Eucharistic adoration

Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic and some Anglican Churches, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored by the faithful. When this exposure and adoration is constant (that is, twenty-four hours a day), it is called perpetual adoration. In a parish, this is usually done by volunteer parishioners; in a monastery or convent, it is done by the resident monks or nuns.

History

The practice of adoration began in Avignon, France on September 11, 1226. To celebrate and give thanks for the victory over the Albigensians in the later battles of the Albigensian Crusade, King Louis VII asked that the sacrament be placed on display at the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The overwhelming number of adorers brought the local bishop, Pierre de Corbie, to suggest that the exposition be continued indefinitely. With the permission of Pope Honorius III, the idea was ratified and the adoration continued there practically uninterrupted until the chaos of the French Revolution halted it from 1792 until the efforts of the "Confraternity of Penitents-Gris" brought it back in 1829.

Purpose of adoration

Adoration is a sign of devotion to and worship of Jesus Christ, who is believed by many Christians to be present in the consecrated host, represented by hosts or bread.

Roman Catholic belief

In the Roman Catholic tradition, at the moment of Consecration the elements (or "gifts" as they are termed for liturgical purposes) are transformed (literally transubstantiated) into the actual Body and Blood of Christ. Catholic doctrine holds that the elements are not only spiritually transformed, but rather are actually (substantially) transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is held that although the elements retain the appearance or "accidents" of bread and wine, they are indeed the actual Body and Blood of Christ. This is one form of the doctrine of Real Presence—the actual, substantive presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. At the point of Consecration, the act that takes place is a double miracle: 1) that Christ is present in a physical form and 2) that the bread and wine have truly, substantially become Jesus' Body and Blood. Because Roman Catholics believe that Christ is truly present (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) in the Eucharist, the reserved sacrament serves as a focal point of adoration. Calvin and Zwingli viewed this as idolatry.

Anglican belief

In the Anglican tradition, Christ is believed to dwell spiritually in the sacred elements (consubstantiation), but they do not believe that the lack of a physical presence in any way diminshes the Real Presence of Christ - hence the motive and function of adoration is substantially similar to that practiced in the Roman Catholic Church. Opinions on the propriety of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament varies in the Anglican tradition (see Anglican Eucharistic theology).

Lutheran belief

Lutheran Eucharistic adoration is almost always limited to communion service, because there has not been practise to reservation of the Sacrament. Historicly in Lutheranism there has been two parties concerning Eucharistic adoration: Gnesio-Lutherans, who followed Martin Luther and Philippists following Philipp Melanchthon. Although Luther did not approve Feast of Corpus Christi , he had written treatise "Adoration of the Sacrament" (Von anbeten des sakraments des heyligen leychnahms Christi, 1523) where he defended adoration, but did not want to force to it. After death of Martin Luther there developed controversies like Crypto-Calvinism and Gnesio-Lutherans, who practised adoration were led to these often difficult controversies. Philippist understanding of the Real Presence without adoration has become historicly dominant in Lutheranism, although doctrinally it is less in accordance with Luther´s own teaching. German theologian Andreas Musculus can be regarded as one of the warmest defenders of Eucharistic adoration in early Lutheranism .

The practice of adoration

The host is displayed in a monstrance, typically placed on an altar. The Blessed Sacrament may not actually be exposed, but left in a ciborium, which is likewise placed on an altar. This exposition usually occurs in the context of a service of Benediction or similar service of devotions to the Blessed Sacrament. In services of perpetual adoration, parishioners volunteer to attend for a certain period of time, typically an hour, around the clock. Because of the difficulty of maintaining twenty-four hour attendance, many parishes no longer provide perpetual adoration. In many parishes, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in an enclosed tabernacle so that the faithful may pray in its presence without the need for volunteers to be in constant attendance (as must be the case when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed).

Source

McMahon, Joseph H.: "Perpetual adoration." The Catholic Encyclopedia. ^*.

External links

Eucharistic devotions | Roman Catholic Eucharistic theology | Anglican Eucharistic theology | Lutheran Eucharistic theology

Aussetzung des Allerheiligsten | Adoration eucharistique

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