April - Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Eucharist
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The Month of April is dedicated both to devotion to the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Holy Eucharist - the proof of the promise of the love of God and of ETERNAL LIFE.
Eucharistic devotions are spiritual practices outside of the Mass that give honor to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament, as well as opportunities to pray to Jesus in an intensified and personal way in his very presence. These devotions offer Jesus respect and reverence, express praise and thanks, make petition and offer contrition, and strengthen one’s personal relationship with Jesus. Eucharistic devotions do not replace the Mass, but instead help a person place a greater value on the Mass and lead a person back to the Mass.
The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction is a longstanding, traditional devotion to the Eucharist. It begins when a priest or deacon places the Blessed Sacrament, a consecrated host, in a monstrance, a large ornate receptacle with an opening in the middle, and places it upon the altar or an elevated throne for all to see. Once exposed, it is common to sing a eucharistic hymn, followed by an extended period of prayer which may include a Scripture reading or another spiritual text, a homily or a brief exhortation, hymns or instrumental music, and silent prayer. It concludes with Benediction, which begins with a eucharistic hymn, then a prayer, incensing, the blessing of the assembly with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance, the “Benediction,” followed by the recitation of the Divine Praises, the reposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle, and a closing hymn.
Eucharistic adoration is to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, usually exposed in a monstrance but also possibly in a ciborium, in a church or an adoration chapel. It is customary to make a “holy hour,” to pray for a full hour based upon Jesus’ question, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Mt 26:40), but there is no definite time requirement and it is acceptable to make a shorter or more extended visit. Some locations have perpetual adoration, where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed all day, every day, whereas others have designated days and times.
The Forty Hours devotion is celebrated at certain parishes, often annually, as an opportunity for renewal and prayer. It may be 40 continuous hours over two days, or more commonly, for portions of three consecutive days, with the Eucharist reposed overnight. Forty was chosen to commemorate the amount of time that Jesus spent in the tomb from Good Friday until Easter Sunday morning. While the entire parish or community is encouraged to participate, at least one person is in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at all times. Forty Hours has a solemn closing, usually consisting of a procession and Benediction.
Eucharistic processions offer the participants an opportunity to witness their faith before others while expressing their devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist.
The two most common occasions are Corpus Christi and Holy Thursday. It is customary for a priest or deacon to carry a monstrance beneath a canopy, led by the clergy and altar servers with lit candles and a smoking censor, followed by the faithful in prayer and song, and observed by others either inside the church from their places or outside along the route. For outdoor processions it is customary to make a series of stops, possibly at local churches, in districts or neighborhoods of large cities, in adjoining villages in rural areas, or at designated stations, both to pray and receive a blessing.
Other devotions to the Eucharist include visits to the church with prayer before the tabernacle, the Litany of the Holy Eucharist, all night prayer vigils, and the nine First Fridays.
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The Importance of Eucharistic Adoration
The importance of Eucharistic Adoration is shown in the fact that the Church has a ritual that regulates it: the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction. This is an extension of the adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament which occurs in every Mass: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament flows from the sacrifice of the Mass and serves to deepen our hunger for Communion with Christ and the rest of the Church. The Rite concludes with the ordained minister blessing the faithful with the Blessed Sacrament.Some important prayers that are used during this rite include the Anima Christi (en español) and the Tantum Ergo.
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Eucharistic Revival page.
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Holy Hours
Holy hours are the Roman Catholic devotional tradition of spending an hour in Eucharistic Adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. The bishops have created a variety of holy hours that focus our prayer to Jesus Christ on peace, life, vocations, and other topics that are at the heart of the life of the Church and the world.
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“My brethren, when was it that the Lord made Himself recognised? -When He broke the bread. - So, we ourselves are convinced, too, that when we break the bread, we recognise the Lord. - If He had not wanted to be recognised until that moment, it was for our sakes, we, who were not to see Him in the flesh but who were yet to eat Him in the flesh. ”
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Adoration Resources To Help You Grow In Your Eucharistic Devotion
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List of Holy Hours
- Holy Hour for Healing
- Holy Hour for Divine Mercy Sunday
- Holy Hour for Healing and Reparation for the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
- Holy Hour for Life | en español
- Holy Hour for Life and Liberty
- Holy Hour for Life: Extended Silent Prayer
- Holy Hour for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty | en español
- Holy Hour for Peace | en español
- Holy Hour for Vocations
- Holy Hour for Vocations, with priest celebrant
- Holy Hour for Vocations, without priest celebrant
- Holy Hour in Honor of St. Paul | en español
- Q&A on Perpetual Exposition
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FORMED TitlesCould You Not Watch with Me One Hour? by Fr. Florian Racine. Fr. Florian Racine offers us a beautiful formation guide on Eucharistic adoration that will help us to practice it in all its depth, and with a missionary perspective.
The Eucharist for Little Children: "Jesus said, Let the children come to me."—Mark 10:14
Hostia: The Power and Presence of the Eucharist. This powerful and inspiring film begins with the Gospel accounts of how Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist.
The Resurrection of Jesus Fact or Fiction? by Steven Smith - Audio Book
Come to grips with what really happened to Jesus as Dr. Steven Smith explores Resurrection narratives from the vantage point of each of the four Gospels as well as many of the vital medical details of Roman crucifixion. Dr. Steven Smith is a professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D from Loyola University in Chicago, where he specialized in the study of the Gospels and their relationship to the Old Testament.
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