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Particular Pious Practices Centered on the Eucharist

1. 1. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a form of Eucharistic worship which is particularly widespread in the Church and earnestly recommended to her Pastors and faithful. Its initial form derives from Holy Thursday and the altar of repose, following the celebration of the Coena Domini [Holy Thursday ] Mass. This adoration is a most apt way of expressing the connection between the celebration of the memorial of the Lord's Sacrifice and his continued presence in the Sacrament of the Altar. The reservation of the Sacred Species encouraged the practice among the faithful of recollection before the tabernacle and to worship Christ present in the Sacrament.
1. 1. Exposition is a particular form of adoration in which the Blessed Sacrament exposed for a period of time in a monstrance or pyx in accordance with liturgical norm. This devotion is not to become a replacement for the Mass but should lead people to more fully appreciate the presence and prayer of Christ in the Mass.
1. 1. Forty Hours Devotion: The practice of an extended (“forty hours”) period of Eucharistic exposition and adoration has been a long-established practice in our Catholic tradition, beginning no later than the 16^th century. The Eucharist is exposed on the main altar for forty hours with planned times for different types of piety (extended silence, novenas relating to Christ, appropriate music, rosaries, Scripture reading, Liturgy of the Hours, etc.). This practice is normally begun and concluded with the celebration of Mass. Mass may never be celebrated in the church while exposition is occurring. The Blessed Sacrament should be reserved prior to the beginning of Mass.
1. 1. Eucharistic Processions: Eucharistic Processions are prolongations of the celebration of the Eucharist: immediately after Mass, the Sacred Host, consecrated during the Mass, is borne out of the Church for the Christian faithful "to make public profession of faith and worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament". The faithful understand and appreciate the values inherent in the procession: they are aware of being "the People of God", journeying with the Lord, and proclaiming faith in him who has become truly "God-amongst-us". It is necessary however to ensure that the norms governing processions be observed, especially those ensuring respect for the dignity and reverence of the Blessed Sacrament. It is also necessary to ensure that the typical elements of popular piety accompanying the precession, such as the decoration of the streets and windows with flowers and the hymns and prayers used during the procession, truly "lead all to manifest their faith in Christ, and to give praise to the Lord", and exclude any forms of competition. The Eucharistic procession is normally concluded by a blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. In the specific case of the Corpus Christi procession, the solemn blessing with the Blessed Sacrament concludes the entire celebration: the usual blessing by the priest is replaced by the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. It is important that the faithful understand that this blessing is not an independent form of Eucharistic piety, but the end of a prolonged act of worship. Hence, liturgical norms prohibit "exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the purpose of giving the blessing".
1. 1. Eucharistic Benediction: A particularly grace-filled liturgy is that of Eucharistic Benediction in which a priest or deacon offers to the People of God the Blessing of Christ by means of signing them with the Blessed Sacrament, usually by means of a monstrance.