What is a Holy Hour with Benediction?

[Jenny15]

I was just reading my Church’s bulletin that they give out each Sunday after mass. On the schedule with weekly things it said, Holy Hour with Benediction Friday 7-8 in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Does anyone know what this is or what you do in a Holy Hour and what happens?

 

[Trevelyan]

Hi Jenny,

A ‘holy hour’ can be public or private. Of course, anyone can spend time in prayer before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel or church (exposed in a monstrance or reposed in the tabernacle), and one can make it a ‘holy hour’. This is a common length of time to devote to praying to Jesus in the Eucharist (but of course one can make a 30 second or few minutes ‘visit’ or one could spend hours in prayer if one could) - and Jesus’ words in Gethsemane are sometimes thought of in relation to this - ‘Could you not watch one hour with me’.

A holy hour can be ‘public’ - in the sense that it follows a short liturgy with the priest leading the congregation in prayer. This sort of Holy Hour usually ends with Benediction - so, the Holy Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance (either on the altar - in a pariah church or chapel with an altar - or in whatever place the monstrance is placed) and we offer prayer and worship to the Holy Eucharist - to Jesus, with with hymns, prayers, scripture readings, silent prayer etc. and at the end of the hour of prayer, is benediction: the priest usually offers incense and prayers and then gives the benediction (blessing) with the Eucharist (so it is Jesus, not the priest, who blesses us).

Hope that helps.

 

[Jamie_Burns]

A Holy Hour is an hour set aside where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar (in a monstrance) for veneratation and prayer in the prescence of our Lord. It can be structured (like praying Liturgy of the Hours or some devotions), or the faithful present can pray individually in silence. In my opinion, the best Holy Hours allow at least some of the time for silent prayer and adoration.
Benediction is the ritual for returning the exposed Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle. Before reposing it, a priest or deacon can give the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. Acolytes (and EMHC) are also authorized to officiate at Exposition and Reposition, but cannot give the Benedection blessing.

 

[John_Lilburne]

… Benediction is the ritual for returning the exposed Blessed Sacrament to the Tabernacle. Before reposing it, a priest or deacon can give the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. Acolytes (and EMHC) are also authorized to officiate at Exposition and Reposition, but cannot give the Benedection blessing.

Sometimes the whole ceremony is referring to as Benediction. But more specifically it is the actual blessing, the monstrance with the consecrated host is moved to make the sign of the cross. This is done by the deacon, priest or bishop.

The term “benediction” comes from the Latin word “benedictionis” meaning blessing.

In the liturgical book the heading “Benediction” is used as the heading for a longer period. It has:
“BENEDICTION
97. Toward the end of the exposition the priest or deacon goes to the altar, genuflects, and kneels. Then a hymn or other eucharistic song is sung. Meanwhile the minister, while kneeling, incenses the sacrament …
98. Afterward the minister rises and sings or says:
Let us pray. …
99. After the prayer the priest or deacon puts on the humeral veil, genuflects, and takes the monstrance … He makes the sign of the cross over the people with the monstrance … in silence.
REPOSITION
100. After the blessing the priest or deacon who have the blessing, or another priest or deacon, replaces the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects. …”.
(From Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1975, ISBN 0-85574-401-4, pages 70-72).

It has a separate heading for reposition.