Yakking It Up During Holy Exposition...A Rant

[BlyssfulDreamer]

I am in a quandry. During Holy Week my church has the Holy Eucharist exposed in the church chapel. There are to be 2 of us at all times so Jesus is not left alone. I came for my designated hour this morning and 2 young women were there…one with her small baby and they were both talking…aloud…laughing and deciding about meeting for lunch the next week. Neither of the 2 genuflected when getting out of the pews. Here they were in the presence of our Lord and showing no respect at all…with the monstrance just a few feet from them.

I know there is nothing I could have done…but it just left a sad place in my heart. Thanks for listening.

 

[benedictgal]

I am in a quandry. During Holy Week my church has the Holy Eucharist exposed in the church chapel. There are to be 2 of us at all times so Jesus is not left alone. I came for my designated hour this morning and 2 young women were there…one with her small baby and they were both talking…aloud…laughing and deciding about meeting for lunch the next week. Neither of the 2 genuflected when getting out of the pews. Here they were in the presence of our Lord and showing no respect at all…with the monstrance just a few feet from them.

I know there is nothing I could have done…but it just left a sad place in my heart. Thanks for listening.

That is indeed a very sad state of affairs. It happened last week at my parish. I went about shushing everyone. People should know better.

Now, your parish does know that it’s not supposed to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance after the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, right? I hope so.

 

[Phemie]

That is indeed a very sad state of affairs. It happened last week at my parish. I went about shushing everyone. People should know better.

Now, your parish does know that it’s not supposed to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance after the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, right? I hope so.

I was informed this morning by the man who kind of rules this parish (it’s at his insistence that we have Adoration every month, etc.) that the monstrance would be used tonight. “Hey, that’s forbidden,” said I. He was shocked and said “I didn’t know that and obviously neither does Fr.”

Fr. had just confirmed, an hour or so before, that he’d never heard of Paschale Solemnitatis and didn’t know that only Hosts consecrated tonight could be used for Communion tonight and tomorrow.

 

[japhy]

… the monstrance would be used tonight. “Hey, that’s forbidden,” said I. He was shocked and said “I didn’t know that and obviously neither does Fr.”

Yeah, there’s no use of a monstrance tonight, as per PS n. 55.

Fr. had just confirmed, an hour or so before, that he’d never heard of Paschale Solemnitatis and didn’t know that only Hosts consecrated tonight could be used for Communion tonight and tomorrow.

You mean he didn’t know that consecrated hosts from the tabernacle can’t be used tonight? Or (gaps) he would consecrate more hosts tomorrow?!

 

[Phemie]

Quote “Where did this document come from? In my 33 years as a priest I have never heard that we can’t use the hosts that are left in the tabernacle for communion tonight and tomorrow. Let me check the ORDO.”

This when I asked if after he’d finished giving communion to the sick this morning he was going to consume the few Hosts that remain. Of course the ORDO confirmed what I had said.

 

[jmcrae]

That is indeed a very sad state of affairs. It happened last week at my parish. I went about shushing everyone. People should know better.

Yes, they should.

Now, your parish does know that it’s not supposed to have the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Monstrance after the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, right? I hope so.

Ours doesn’t. In fact I think it is mandated by our Bishop to have Exposition until midnight at every parish in the Diocese.

 

[Phemie]

Yes, they should.

Ours doesn’t. In fact I think it is mandated by our Bishop to have Exposition until midnight at every parish in the Diocese.

We are to have a period of Adoration but not Exposition.

 

[jmcrae]

We are to have a period of Adoration but not Exposition.

I shall watch tonight and see what happens. Maybe we are having Adoration without Exposition.

 

[Phemie]

I shall watch tonight and see what happens. Maybe we are having Adoration without Exposition.

That’s all we’ve ever had. The church is open until midnight for Adoration.

 

[jmcrae]

That’s all we’ve ever had. The church is open until midnight for Adoration.

Ours is, too, but I was assuming that “Adoration” meant “Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction.”

As I said above, I will watch and see what happens tonight.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I am in a quandry. During Holy Week my church has the Holy Eucharist exposed in the church chapel. There are to be 2 of us at all times so Jesus is not left alone. I came for my designated hour this morning and 2 young women were there…one with her small baby and they were both talking…aloud…laughing and deciding about meeting for lunch the next week. Neither of the 2 genuflected when getting out of the pews. Here they were in the presence of our Lord and showing no respect at all…with the monstrance just a few feet from them.

I know there is nothing I could have done…but it just left a sad place in my heart. Thanks for listening.

Maybe you could’ve gone over to the women and politely explain that the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for prayer and adoration, and if they would please show respect and take their conversation outside?

I’ve done this before and people understood and complied without a problem.

Jim

 

[maryj]

Yes, they should.

Ours doesn’t. In fact I think it is mandated by our Bishop to have Exposition until midnight at every parish in the Diocese.

It’s untill 11p,m, tonight at my parish. then there will be night time prayers, and the Monstrance removed from the adoration chapel.

 

[puzzleannie]

the Blessed Sacrament will be reposed in a location OTHER than the tabernacle at the close of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, there is no closing hymn, simply a procession in silence to the place of reposition, which will remain open until midnight for adoration (no exposition, no benediction, no formal prayers although the night office may be said, or individuals are free to say the rosary or any prayers they may wish). those hosts are the ones that will be distributed at the Good Friday liturgy, so enough will be consecrated tonight for that purpose.

 

[benedictgal]

Evidently, the yakking is a universal problem. After the procession, we were supposed to have left our church in unbroken silence. Unfortunately, when the blessed bread was given out, there was noise and people were chatting in the pews. However, once the crowds left, it got quiet.

Then, I went to visit the seven churches (it’s a tradition down here). I was rather upset when I went to my dad’s former parish and discovered that the pastor (who is supposed to have a PhD in Liturgy) had Our Lord exposed in the monstrance.

The Cathedral was just a little bit better; however, the ciborrium was out in the open and the luna (with the Blessed Sacrament) was lying down next to it. It was disappointing because the administrator also serves as the diocesan director of divine worship and he, too, holds a PhD in Liturgy. In fact, he succeeded the aforementioned pastor.

Evidently, very few priests have read PS. The Easter Vigil Masses for two of the parishes will start at 7PM; while there is one that is going to start at 5:30PM!

 

[Phemie]

Evidently, very few priests have read PS. The Easter Vigil Masses for two of the parishes will start at 7PM; while there is one that is going to start at 5:30PM!

Not only PS but a later document “Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy – Principles and Guidelines; Vatican City, December 2001” which reiterates the rule for Holy Thursday.

I went looking for a later document than PS since I’ve been burned before. For a funeral in the presence of cremated remains I based my preparation of the Church on what our brand new copy of the Rite of Christian Funeral said very clearly, not knowing that a later document had totally reversed the instruction. Now I look at the original document and then search for anything more recent that might contradict it or support it.

Our diocesan office sent out the notification: NO VIGIL BEFORE 8:30 p.m. when it should be full dark outside.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

The thread is going off topic. Please take any side issues to new or existing threads. Thank you all.

 

[thomasf]

What’s the difference between exposition and adoration? We had adoration until midnight last night after the HT mass.

 

[japhy]

What’s the difference between exposition and adoration? We had adoration until midnight last night after the HT mass.

But the Blessed Sacrament was not (or should not have been) exposed – such as in a monstrance. Instead, it was (or should have been) in a tabernacle, closed.

 

[thomasf]

But the Blessed Sacrament was not (or should not have been) exposed – such as in a monstrance. Instead, it was (or should have been) in a tabernacle, closed.

Why not?

Our priest put the blessed sacrament out in a monstrance.

 

[japhy]

Why not? Our priest put the blessed sacrament out in a monstrance.

Because the instructions for the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday say so. From Paschale Solemnitatis, nn. 54-55:
IV. Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

After the postcommunion prayer, the procession forms with the crossbearer at its head. The Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by lighted candles and incense, is carried through the church to the place of reservation, to the singing of the hymn “Pange lingua” or some other eucharistic song. This rite of transfer of the Blessed Sacrament may not be carried out if the liturgy of the Lord’s passion will not be celebrated in that same church on the following day.

The Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a closed tabernacle or pyx. Under no circumstances may it be exposed in a monstrance.

The place where the tabernacle or pyx is situated must not be made to resemble a tomb, and the expression tomb is to be avoided: for the chapel of repose is not prepared so as to represent the Lord’s burial but for the custody of the eucharistic bread that will be distributed in communion on Good Friday.
(The USCCB follows the same rules: “The Blessed Sacrament should be conserved in a closed tabernacle and should not be exposed in a monstrance.”)

Now, why is this the case? Well, I’ve never heard an explanation, I’ve never been educated as to why, but I could guess. Because this is the time during which Jesus has gone out to Gethsemane with his apostles, and is praying in seclusion and agony. He is sequestered, almost in hiding. And, furthermore, he is not displaying his glory now: he is entering into his most unglorious moments (from our perspective).