Added: 09/06/2006 |
Learn About the Rite of Perpetual AdorationChristian mysticism and tradition are rich with rites that are only rarely practiced nowadays. When you find one of those rare church buildings where you suddenly find yourself face to find with a fascinating ritual, it is always a wonderful idea to linger and try to learn all you can about the practice, its origins, and also its rich history. Quite possibly the most fascinating rite is that of the perpetual adoration.
In order to permit the faithful to attend to the adoration of the host and wine, these elements are quite often displayed on the altar in front of the church in a container known as the Monstrance. This container is treated with the greatest respect as its holds the flesh and blood of Christ, albeit in the form of the host and wine. It is easy to understand why this belief has led to the practice of perpetual adoration, where the faithful will pray and bow before the Monstrance and worship the elements of the Eucharist.
Since the very literal practice of perpetual adoration actually refers to the 24 hour a day, seven days a week practice of prayer and worship before the host and wine, this practice is usually carried out by volunteers from within the congregation, yet it is always overseen by the priest.
It is believed that the practice of perpetual adoration dates back to the year 1226, when it was first held in an act of thanksgiving for the military victories associated with one of the many crusades taking place at that time. When the priests realized just how big the draw to the faithful of the time was, they notified their bishop who visited to take a look at the practice of the adoration of the host and wine as it was displayed on the altar. The bishop was amazed at what he witnessed and he therefore sent a petition to Pope Honorius III in Rome asking the latter to give permission for this rite of worship to be added to the rites already in existence.
It is important to remember that at that time the Roman Catholic Church was in danger of a schism, and Pope Honorius III was well aware of the importance to unite worshippers by all means possible. When the idea of the rite of perpetual adoration was introduced to him, he knew that he had found what he was looking for! For this reason he not only gave his blessing to this new practice, but also encouraged his other bishops by means of his many writings to also take up the challenge of uniting the believers in worship before the Blessed Sacrament.
Over the centuries, as 24 hour church attendance no longer was the norm but rather the exception, many priests have taken to moving the Monstrance into a tabernacle, a richly ornate box that is locked, so that worshippers may attend to their prayer and genuflection without the need for having volunteers on hand to guard the elements of the Blessed Sacrament. For this reason it is such a delightful rarity to run into a church or parish where this practice of perpetual adoration is still observed. Usually you will be able to find it done in the smaller or rural parishes, and infrequently in the larger churches of the inner cities.
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