|
CONGREGATION
FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT
INSTRUCTION
Redemptionis
Sacramentum
On
certain matters to be observed or to be avoided
regarding the Most Holy Eucharist
Chapter
VI
THE RESERVATION OF THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST
AND EUCHARISTIC WORSHIP OUTSIDE MASS
1. The Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist
[129.] “The
celebration of the Eucharist in the Sacrifice of the Mass is truly the
origin and end of the worship given to the Eucharist outside the Mass.
Furthermore the sacred species are reserved after Mass principally so
that the faithful who cannot be present at Mass, above all the sick and
those advanced in age, may be united by sacramental Communion to Christ
and his Sacrifice which is offered in the Mass.”[219]
In addition, this reservation also permits the practice of adoring this
great Sacrament and offering it the worship due to God. Accordingly, forms
of adoration that are not only private but also public and communitarian
in nature, as established or approved by the Church herself, must be greatly
promoted.[220]
[130.] “According to the structure of each church building and in
accordance with legitimate local customs, the Most Holy Sacrament is to
be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is noble, prominent,
readily visible, and adorned in a dignified manner” and furthermore
“suitable for prayer” by reason of the quietness of the location,
the space available in front of the tabernacle, and also the supply of
benches or seats and kneelers.[221] In addition,
diligent attention should be paid to all the prescriptions of the liturgical
books and to the norm of law,[222] especially as
regards the avoidance of the danger of profanation.[223]
[131.] Apart from the prescriptions of canon 934 § 1, it is forbidden
to reserve the Blessed Sacrament in a place that is not subject in a secure
way to the authority of the diocesan Bishop, or where there is a danger
of profanation. Where such is the case, the diocesan Bishop should immediately
revoke any permission for reservation of the Eucharist that may already
have been granted.[224]
[132.] No one may carry the Most Holy Eucharist to his or her home, or
to any other place contrary to the norm of law. It should also be borne
in mind that removing or retaining the consecrated species for a sacrilegious
purpose or casting them away are graviora delicta, the absolution of which
is reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.[225]
[133.] A Priest or Deacon, or an extraordinary minister who takes the
Most Holy Eucharist when an ordained minister is absent or impeded in
order to administer it as Communion for a sick person, should go insofar
as possible directly from the place where the Sacrament is reserved to
the sick person’s home, leaving aside any profane business so that
any danger of profanation may be avoided and the greatest reverence for
the Body of Christ may be ensured. Furthermore the Rite for the administration
of Communion to the sick, as prescribed in the Roman Ritual, is always
to be used.[226]
2.
Certain Forms of Worship of the Most Holy Eucharist Outside Mass
[134.] “The
worship of the Eucharist outside the Sacrifice of the Mass is a tribute
of inestimable value in the life of the Church. Such worship is closely
linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.”[227]
Therefore 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,[228]
the “High Priest of the good things to come”[229]
and Redeemer of the whole world. “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.”[230]
[135.] The faithful “should not omit making visits during the day
to the Most Holy Sacrament, as a proof of gratitude, a pledge of love,
and a debt of the adoration due to Christ the Lord who is present in it.”[231]
For the contemplation of Jesus present in the Most Holy Sacrament, as
a communion of desire, powerfully joins the faithful to Christ, as is
splendidly evident in the example of so many Saints.[232]
‘Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, a church in which
the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved should be open to the faithful for
at least some hours each day, so that they can spend time in prayer before
the Most Holy Sacrament.”[233]
[136.] The Ordinary should diligently foster Eucharistic adoration, whether
brief or prolonged or almost continuous, with the participation of the
people. For in recent years in so many places “adoration of the
Most Holy Sacrament is also an important daily practice and becomes an
inexhaustible source of holiness”, although there are also places
“where there is evident almost a total lack of regard for worship
in the form of Eucharistic adoration.”[234]
[137.] Exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist must always be carried out
in accordance with the prescriptions of the liturgical books.[235]
Before the Most Holy Sacrament either reserved or exposed, the praying
of the Rosary, which is admirable “in its simplicity and even its
profundity”, is not to be excluded either.[236]
Even so, especially if there is Exposition, the character of this kind
of prayer as a contemplation of the mystery of the life of Christ the
Redeemer and the Almighty Father’s design of salvation should be
emphasized, especially by making use of readings taken from Sacred Scripture.[237]
[138.] Still, the Most Holy Sacrament, when exposed, must never be left
unattended even for the briefest space of time. It should therefore be
arranged that at least some of the faithful always be present at fixed
times, even if they take alternating turns.
[139.] Where the diocesan Bishop has sacred ministers or others whom he
can assign to this purpose, the faithful have a right to visit the Most
Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist frequently for adoration, and to take
part in adoration before the Most Holy Eucharist exposed at least at some
time in the course of any given year.
[140.] It is highly recommended that at least in the cities and the larger
towns the diocesan Bishop should designate a church building for perpetual
adoration; in it, however, Holy Mass should be celebrated frequently,
even daily if possible, while the Exposition should rigorously be interrupted
while Mass is being celebrated.[238] It is fitting
that the host to be exposed for adoration should be consecrated in the
Mass immediately preceding the time of adoration, and that it should be
placed in the monstrance upon the altar after Communion.[239]
[141.] The diocesan Bishop should acknowledge and foster insofar as possible
the right of the various groups of Christ’s faithful to form guilds
or associations for the carrying out of adoration, even almost continuous
adoration. Whenever such associations assume an international character,
it pertains to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline
of the Sacraments to erect them and to approve their statutes.[240]
3.
Eucharistic Congresses and Eucharistic Processions
[142.] “It
is for the diocesan Bishop to establish regulations about processions
in order to provide for participation in them and for their being carried
out in a dignified way”[241] and to promote
adoration by the faithful.
[143.] “Wherever it is possible in the judgment of the diocesan
Bishop, a procession through the public streets should be held, especially
on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ as a public witness of
reverence for the Most Holy Sacrament”,[242]
for the “devout participation of the faithful in the Eucharistic
procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a grace
from the Lord which yearly fills with joy those who take part in it”.[243]
[144.] Although this cannot be done in some places, the tradition of holding
Eucharistic processions should not be allowed to be lost. Instead, new
ways should be sought of holding them in today’s conditions: for
example, at shrines, or in public gardens if the civil authority agrees.
[145.] The pastoral value of Eucharistic Congresses should be highly esteemed,
and they “should be a genuine sign of faith and charity”.[244]
Let them be diligently prepared and carried out in accordance with what
has been laid down,[245] so that Christ’s
faithful may have the occasion to worship the sacred mysteries of the
Body and Blood of the Son of God in a worthy manner, and that they may
continually experience within themselves the fruits of the Redemption.[246]
Notes
[219] S. Congregation for Divine Worship, Decree, Eucharistiae
sacramentum, 21 June 1973: AAS 65 (1973) 610.
[220] Cf. ibidem.
[221] Cf. S. Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium,
n. 54: AAS 59 (1967) p. 568; Instruction, Inter Oecumenici, 26 September
1964, n. 95: AAS 56 (1964) pp. 877-900, here p. 898; Missale Romanum,
Institutio Generalis,n. 314.
[222] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Letter, Dominicae Cenae, n. 3: AAS 72 (1980)
pp. 117-119; S. Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium,
n. 53: AAS 59 (1967) p. 568; Code of Canon Law, can. 938 § 2; Roman
Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, Introduction,
n. 9; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, nn. 314-317.
[223] Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 938 §§ 3-5.
[224] S. Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction,
Nullo unquam, diei 26 maii 1938, n. 10d: AAS 30 (1938), pp. 198-207, here
p. 206.
[225] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter (Motu Proprio), Sacramentorum
sanctitatis tutela, 30 April 2001: AAS 93 (2001) pp. 737-739; Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ep. ad totius Catholicae Ecclesiae Episcopos
aliosque Ordinarios et Hierarchas quorum interest: de delictis gravioribus
eidem Congregationi pro Doctrina Fidei reservatis: AAS 93 (2001) p. 786.
[226] Cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside
Mass, nn. 26-78.
[227] Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n.
25: AAS 95 (2003) pp. 449-450.
[228] Cf. Ecumenical Council of Trent,, Sessio XIII, 11 October 1551,
Decree on the Most Holy Eucharist, Chapter 5: DS 1643; Pius Pp. XII, Encyclical
Letter Mediator Dei: AAS 39 (1947) p. 569; Pope Paul Pp. VI, Encyclical
Letter Mysterium Fidei, 3 September 1965: AAS 57 (1965) pp. 751-774, here
769-770; S. Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium,
n. 3f: AAS 59 (1967) p. 543; S. Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine
Worship, Instruction, Inaestimabile donum, n. 20: AAS 72 (1980) p. 339;
Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 25:
AAS 95 (2003) pp. 449-450.
[229] Cf. Heb 9,:11; Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de
Eucharistia, n. 3: AAS 95 (2003) p. 435.
[230] Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n.
25: AAS 95 (2003) p. 450.
[231] Pope Paul. VI, Encyclical Letter Mysterium fidei: AAS 57 (1965)
p. 771.
[232] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia,
n. 25: AAS 95 (2003) pp. 449-450.
[233] Code of Canon Law, can. 937.
[234] Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n.
10: AAS 95 (2003) p. 439.
[235] Cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside
Mass, nn. 82-100; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 317; Code
of Canon Law, can. 941 § 2.
[236] Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, diei
16 octobris 2002: AAS 95 (2003) pp. 5-36; here n. 2, p. 6.
[237] Cf. Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,
Letter of the Congregation, 15 January 1997: Notitiae 34 (1998) pp. 506-510;
Apostolic Penitentiary, Letter to a Priest, 8 March 1996: Notitiae 34
(1998) p. 511.
[238] Cf. S. Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium,
n. 61: AAS 59 (1967) p. 571; Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship
of the Eucharist Outside Mass, n. 83; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis,
n. 317; Code of Canon Law, can. 941 § 2.
[239] Cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside
Mass, n. 94.
[240] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution, Pastor bonus, art.
65: AAS 80 (1988) p. 877.
[241] Code of Canon Law, can. 944 § 2; cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion
and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, Introduction, n. 102; Missale
Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 317.
[242] Code of Canon Law, can. 944 § 1; cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion
and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, Introduction, nn. 101-102;
Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 317.
[243] Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n.
10: AAS 95 (2003) p. 439
[244] Cf. Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside
Mass, Introduction, n. 109.
[245] Cf. ibidem, nn. 109-112.
[246] Cf. Missale Romanum, In sollemnitate sanctissimi Corporis et Sanguinis
Christi, Collecta, p. 489.
Previous Page • TOC
• Next Page
|