Category Archives: HCWEOM

We come to the end of our examination of Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass. It’s an overlooked rite, relatively speaking, for the common practice of distributing Communion outside of Mass, not to mention Eucharistic worship. … Continue reading →

The rite gives a selection of hymnody for Benediction: 4. HYMNS At benediction, which concludes the service of adoration, especially the short form, singing may be confined to the last part, beginning with the words: Tantum ergo. 192. Pange, lingua, … Continue reading →

Chapter IV of the HCWEOM conclude the document. Seven Old Testament readings, ten NT passages, eight psalms, five alleluia verses (including John 6:57 in “voice of God”) and eleven Gospel readings are given as possibilities for Communion outside of Mass … Continue reading →

Any readers ever attended a Eucharistic Congress? It sounds downright democratic, doesn’t it? Dioceses hold them every so often. Boston just had one and Atlanta’s is coming up next month. Next month Québec City hosts the 49th international congress. Anyway, … Continue reading →

These four sections give the rubrics for a Eucharistic Procession. There is no “black” really, just walking, praying, singing, and readings. 105. The priest who carries the blessed sacrament may wear the vestments used for the celebration of Mass if … Continue reading →

Eucharistic processions have an honored history in Catholicism. Note the emphasis here on singing: 101. In processions in which the eucharist is carried through the streets solemnly with singing, the Christian people give public witness to faith and to their … Continue reading →

97-99 give the rubrics and brief text on Benediction. We’ll catch the following suggestion for the hymn of eucharistic song in a later post. 97. Toward the end of the exposition the priest or deacon goes to the altar, genuflects, … Continue reading →

Two sections of “red” on the adoration part of Eucharistic worship. This is usually where people come in, after the exposition and sometimes just before the Benediction. Our parish does this once a month, but we don’t provide the “direction … Continue reading →

With these next posts of HCWEOM 93-100, we look at the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction (REEB). The rite offers all red, no black on what to do: 93. After the people have assembled, a song may be sung … Continue reading →

These last bits before we get to the rubrics of the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction give us information on leadership: 91. The ordinary minister for exposition of the eucharist is a priest or deacon. At the end of … Continue reading →

Fr Brendan, thanks for the plug for these far less contentious posts on documents. Perhaps you or others would care to add some insight to what HCWEOM offers the religious communities of the Church? 90. According to the constitutions and … Continue reading →

These sections lift from Eucharisticum Mysterium 63ff. The CS post on EM 62-66 is here. EM 63’s wording, “may” is strengthened into a “recommendation.” 86. In churches where the eucharist is regularly reserved, it is recommended that solemn exposition of … Continue reading →

My pastor has tried to introduce (or reintroduce?) double knee genuflection. But I see that’s not in the regulations: 84. Genuflection in the presence of the blessed sacrament, whether reserved in the tabernacle or exposed for public adoration, is on … Continue reading →

The first of the forms of Eucharistic Worship outside of Mass is Exposition. The introduction to this runs eleven sections, and is equivalent on a small scale to the GIRM. The Church frames the relationship between exposition and Mass: 82. … Continue reading →

Chapter III of the rite begins with a short three-section portion which makes the traditional argument in favor of Eucharistic devotion. As we move through about thirty-plus numbered sections, these texts will draw heavily on Eucharisticum Mysterium, the CDWDS instruction … Continue reading →