The reservation of the Eucharist was begun for practical reasons. Adoration came later:
§ 70 § Christ present in the eucharistic species is a treasure the Church has come to cherish and revere over the centuries. The reservation of the Eucharist was originally intended for the communion of the sick, for those unable to attend the Sunday celebration, and as Viaticum for the dying. As the appreciation of Christ’s presence in the Eucharistic species became more developed, Christians desired through prayer to show reverence for Christ’s continuing presence in their midst. For Catholics, eucharistic adoration has “a sound and firm foundation especially since faith in the real presence of the Lord has, as its natural consequence, the outward, public manifestation of that belief.”(HCWEOM 5)
“HCWEOM” refers to Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, the rite treating our interaction with the Eucharist separate from Mass. Nearly all of these rites (they are liturgies) developed from lay devotions and experiences of the Eucharist apart from the Sunday liturgy.
All texts from Built of Living Stones are copyright © 2000, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
But can you reserve on Open Table?