Thursday, May 26, 2011

Instruction on Eucharistic Worship - Sacred Congregation of Rites 1967 - Pt.23

V. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

60. The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, for which either a monstrance or a ciborium may be used, stimulates the faithful to an awareness of the marvelous presence of Christ and is an invitation to spiritual communion with Him. It is therefore an excellent encouragement to offer Him that worship in spirit and truth which is His due.Care must be taken that during these expositions the worship given to the Blessed Sacrament should be seen, by signs, in its relation to the Mass. It is thus desirable that when the exposition in question is solemn and prolonged, it should be begun at the end of the Mass in which the host to be exposed has been consecrated. The Mass ends with the <Benedicamus Domino> and the blessing is omitted. In the decoration which accompanies exposition,120 one must carefully avoid anything which could obscure the desire of Christ in instituting the Eucharist; for He instituted it above all with the purpose of nourishing, healing and sustaining us.121

61. It Is Forbidden to Celebrate Mass before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed

While the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, the celebration of Mass in the same area of the church (<eadem aula ecclesiae>) is forbidden, all concessions and contrary customs valid up to the present time, even those worthy of special mention, notwithstanding.
This is because, besides the reasons given in no. 55 of this instruction, the celebration of the Mystery of the Eucharist includes in a more perfect way that spiritual communion to which exposition should lead the faithful. Therefore there is no need for this further help.
If exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is prolonged for a day, or for several successive days, it should be interrupted during the celebration of the Mass, unless it is celebrated in a chapel apart from the exposition area and at least some of the faithful remain in adoration.
In places where the interruption of a long-established contrary custom would upset the faithful, the local Ordinary should establish a suitable but not over-long period of time, in order that this norm may be explained to the faithful before coming into effect.

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