Understanding the devotion of praying before the Blessed Sacrament

by Ann Przybilla

Diocesan Director of Worship

As we near the closing of the observance of the Year of the Eucharist, many parishes have increased efforts to offer Eucharistic Adoration.

The custom of reserving the Blessed Sacrament came about from the need to have the Eucharist available for the sick. In the second century, Justin Martyr speaks of taking the Eucharist to members of the community that were absent from the Sunday celebration.

There was a rapid decline in the numbers of the faithful who received communion in the Middle Ages, partly caused by a liturgy that was not in the language that people could understand and participate in and also because of fear and extreme piety toward the Eucharist. It is understandable, then, that the faithful yearned for some further expression of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.

Therefore, "ocular" communion (seeing the host) became the norm particularly at the time of the elevation during Mass, at communion during Mass, during communion to the sick and at the Corpus Christi procession. Adoration with the monstrance came to be attractive to the faithful as a means to extend this "ocular" communion. The current practice of exposing the sacrament in a monstrance originated in Germany in the 14th century.

Early forms of exposition, adoration and benediction of the Blessed

Sacrament were often performed hastily without much time for reflective prayer. Today, there are clear directives that emphasize Adoration as connected to the Mass. Adoration can often include communal prayer with scripture, song and reverent silence.

Adoration is defined in the Catechism as "acknowledgment that God is God, the Creator and Savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exists, as infinite and merciful love." (2096). This is a premise of all worship. This is what leads us to the Sunday Mass. This is what leads us to adore the Lord, whether it be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, in conversation with family, friends or co-workers, and in our thoughts and actions.