Eucharistic Adoration
-
-
A great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, / and from the Lamb." All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God.
Revelation 7:9-11
-
-
-
Why do we adore, or worship, Christ in the Blessed Sacrament?
Christ is present to us in many ways, as in the assembled faithful or the Word of God; however, his presence in the Eucharist is unique and qualitatively superior in that he is present truly, really, and substantially in his Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity.
When the bishop or priest repeats the words of consecration during the Mass, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Only the appearance of bread and wine remain. This mystery of Faith is known as the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist. "This presence is called 'real' not to exclude the idea that the others are 'real' too, but rather to indicate presence par excellence, because it is substantial and through it Christ becomes present whole and entire, God and man" (Bl. Paul VI, MF 39; cf. Council of Trent, Decree on the Holy Eucharist, c. 3). (Cf. CCC 1377)
-The Didache Bible
-
-
-
It became the custom in the early Church to set aside some consecrated hosts when the Mass had ended; today, every Catholic church has a tabernacle where the Body of Christ is reserved.
The Eucharist is thereby available to distribute to the sick who could not attend Mass. Since Christ is truly present, an act of reverence is made toward the tabernacle; in the Western Church a genuflection, by which the right knee is touched to the ground, is normally used.
-
Eucharistic Adoration
The Real Presence of Christ invites us also to the adoration of the reserved Blessed Sacrament; this has led to the development of many Eucharistic devotions. Eucharistic adoration before the tabernacle is one such pious practice.
Many churches also have periods of adoration when a consecrated host is displayed, or exposed, in a monstrance. Some churches have chapels for perpetual adoration, which is prayer before a host that is exposed continuously. The Forty Hours devotion is practiced in many churches that do not have perpetual adoration. Eucharistic processions are conducted when the Eucharist is placed in a monstrance, which is then carried around church and even through the streets of the town or city. (Cf. CCC 1378-1379)
-The Didache Bible
-
-
-
A monstrance is a special vessel to hold the host and make it visible for Eucharistic Adoration.
Eucharistic Adoration ends with Benediction. Benediction is a special prayer ritual and blessing with the Blessed Sacrament, given by the priest.
Eucharistic Adoration at Saint Boniface is the last Wednesdays of the month at 5:30PM-6:30PM
-
-
-
O God of hosts, restore us; light up your face and we shall be saved.
Psalms 80: 8
Dear Family in Christ,
On the day of November 29th, 2020, the Blessed Sacrament has returned to its rightful place of honor at the center of the sanctuary of our beautiful church. This, for us, is more than a ‘new look’ or simple rearranging of the sanctuary; this is a clear and bold significant statement of our parish prayer life, sacramental and devotional life.
We want Christ from now on to be at the ‘heart’ of our parish and family life. We want to let Christ be ‘the center,’ the source and summit of our lives.
May the presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the center draw each one of us closer to the Holy Eucharist—Jesus in our midst.
To accomplish many things in our parish we rely on you, our parish family, and so firstly, thank you all for your continued presence and generous support that makes all our ministry and work possible. Special thanks to Monsignor James Moroney of the Diocese of Worcester who gave the expert advice and sought final approval from the Bishop.
Let this be our Prayer:
“Lord and father of all holiness, from whom the true bread of heaven has come down to us, We ask you to bless us and the new location we have prepared for the sacrament of Christ’s body. Through our adoration of your son present in the Eucharist lead us to a closer union with the mystery of redemption. May the Blessed Sacrament at the center be a physical reminder that God desires to be in our midst. That God dwells with us. That God protects us. We pray that we may come to know always that only with God are all things possible.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
— Father Anthony Mpagi,
Pastor of Saint Boniface Church from 2013-2021
-
