Universalis

Saturday, March 05, 2005

Tabernacles Are Wonderful

Does anyone else her remember the catechetical ditty that began, "Every thing I pass by Church I stop to make a visit....."?

Or the story of the peasant gent who taught St. Jean Vianney the depths of adoration --- "I look at Him and He looks at me"?

Ever since Bishop Lynch of St Petersberg [FL] published this defense of proper Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Hours with Benediction, and Forty Hours Devotion in the summer of 2000, the cry keeps going up that "Bishop Lynch banned Eucharistic Adoration" when he did and does no such thing. He only enforces the Holy Church's own rules and guidelines concerning Perpetual Exposition, a different thing altogether.

I'm coming more and more to see that Bishop Lynch has acted rightly and with wisdom in this case. The idea that one can only adore if there is exposition is a perverse idea that has to be stopped. Tabernacles and "visits" are wonderful. An hour or two's exposition with Holy Hour prayers or Liturgy of the Hours and Benediction is glorious. A respectful, devout, and unrushed Communion Procession is only the minimum we owe to the Lord and the other members of His Body. None of these must be lost to a fixation on monstrances!

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