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Blessed Sacrament |
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BASIC R.C. BELIEF
A Roman Catholic term denoting the Host which they believe, from the moment of
consecration by a priest, becomes, by the miracle of transubstantiation
,the Body of Christ.
Originally, the retaining of a consecrated wafer was for use in Extreme Unction but came to be visited and adored by the people. It can
be briefly exposed for the people to worship, or for a more lengthy period
as on Corpus Christi. If the lamp on the altar is lit, it denotes
the presence of a consecrated Host, known as the Blessed Sacrament. People
come to church to "visit the Blessed Sacrament", or they make the sign of
the Cross, when passing, as a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
"Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary are not simply the
best way, but the only way to keep purity," says St. Philip Neri.
POST VATICAN II
The encyclical EUCHARISTAE SACRAMENTUM (6/21/73) laid down precise rules
for the exposition and worship of the Blessed Sacrament.
From THE POWER OF THE EUCHARIST by Alfred DeManche, in THE CATHOLIC
REGISTER, 6/23/84. "The solemnity of Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
recalls one of the most wonderful doctrines of our faith, that Christ is
really present in the Eucharist - His Body, Blood, Soul and
Divinity. Pope
John Paul II
makes two Holy Hours before the Blessed
Sacrament each day...if we want more priestly vocations, more favors,
solutions to our problems, devotion to Christ, the Eucharist is the answer.
The late Mother Teresa of Calcutta found time in her busy life
to spend three hours daily before the Blessed Sacrament.
CHRISTIAN COMMENT
Christians do not have to "visit" our Lord to worship Him, for He has
promised always to be with us (Matthew 28:20).
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