Perpetual Adoration: Cleaning the Chapel? [edited]

[OutinChgoburbs]

The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament deserves the entirety of our respect, honor, and veneration. We are to regard the Blessed Sacrament as we regard Jesus, Himself, because the Sacrament is Jesus, Himself. Everything stops in the presence of Jesus, and one would be hard pressed to justify chores in the stead of adoration. Not quite. Jesus deserves a clean place to be. Further, when adoration is not held in a chapel, and necessary business must take place, such as securing the Blessed Sacrament stored in the tabernacle for sick calls, it is done without reposing the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance.

Unfortunately, the Church does not address every single issue that could possibly arise regarding matters of Christian living or extraordinary circumstances of Church rites. Neither does Scripture. In cases like these, the matters are left to the prudence of the individual believer that, guided by his or her conscience and the Holy Spirit, he or she may come to a worthy and just conclusion in the matter.

That is exactly what I have done. And your profile claims you are all of 16. Perhaps I am wrong, but I’d want somebody who actually has experience in such matters.

Furthermore, I did not make any “statement of fact.” Facts do not need evidence for support. On the contrary, they indeed do need evidence for support. You haven’t taken Logic in your high school, have you? Quite clearly, what I posted was my opinion, and I did support it with evidence–the testimony of Scripture. Out of context. The “testimony of Scripture” twisted to your own ends is not a document from the Church.

The analogy of Scripture I have presented seems very real to me, and just because you seem to think it “out-of-context” does not make it so. If you have a better response, then by all means please offer it for our consideration. Indeed I do. It should be left up to the individual parish, possibly with (name removed by moderator)ut from the dean and the bishop. Being well old enough to be your mother if your profile is correct, I have seen the adoration chapel cleaned in a respectful manner without the Blessed Sacrament being reposed.

 

[nicolep]

At our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the Blessed Sacrament is moved (by one of the priests) into the daily Mass Chapel for adoration. It happens every Friday at 10:00 am so the chapel can be cleaned.

I’m looking to see if I can find something that references the rules for this (if there are any). I’m in no way saying the above is what has to be done only that is what is done at my parish.

 

[sonatina]

Our Chapel of Perpetual Adoration has been open for 13 years, 24/7, and in that time the coordinator has done the cleaning as needed. The reason I asked is that she was recently told that this was incorrect, and she was disturbed by this. No one is a “Martha”…My question was made in order to try to find the correct protocol, not to read an exchange of personal opinions, which do not help at all. If there is a priest or member of the clergy who can clarify this, I would be very grateful.
+PAX

Since I am the one who started this discussion, I would just like to point out that my intention was never to “set off” such an exchange about who is right and who is wrong. My only purpose was to try to find the correct protocol. I have since been able to obtain an answer that is helpful to our Chapel, and I thank you all for your responses. However, I would just like to say that it saddens me when I see the tone and attitude that appeared in some of the dialogue. We are all Christians, and as such I believe that the Second Greatest Commandment is very often the one that we omit from our lives.
Blessings to all.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

I doubt anyone would be whipping out the Hoover to clean up if Jesus was in that chapel in human form. Every person would enter that chapel in total silence and be on their knees in awe to be in the presence of the Lord. When the blessed sacrament is exposed, you are in the presence of the Lord, the true presence, and we should behave appropriately.

What makes you think that if Jesus was sitting there and noticed that the chapel needed cleaning He wouldn’t whip out the hoover and do it Himself?

Reverence is paramount in the presence of Jesus, but Jesus is present whether in the Monstrance or in the Tabernacle. St. Benedict says of the brothers “Let him recall that he is always seen by God in heaven, that his actions everwhere are in God’s sight and reported by angels at every hour.” Actually, that is why orthodox Jewish men wear the yamulke, because it would be rude to allow their heads to touch God, they know that they are always in His presence.

We are never out of God’s presence and should always be mindful of the fact. So when the chapel needs cleaning, clean it in the present of the Sacrament, but do it quietly and reverently and to the glory of God.

Marsha

 

[JPUSC]

However, I would just like to say that it saddens me when I see the tone and attitude that appeared in some of the dialogue.

Just another typical day in an internet forum where everyone likes to prove that they’re right, LOL.

 

[nicolep]

Since I am the one who started this discussion, I would just like to point out that my intention was never to “set off” such an exchange about who is right and who is wrong. My only purpose was to try to find the correct protocol. I have since been able to obtain an answer that is helpful to our Chapel, and I thank you all for your responses. However, I would just like to say that it saddens me when I see the tone and attitude that appeared in some of the dialogue. We are all Christians, and as such I believe that the Second Greatest Commandment is very often the one that we omit from our lives.
Blessings to all.

Do you care to share that answer? Just curious for my parish. You can send me a personal message if you’d rather not do it here.

I agree that sometimes things get a little heated around here. We all love Jesus and we get passionate! I’m glad you found your answer.

 

[passus]

And your profile claims you are all of 16. Perhaps I am wrong, but I’d want somebody who actually has experience in such matters.

-]Mom/-] OutinChgoburbs,

It is beyond me why someone would fight so hard for cleaning the chapel while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. If there were any question at all as to the matter (and there obviously is), then, concerning we are dealing with the Real Presence of Jesus here, why would one not choose to “err” on the side of piety?

By the way, you must not have learned much about ad hominem attacks in your high school logic class. Neither my nor your age says anything of our knowledge in an area and your inference as to my “experience in such matters” is entirely presumed on your part.

 

[gelsbern]

What makes you think that if Jesus was sitting there and noticed that the chapel needed cleaning He wouldn’t whip out the hoover and do it Himself?

Reverence is paramount in the presence of Jesus, but Jesus is present whether in the Monstrance or in the Tabernacle. St. Benedict says of the brothers “Let him recall that he is always seen by God in heaven, that his actions everwhere are in God’s sight and reported by angels at every hour.” Actually, that is why orthodox Jewish men wear the yamulke, because it would be rude to allow their heads to touch God, they know that they are always in His presence.

We are never out of God’s presence and should always be mindful of the fact. So when the chapel needs cleaning, clean it in the present of the Sacrament, but do it quietly and reverently and to the glory of God.

Marsha

I am going to have to disagree with you on the part about cleaning in the presence of the exposed blessed sacrament, and I doubt Jesus would care about the dust bunnies if he were there in human form so I don’t believe he would go search out the vacuum cleaner.

I do agree God is present everywhere, and Jesus being part of that trinity is as well, however, Jesus is TRULY present in the form of the blessed sacrament. When the blessed sacrament is exposed we are to do a double genuflection, that is both knees touch the ground. When the blessed sacrament is in the tabernacle, we do a single genuflection. So clearly in the eyes of the church, and her practices there is something different between the blessed sacrament being exposed and not being exposed.

Unfortunately, finding anything in writing is proving difficult regarding this matter, so in the lack of any official guidance I will err on the side of being overly reverent, and would take offense to someone running the vacuum or cleaning while the blessed sacrament is exposed.

 

[kujayhawk]

originally posted by Gelsbern:
When the blessed sacrament is exposed we are to do a double genuflection, that is both knees touch the ground. When the blessed sacrament is in the tabernacle, we do a single genuflection.

I agree that a double genuflection is a lovely gesture of Faith, it is not required.

The 1973 the document “Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass” (n. 84), found in the modern Roman Ritual, address the issue of genuflection. It states:

Genuflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle of exposed for public adoration,is on one knee.

Some earlier posters seem to have indicated that a double genuflection is required when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
Although it is off the topic, it is worth noting.

 

[gelsbern]

I agree that a double genuflection is a lovely gesture of Faith, it is not required.

The 1973 the document “Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass” (n. 84), found in the modern Roman Ritual, address the issue of genuflection. It states:

Some earlier posters seem to have indicated that a double genuflection is required when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.
Although it is off the topic, it is worth noting.

I love learn something new.

I did some more research and you are correct, the double genuflection hasn’t been required post-Vatican II. I didn’t know it wasn’t required anymore but I sill will do it…

Thank you for the correction

 

[kujayhawk]

Originally posted by gelsbern
I did some more research and you are correct, the double genuflection hasn’t been required post-Vatican II. I didn’t know it wasn’t required anymore but I sill will do it…

I really wasn’t trying to correct, but inform. Thank you for being so gracious. I, too, think the double genuflection is most appropriate for when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed.

And, by the way, the adoration chapel that I am part of, does not close for cleaning except during the Tridium when everything is cleaned and polished including deep cleaning of the carpet. People do not go directly into the chapel from the outside, so perhaps that helps keep things clean. No ice/snow etc. as mentioned earlier.