Benediction downgraded?

by Michael Shackleton · July 30, 2008

I have been told that the modern Church has downgraded the old-style worship of the Blessed Sacrament, such as in Benediction and eucharistic processions, in favour of Sunday and daily Mass. Is this so? It looks like it, because our parish has not had Benediction for more years than I can remember, nor has our diocese had a eucharistic procession.

The modern Church has not downgraded worship of the Blessed Sacrament as you suggest. As recently as 2004, the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship reaffirmed the importance of all aspects of the Eucharist, including eucharistic worship outside Mass.

An Instruction entitled �Redemptionis sacramentum� (the sacrament of redemption), specifically stated that the worship of the Eucharist is of inestimable value in the life of the Church and is closely linked to the celebration of the eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass.

It says: �Both public and private devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist even outside Mass should be vigorously promoted, for by means of it the faithful give adoration to Christ, truly and really present.� It insists that �it is the responsibility of sacred pastors, even by the witness of their life, to support the practice of eucharistic worship and especially exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the eucharistic species�. Fr Stephen Whyte OFM, who taught at St John Vianney Seminary, used to stress that the priest should be seen adoring the Eucharist because the two are inextricably linked.

The instruction recommends that the diocesan bishop should designate a church building for perpetual adoration. He should also foster the tradition of processions to honour Christ in this great sacrament, especially on the solemnity of Corpus Christi. In those places where processions along public roads cannot be done, it says the tradition must not be lost. Processions could be held at shrines or elsewhere.

Regular eucharistic processions occur in many South African dioceses and perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is common in many parishes. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is less frequent probably because it used to be held on Sunday evenings, which are now taken up with Sunday Mass.

Concerned parishioners and parish councils should negotiate with parish priests to bring back Benediction on occasion at least, if there is sufficient interest in it, and to arrange eucharistic processions where feasible.