Protocol for Eucharistic Adoration

[CB_Catholic]

I am a Lay Leader of Prayer (as it is called in our Diocese) and also an EMHC. Both are commissioned positions. It is part of my responsibility (and the other LLP’s) to repose the Blessed Sacrament if no clergy is available. I don an alb (which I was taught to do) and we have a ritual written for this consisting of singing the songs prescribed for this, (the Tantum Ergo), the Litany to the Heart of Jesus, a period of Adoration, I remove the Luna from the monstrance and repose the Blessed Sacrament, and then we do the Divine Praises, followed by singing Holy God We Praise thy Name. We do NOT do Benediction, and I certainly have no desire to be a priest. I act according to the Church and my Bishop, who commissioned me to be a LLP after weekly training sessions for 8 weeks. I take all my duties as a LLP and EMHC very seriously, wether it is reposing the Blessed Sacrament, presiding at a Liturgy of the Word, leading the Rosary or a Novena, distributing Communion, and every single LLP and EMHC I know does the same.

If the OP would perceive me as being irreverent, reposing the Sacrament like a plate of cookies, or any of the other accusations I would suggest an examination of conscience is in order as to why he feels he is in a position to judge the minds and hearts of others, and feels qualified to place his opinion above what the Church permits.

 

[DeniseNY]

I am a Lay Leader of Prayer (as it is called in our Diocese) and also an EMHC. Both are commissioned positions. It is part of my responsibility (and the other LLP’s) to repose the Blessed Sacrament if no clergy is available. I don an alb (which I was taught to do) and we have a ritual written for this consisting of singing the songs prescribed for this, (the Tantum Ergo), the Litany to the Heart of Jesus, a period of Adoration, I remove the Luna from the monstrance and repose the Blessed Sacrament, and then we do the Divine Praises, followed by singing Holy God We Praise thy Name. We do NOT do Benediction, and I certainly have no desire to be a priest. I act according to the Church and my Bishop, who commissioned me to be a LLP after weekly training sessions for 8 weeks. I take all my duties as a LLP and EMHC very seriously, wether it is reposing the Blessed Sacrament, presiding at a Liturgy of the Word, leading the Rosary or a Novena, distributing Communion, and every single LLP and EMHC I know does the same.

If the OP would perceive me as being irreverent, reposing the Sacrament like a plate of cookies, or any of the other accusations I would suggest an examination of conscience is in order as to why he feels he is in a position to judge the minds and hearts of others, and feels qualified to place his opinion above what the Church permits.

Very well stated

 

[jmcrae]

I am wondering what the difference between blowing out candles reverently and not is? How can you judge that?

One doesn’t blow out the candles on the Altar - one uses a candle snuffer.

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

Maybe she was carrying the pyx in only one hand, or something like that?

I can understand the frustration, if someone is not being as reverent as one expects, but the fact that they are the parish secretary, or that they look “grandmotherly” are not relevant to their ability (or not) to be reverent.

There are plenty of people who blow out the candles on the Altar, who simply don’t know any better, and have actually never known what a candle-snuffer was, or used one before.

I agree with the person who said, if you don’t like how she does it, then volunteer to do it, and be reliable about showing up on time and doing it. I am sure she would appreciate having one less thing on her list to take care of when the priest is away on sick calls, etc.

It could be worse; you could have some kid playing Protestant hymns on an electric guitar all the way through Adoration, and then spitting on his hands to pinch the flames out on the candles at the end, and then carrying the pyx back to the tabernacle under one arm, while continuing to -]talk about himself/-] give his testimony.

Then you will miss your grandmotherly secretary; you’ll say, “Oh, for the good old days, when we had holy women who knew how to keep reverent silence in the Presence of Jesus Christ.”

 

[Mary_Ellen]

I’m sorry you had a bad experience with the Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament as performed by what we must assume was an EMHC who did so without apparent reverence.

In our parish without the services of lay ministers we would not be able to continue our daily Adoration Program. When we repose the Blessed Sacrament we first recite the Divine Praises and then the EMHC bows before the altar, walks to the back of the altar, bows again, takes the monstrance off the tabor, removes the luna, places the luna in a vertical pyx and retreats from the chapel to go to the tabernacle in the main church while those present sing “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.” By the time the EMHC returns to the chapel most of the people have left and “housekeeping” commences…locking the doors, snuffing out the candles, removing the monstrance and tabor, paperwork, neatening up, and turning out the lights.

If the procedure followed for the Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament was irreverent in any way in your parish I suggest you bring the situation up with your pastor. It is his responsibility that the Sacrament is treated with reverence at all times.

 

[Crusaderbear]

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!

go granma’s ! I can only wish i had ever known mine.

 

[PhiloMed]

(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.

Not doing their jobs? Are you under the impression the priest was sitting in the rectory watching now The View while the parish secretary put away (seemingly properly by your description) the Blessed Sacrament?

I would also suggest changing your screen name. It does not seem to fit you.

 

[brad90956]

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.

A few weeks ago, our priest was out of town during Adoration. Our musical director placed the host in the monstrance with a cloth. After Adoration, he removed it the same way and placed it back into the tabernacle. He did not give the blessing with the sacrament before placing it back in the tabernacle.

 

[zab]

A few weeks ago, our priest was out of town during Adoration. Our musical director placed the host in the monstrance with a cloth. After Adoration, he removed it the same way and placed it back into the tabernacle. He did not give the blessing with the sacrament before placing it back in the tabernacle.

Our present pastor, for the past six years, has been using a ciborium veil, a veil that goes over the ciborium when placed in the tabernacle. There is also one for the luna, the container for the large Host used in adoration.