BUILDING OUR FAITH 11 – THE : RESERVATION | ADORATION | BENEDICTION

RESERVATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT 1. For the sick and dying First Apology of St Justin Martyr (c.100–165), ?155. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.

Canon 13 of the First Council of Nicaea (AD325) Concerning the departing, the ancient canonical law is still to be maintained, to wit, that, if any man be at the point of death, he not be deprived of the last and most indispensable . But, if any one should be restored to health again who has received the when his life was despaired of, let him remain among those who communicate in prayers only. But in general, and in the case of any dying person whatsoever asking to receive the Eucharist, let the , after examination made, give it him.

2. For the Liturgy Life of Zephyrinus (203-221): This ordained that when he was not present in person, the should not proceed until the priest had received from the pope a consecrated loaf.

Pope Innocent I, writing to Decentius (416) Concerning the fermentum, which we send on Sundays to the titular churches […] since all our churches are situated within the city, the presbyters of which being unable to meet together with us on that day, because of the people committed to their care, therefore receive by the hands of Fermentum consecrated by us, so that they may nor appear to be separated from communion with us, especially on that day. I do not, however, think that this should be done for country churches, because the sacraments should not be carried about far.

Ordo Romanus I (c.800s, with earlier roots) The Sancta | ‘The pope drops into the a fragment of the consecrated bread reserved from a previous day, at the words Domini sit semper vobiscum, The Peace of the Lord be with you always. It is a symbol of the unity of the Eucharist in point of time; uniting the communicants with those at the previous , and so on back through the ages as long as the ceremony had existed.

The Fermentum | When the pope was unable to celebrate solemn Mass in person, he sent a fragment of the loaves consecrated by him at some previous Mass […] and the same custom obtained at Masses celebrated at the titular churches (the main parish churches and shrines of the city of Rome). This was put into the chalice by the celebrant instead of the Sancta, and at the same liturgical moment.

3. Places of reservation

Sacrament House Hanging Tabernacle (built before 1578, rebuilt 1586) English, early C20th St Peter’s, Rome, 1674

ADORATION Pope St Gregory VII’s Profession for Berengar of Tours (1079) I believe in my heart and openly profess that the bread and wine that are placed on the are, through the mystery of the sacred prayer and the words of the Redeemer, substantially changed into the true and and lifegiving flesh and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, and that after the consecration they are the true —which was born of the Virgin and which hung on the Cross as an offering for the salvation of the world—and the true —which flowed from His side—and not just as a sign and by reason of the power of the sacrament, but in the very truth and reality of their substance and in what is proper to their nature.

Pope Urban IV, Transiturus Therefore, to strengthen and exalt the Catholic Faith, we decree that, besides the daily memory that the Church makes of this Sacrament, there be celebrated a more solemn and special annual memorial. Then let the hearts and mouths of all break forth in hymns of saving joy; then let faith sing, hope dance, charity exult, devotion applaud, the choir be jubilant, and purity delight. Then let each one with willing spirit and prompt will come together, laudably fulfilling his duties, celebrating the Solemnity of so great a Feast.

Council of Trent, 13th Session, 5 (1551) Wherefore, there is no room left for doubt, that all the faithful of Christ may, according to the custom ever received in the , render in veneration the worship of latria, which is due to the true God, to this most holy sacrament. For not therefore is it the less to be adored on this account, that it was instituted by Christ, the Lord, in order to be received: for we believe that same God to be present therein, of whom the eternal Father, when introducing him into the world, says; And let all the angels of God adore him; whom the Magi falling down, adored; who, in fine, as the Scripture testifies, was adored by the apostles in Galilee. The holy Synod declares, moreover, that very piously and religiously was this custom introduced into the Church, that this sublime and venerable sacrament be, with special veneration and solemnity, celebrated, every year, on a certain day, and that a festival; and that it be borne reverently and with honour in processions through the streets, and public places. For it is most just that there be certain appointed holy days, whereon all Christians may, with a special and unusual demonstration, testify that their minds are grateful and thankful to their common Lord and Redeemer for so ineffable and truly divine a benefit, whereby the victory and triumph of His death are represented. And so indeed did it behove victorious truth to celebrate a triumph over falsehood and heresy, that thus her adversaries, at the sight of so much splendour, and in the midst of so great joy of the universal Church, may either pine away weakened and broken; or, touched with shame and confounded, at length repent.

St Charles Borromeo on Church Architecture (1577) It is proper that some instruction be given here on the subject of the tabernacle, since a provincial decree has made it obligatory to put the tabernacle on the high altar. In more important churches, where possible, it should be made of sheet silver or sheet bronze, which should be gilded, or of precious marble. Inside it will be totally lined with panels of poplar or another kind of wood, so that the Holy Eucharist will be protected, thanks to this lining, from the humidity of metal or marble. The size of the tabernacle will be in keeping with the dignity, size and type of the church on the high altar of which it is to be placed. It will be octagonal or round in form, as will seem most fitting, from the point of view of decorum and piety, to the form of the church. Inside, the tabernacle will be lined in every part and decorated with red silk, if the church is of Ambrosian, or white if of .

St Alphonsus Liguori, Visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament, 1745. Our holy faith teaches us, and we are bound to believe, that in the consecrated Host Jesus Christ is really present under the species of bread. But we must also understand that He is thus present on our altars as on a throne of love and mercy, to dispense graces and there to show us the love which He bears us, by being pleased to dwell night and day hidden in the midst of us. But let all those devout souls who often go to spend their time with the Most Blessed Sacrament speak;-----let them tell us the gifts, the inspirations which they have received, the flames of love which are there enkindled in their souls, the paradise which they enjoy in the presence of this hidden God. Oh, how sweet a joy it is to remain with faith and tender devotion before an altar, and converse familiarly with Jesus Christ, Who is there for the express purpose of listening to and graciously hearing those who pray to Him; to ask His pardon for the displeasures which we have caused Him; to represent our wants to Him, as a friend does to a friend in whom he places all his confidence; to ask Him for His graces, for His love, and for His kingdom; but above all, oh, what a heaven is it there to remain making acts of love towards that Lord Who is on the very Altar praying to the Eternal Father for us, and is there burning with love for us. Indeed that love it is which detains Him there, thus hidden and unknown, and when He is even despised by ungrateful souls! But why should we say more? "Taste and see."

BENEDICTION From the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907: The idea of exposing the Blessed Sacrament for veneration in a monstrance appears to have been first evolved at the end of the thirteenth or the beginning of the fourteenth century. When the of the Host at Mass was introduced in the early years of the thirteenth century, […] the idea by degrees took firm hold of the popular mind that special virtue and merit were attached to the act of looking at the Blessed Sacrament. To such extremes did this prepossession go, that the seeing of the Host at the moment of the elevation was judged to be the most vital part of attendance at Mass. […] Under the influence of this idea, the Blessed Sacrament in the processions which became common after the institution of the in 1246, came by degrees to be carried in transparent vessels, resembling our present monstrances. Moreover, a custom grew up, especially in Germany, of keeping the Blessed Sacrament continually exposed to view in churches. [F]rom the beginning of the thirteenth century, a custom prevailed among the confraternities and guilds which were established at that period in great numbers, of singing canticles in the evening of the day before a statue of Our Lady. Now it seems certain that our present Benediction service has resulted from the general adoption of this evening singing of canticles before the statue of Our Lady, enhanced as it often came to be in the course of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, which as employed at first only as an adjunct to lend it additional solemnity. The blessing at the close seems to have been added simply because the custom gained ground of making the over the people whenever the Blessed Sacrament was replaced in the tabernacle after a procession or after being carried to the sick or any kind of an exposition.