in time for benediction.
In the chapel of a cloister of brothers, none clerics, but with permission of the bishop to reserve the Eucharist there for daily adoration, which is part of their rule.
 
One of the most beautiful examples of adoration I have ever seen is at the old Plaza Church (Iglesia Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles) – “La Placita” in downtown Los Angeles.

While tons of tourists visit the grounds, the reverence within the church itself is absolute. My parish attracts many tourists too (maybe 1/100 as many as La Placita) yet the powers that be feel we cannot have adoration within the Church because there are too many people passing through.

What I especially love at La Placita is this beautiful tabernacle that hangs on the wall behind the altar. It’s probably 3’ wide by 2.5 feet tall by a foot deep. It’s massive, gorgeously carved and painted wood. It’s large enough to hold a monstrance/luna and a ciborium.

When adoration begins, the doors to the tabernacle are simply opened wide and the veil is removed from the monstrance without every removing it from the tabernacle.

Gorgeous and easy. More churches should do this.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
The vatican has said that the keys of the tabernacle should never be left in the door or in a place where they might be easily located. The tabernacle should be secure as well as it’s key(s).
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I don’t know if this is becoming more common, but we have a keypad that you need to punch a code in to unlock the door when it’s not a time when most people would be there for adoration.
 
CTA1967 said:
I don’t know if this is becoming more common, but we have a keypad that you need to punch a code in to unlock the door when it’s not a time when most people would be there for adoration.
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Is the keypad on the tabernacle or the door to the building or room?
 
CTA1967 said:
It’s to the building. It’s locked to anyone who doesn’t belong to our parish (assuming they don’t know the code).
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I believe that the Church still requires that the Blessed Sacrament be locked in a tabernacle when no one is there.
 
At our church we have a square monstrance, like a little safe, that is firmly fixed to the top of our Tabernacle. It has a little door across the luna. If we leave Adoration and no one is there to take over, we go up and close the little door. We open it if there is no one to relieve.

I’ve done it a few times - I always feel completely unworthy. Maybe I should pray the “Lord, I am not worthy…”

Ruthie
 
Ruthie said:
At our church we have a square monstrance, like a little safe, that is firmly fixed to the top of our Tabernacle. It has a little door across the luna. If we leave Adoration and no one is there to take over, we go up and close the little door. We open it if there is no one to relieve.

I’ve done it a few times - I always feel completely unworthy. Maybe I should pray the “Lord, I am not worthy…”

Ruthie
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I don’t have good feelings about the “do it your-self Adoration options”. Prayer in front of the Tabernacle is more appropriate in my opinion.

Adoration should be a communial parish devotion, not so much individual.
 
richiejm3 said:
At my parish we have “Perpetual Adoration” in a little chapel. Well its not quite Perpetual. When some one comes for adoration they will go to “the hiding spot” which contains the keys to the Tabernacle in this chapel. From there they will remove the Eucharist which is already encased in a round container (sorry, I don’t know the proper name for it) and place it in the monstrance. After they are done if someone isn’t there to relieve them the Eucharist is put back into the Tabernacle. I was told that I could at any time do this. Is this something a lay person is aloud to do? I just dont feel comfortable doing this. Does anyone have any info on this matter. Thanks.
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I see two problems. The first is poor security. The second is the idea that “everyone is a minister”.

From the Code of Canon Law, canon 938: “§5. The person responsible for the church or oratory is to take care that the key of the tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved is safeguarded most diligently.” (At vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3C.HTM ). Everyone knowing where the key is makes a mockery of the concept of tabernacle as a secure place for the Blessed Sacrament.

From the liturgical book “Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass”:
“91. … In the absence of a priest or deacon or if they are lawfully impeded, an acolyte, another special minister of communion, or another person appointed by the local Ordinary may publicly expose and later repose the eucharist for the adoration of the faithful.” (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 673). Saying “anyone who is there is an appointed person” makes a mockery of the of the role of the Ordinary in appointing particular people.
 
Sorry I didn’t respond right away our baby girl was just born and I’ve been busy with the other kids. Thank you for all the responses. This helps. Maybe I should bring this to our priests attention. Hopefully he’ll see that there are issues here that need to be address.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
Prayer in front of the Tabernacle is more appropriate in my opinion.
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That’s the norm for traditional adoration in the Byzantine Churches… but it’s only during Bright Week! (the week after easter!)

Then again, prostration’s the appropriate posture then, too…
 
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