Protocol for Eucharistic Adoration

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Does anyone know what the protocol is regarding the repose of the sacrament after exposition? I was at adoration yesterday, and the exposition of the sacrament in the monstrance ended at noon. At that time, the Church secretary came and removed the Host and placed it in the tabernacle, and blew out the candles with all the reverence of one blowing out the candles after a dinner party. No priest in sight. My gut reaction is that it should be a priest or deacon who comes to repose the sacrament reverently, not a grandmotherly type who sets the sacrament in the tabernacle like she’s putting a way a plate of cookies. Check me on this, am I right or wrong?
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
Does anyone know what the protocol is regarding the repose of the sacrament after exposition? I was at adoration yesterday, and the exposition of the sacrament in the monstrance ended at noon. At that time, the Church secretary came and removed the Host and placed it in the tabernacle, and blew out the candles with all the reverence of one blowing out the candles after a dinner party. No priest in sight. My gut reaction is that it should be a priest or deacon who comes to repose the sacrament reverently, not a grandmotherly type who sets the sacrament in the tabernacle like she’s putting a way a plate of cookies. Check me on this, am I right or wrong?
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The Luna from the monstrance is typically put into a vertical pyx and then reposed in the tabernacle. What did she do that was like “a plate of cookies?”
 
Eucharistic Worship outside of Mass" directs that:
  1. …] In the absence of a priest or deacon or if they are lawfully impeded, an acolyte, another special minister of communion [EMHC], or another person appointed by the local Ordinary may publicly expose and later repose the eucharist for the adoration of the faithful.
Such ministers may open the tabernacle and also, as required, place the ciborium on the altar or place the host in the monstrance. At the end of the period of adoration, they replace the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle. It is not lawful, however, for them to give the blessing with the sacrament.

While it seems fitting to have some sort of closing prayer/song to go along with the end of exposition, these elements are not necessary or ritually required, so it is perfectly proper for a designated layperson to remove and repose the Sacrament without ceremony. Due reverence should, of course, be maintained at all times, but the mere fact of blowing out candles is not irreverent.
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
Does anyone know what the protocol is regarding the repose of the sacrament after exposition? I was at adoration yesterday, and the exposition of the sacrament in the monstrance ended at noon. At that time, the Church secretary came and removed the Host and placed it in the tabernacle, and blew out the candles with all the reverence of one blowing out the candles after a dinner party. No priest in sight. My gut reaction is that it should be a priest or deacon who comes to repose the sacrament reverently, not a grandmotherly type who sets the sacrament in the tabernacle like she’s putting a way a plate of cookies. Check me on this, am I right or wrong?
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Grandmotherly? :confused:

What if it was a grey haired old priest? Would you have described him as grandfatherly?

-Tim-
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
Does anyone know what the protocol is regarding the repose of the sacrament after exposition? I was at adoration yesterday, and the exposition of the sacrament in the monstrance ended at noon. At that time, the Church secretary came and removed the Host and placed it in the tabernacle, and blew out the candles with all the reverence of one blowing out the candles after a dinner party. No priest in sight. My gut reaction is that it should be a priest or deacon who comes to repose the sacrament reverently, not a grandmotherly type who sets the sacrament in the tabernacle like she’s putting a way a plate of cookies. Check me on this, am I right or wrong?
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TimothyH said:
Grandmotherly? :confused: What if it was a grey haired old priest? Would you have described him as grandfatherly?-Tim-
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Actually my grandmothers (God rest them) were probably more reverent than a number of the Priests and Deacons I have seen over the years.

P.S. - my German one would have probably just yelled at you for taking such a back-handed remark at grandma’s; my Italian one would have slapped you upside the head!😃
 
TheDoctor said:
Actually my grandmothers (God rest them) were probably more reverent than a number of the Priests and Deacons I have seen over the years.

P.S. - my German one would have probably just yelled at you for taking such a back-handed remark at grandma’s; my Italian one would have slapped you upside the head!😃
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(sigh) You’re missing the point. I’m tired of Priests not doing their jobs. I’m tired of the irreverence for the sacrament. I’m tired of 75% of Catholics never going to Mass. I’m tired of 80% of Catholics contracepting. I’m tired of 45% (according to the Pew Forum) not believing in transubstantiation. I’m tired of the majority who think gay marriage is just fine. I’m sick and tired of EMHCs being abused. In short I’m tired of Catholics hating the faith, hating God, hating the Eucharist.

Message: let’s start treating the sacrament as it deserves to be treated.
 
Honestly, I’m tired of people watching other people to judge them without charity.

I don’t mean that to sound too harsh - I, too, am dismayed about everything on your list. But “you” and “I” being tired of other peoples’ actions is pride and self-righteousness.

Don’t judge yourself against them … judge yourself against Him. I think you’ll find you have plenty of things to work on with the help of the Holy Spirit and may not have time to be so offended by others.

🙂
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
(sigh) You’re missing the point. I’m tired of Priests not doing their jobs. I’m tired of the irreverence for the sacrament. I’m tired of 75% of Catholics never going to Mass. I’m tired of 80% of Catholics contracepting. I’m tired of 45% (according to the Pew Forum) not believing in transubstantiation. I’m tired of the majority who think gay marriage is just fine. I’m sick and tired of EMHCs being abused. In short I’m tired of Catholics hating the faith, hating God, hating the Eucharist.

Message: let’s start treating the sacrament as it deserves to be treated.
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Sorry, but I did not think you had a point to make in all honesty. You thought a Priest should repose the Sacrament. Your pastor sent someone else which they are allowed to do. Nowhere do I see the Sacrament not being treated as it deserves.

In all candor, if it was not done the way YOU think it should be done (and that really is the only thing you can propose), then can I respectfully suggest you go to your Pastor and request permission to repose the sacrament the next time at Adoration if the Priest cannot be there? That way you can repose it as reverently as you think it should be done.:confused:

You seem so sad and depressed.😦 I think you are missing many points. You see, the vast majority of priests do their jobs, there are just not enough of them. How many Catholics go or don’t go to Mass, or use contraception, or are poorly catechized or how many EMHC my pastor chooses to use (and it is his decision alone) is not a major concern of mine unless I am stepping up to address the issues.

God cares first and foremost about the relationship you have with Him. If you are reverent and go to Mass and don’t contracept and believe in transubstantiation and intelligently speak of why the Church opposes gay marriage and love the faith and God and the Eucharist you can be a model to those whose faith is lacking.
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
(sigh) You’re missing the point. I’m tired of Priests not doing their jobs. I’m tired of the irreverence for the sacrament. I’m tired of 75% of Catholics never going to Mass. I’m tired of 80% of Catholics contracepting. I’m tired of 45% (according to the Pew Forum) not believing in transubstantiation. I’m tired of the majority who think gay marriage is just fine. I’m sick and tired of EMHCs being abused. In short I’m tired of Catholics hating the faith, hating God, hating the Eucharist.

Message: let’s start treating the sacrament as it deserves to be treated.
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You are tired of a bunch of things you have no control over.

I’m tired of people in Atlanta not using their signals when they turn but I have no control over it. 🤷 I don’t get upset about it and accuse people of hating traffic laws.

For the first 44 years of my life I was one of those Catholics you seem to think “hate” God. Thankfully God was more patient than you seem to be.

-Tim-
 
It’s not impatience. It’s a warning. Just as St. Paul warned in his letter to the Romans, or do you rip on him too?

"Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. They are gossips and scandalmongers and they hate God. They are insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless."
 
I am really not sure what you are getting at here; Andreas Hofer already pasted a relevant bit about what is to be done when a priest or deacon isn’t available, and I’m not sure how someone being “grandmotherly” can prevent them from doing a job with reverence. :confused:

I know these things make it seem like the Church is in the soup, but remember this prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
 
That seems a little over the top for a complaint of a lay person putting the Host away!

Maybe you haven’t noticed, but there aren’t a lot of priests around. I’m sure our 2 priests would love to spend more time in prayer, but they’re stretched pretty thin. Between the 2 of them, they take care of 5 parishes, 2 of which are on the other side of a mountain pass - a long drive even in good weather, even longer & dangerous in winter.

As has been suggested, you could volunteer to do the job. You seem to have the time.
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
(sigh) You’re missing the point. I’m tired of Priests not doing their jobs. I’m tired of the irreverence for the sacrament. I’m tired of 75% of Catholics never going to Mass. I’m tired of 80% of Catholics contracepting. I’m tired of 45% (according to the Pew Forum) not believing in transubstantiation. I’m tired of the majority who think gay marriage is just fine. I’m sick and tired of EMHCs being abused. In short I’m tired of Catholics hating the faith, hating God, hating the Eucharist.

Message: let’s start treating the sacrament as it deserves to be treated.
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Do you have any idea how overworked the average parish priest is? They’re not just sitting around drinking coffee on the patio.

All we can do is be the best Catholics we can be–and be it joyfully–so that what we have is infectious–so that others are attracted to what we have. No one is attracted to complaining and complaining doesn’t accomplish anything. I am all for treating the Eucharist with the reverence and respect it deserves but I am also for treating your fellow Catholics and non catholic’s for that matter–no matter what you might think about them–as if they were Jesus–“you did it to me.” Not everyone is at the same place in their faith journey–and your being sick and tired of this and that --if it shows in your attitude–doesn’t help them on their faith journey–doesn’t help draw them closer to Christ. Our interaction with all of those who come to Mass (is it really so hard to give them credit for showing up–just because you don’t think they’re dressed appropriately or respectful enough–when so many choose to stay home?) should be one of love and respect making them feel welcomed and loved and important (because I guarantee you Jesus welcomes them, loves them and believes they are important) so that they want to come back, so that they can grow in their faith, so that they can develop and become active Christians who love God. I think God is more offended by the attitude that we often harbor in our hearts toward our fellow Mass attendees than he is that they showed up in a t-shirt. When Christ walked the earth he called people where they were–why wouldn’t we think he has called those who show up to Mass–that they are responding to some small voice they hear from Christ and that Christ expects us to treat them as if they are his invited guest.

Message: Let’s start treating others as if they were Christ. Let’s start treating others as if Christ had called them to Mass. Lets start treating others so that they want what we have and lets meet them were they are and try to help them grow in their faith. And Let’s do it joyfully.

The peace of Christ,
Mark
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
Does anyone know what the protocol is regarding the repose of the sacrament after exposition? I was at adoration yesterday, and the exposition of the sacrament in the monstrance ended at noon. At that time, the Church secretary came and removed the Host and placed it in the tabernacle, and blew out the candles with all the reverence of one blowing out the candles after a dinner party. No priest in sight. My gut reaction is that it should be a priest or deacon who comes to repose the sacrament reverently, not a grandmotherly type who sets the sacrament in the tabernacle like she’s putting a way a plate of cookies. Check me on this, am I right or wrong?
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The Church Secretary, if a lay person and meets the above requirements as an acolyte or lay minister may do that with prayers or none at all.

During Eucharistic Adoration in my school (which was discontinued a year ago due to lack of adorers) a Christian Living Education teacher or someone from the Campus Ministry Office (who are EMHCs) reposes the Sacrament most of the time when the Spiritual or School Director are not present (both are Claretian Priests). He precedes it with reciting the O Sacrament Most Holy three times before reposing it back in the tabernacle.
 
Upbeat_Dad said:
(sigh) You’re missing the point. I’m tired of Priests not doing their jobs. I’m tired of the irreverence for the sacrament. I’m tired of 75% of Catholics never going to Mass. I’m tired of 80% of Catholics contracepting. I’m tired of 45% (according to the Pew Forum) not believing in transubstantiation. I’m tired of the majority who think gay marriage is just fine. I’m sick and tired of EMHCs being abused. In short I’m tired of Catholics hating the faith, hating God, hating the Eucharist.

Message: let’s start treating the sacrament as it deserves to be treated.
Click to expand...
Always think about what Jesus would do. Lots of people disrespected him when he was alive. We are there to worship him and pray for those who don’t. Let Jesus be their judge
 
I think the issue is reverence, and one suspects training or guidance on how to move and act with reverence.

I can see that in some cases it is entirely appropriate for a lay person, when a priest is absent, to repose the sacrament. However, that lay person would be helped by being shown how to do this carefully, and not so as to be a distraction to worshippers.

An image for Mary’s month - Mother of Sheshan
 
I am wondering what the difference between blowing out candles reverently and not is? How can you judge that?

I can’t see the plate of cookies simiile at all,

I don’t like all the judgment about this being irreverent or that being so. We can not see into people’s hearts. I am sure that there are some great actors out there who can do the part perfectly (Like some of the phariseses.) Then there can be someone whose heart is full of love and respect. but is a bit of stumbler and awkard.
 
Would you rather the parish not have adoration at all? Your pastor obviously sees the benefit of having adoration, and so do you. If he was not able to be around to expose and repose the Sacrament, then would you prefer he just not expose it at all?
 
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