Stations of the Cross during Adoration?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael_Welter
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Michael_Welter

Guest
Last Friday evening, I attended Stations of the Cross at a neighboring parish. When I arrived, I noticed that adoration was in progress, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance. I was expecting Benediction, and the reposing of the Blessed Sacrament prior to the Stations of the Cross beginning, but was surprised that the Stations began while the Blessed Sacrament was exposed.

The pastor, along with several altar servers, went from station to station around the church reciting prayers, scripture readings, and reflections. The congregation turned to face them, as they moved around the church. This, of course, had the effect of causing everyone to turn their backs on the Blessed Sacrament. I thought this was very disrespectful. Am I right?
 
It is an incorrect thing to do, based on the 2001 Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy:

“165. … The faithful should be encouraged to read the Scriptures during these periods of adoration, since they afford an unrivalled source of prayer. Suitable hymns and canticles based on those of the Liturgy of the Hours and the liturgical seasons could also be encouraged, as well as periods of silent prayer and reflection. Gradually, the faithful should be encouraged not to do other devotional exercises during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
(footnote 180: Cf. Reply ad dubium on n. 62 of the Instruction Eucharisticum mysterium, in Notitiae 34 (1998) 133-134; concerning the Rosary, see the following note.)
Given the close relationship between Christ and Our Lady, the rosary can always be of assistance in giving prayer a Christological orientation, since it contains meditation of the Incarnation and the Redemption.
(footnote 181: Cf. PAUL VI, Apostolic Exhortation Marialis cultus, 46; Letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline pf the Sacraments (15.1.1997), in Notitiae 34 (1998) 506-510; see also the rescript of the Apostolic Penitentiary of 8 March 1996, in Notitiae 34 (1998) 511.)”
 
That is exactly what we have been doing at our parish. So, am I to assume this is the wrong thing to do? We genuflect to the Blessed Sacrament and we do tgurn to face the stations…but we really don’t turn our backs totally…now I **am **confused.:confused:

:heart:Blyss
 
I pray the stations of the cross in our perpetual adoration chapel as do many other parishioners. However, it’s not done as a public devotion in our chapel.
 
It seems like a very weird situation.

Adoration is one thing, and the Stations of the Cross are a different thing.

It seems like they are trying to do two totally different things at the same time.
 
We never turn our backs on our Lord present in the Eucharist which is brought from the perpetual adoration chapel to the altar right before the stations of the cross. Followed by Benediction, and then the Monstrance is returned to the adoration chapel. I went to Catholic school and this was also the way it was always done.
 
In the church I go to for the Stations, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed after the Stations has been completed and Benediction is offered.
 
At my parish we had a short time of adoration after the actual Stations of the Cross before the final benefidiction. It was a beautiful liturgy. I admit I would have been confused had the Blessed Sacrament been exposed during the stations.

Gertie
 
We also do stations, then adoration/benediction. As I recall, the monstrance is sitting on the altar the whole time though, to have it ready, but the blessed sacrament is not placed in it untill after stations. But one kind of flows into the other. Maybe it was the same, and you just thought the scrament was exposed the whole time? (trying for benfit of doubt here)
 
No, it was definately exposed in the monstrance. And the people there ahead of time were clearly participating in adoration.
 
According to the new custom introduced by Pope John Paul, a priest may give a talk while the Lord is exposed in the monstrance.

Maybe this flows from that?

Actually I pray the Stations alone before Our Lord exposed. The stations are not Christ, but help us meditate and enter into His suffering.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top