April 6, 2025

The Eucharistic Adoration

Jude Missa

During the time of our Lord here on Earth, many people saw, talked to, and touched Him, especially His Mother and His Apostles. While most of us today want to see Him personally, only a few of us are aware that we already have that experience when we receive Him during Holy Communion. Our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist during the first Mass, known as the Last Supper. When we are in front of the Eucharist, it's important to show reverence by kneeling and praying, as our Lord is in front of us.

The belief that Christ was truly present in the Holy Eucharist dates back to the Apostles and Church Fathers. The only time it could be seen outside Holy Mass was during the administration of the Extreme Unction. In the third century, early hermits or solitary monks reserve the Eucharist for Holy Communion, but they did keep it with reverence. The first mention of its adoration comes from St. Basil the Great, who divided it into three parts during the divine Liturgy. The first part is where he consumed, the second is where he gave it to the monks and the third part was placed in a golden container with a shape of a dove and placed over the Altar.

During the reign of Pope Gregory VII, when Berenga of Tours denied the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, he was required by the Pope to make a confession of belief. This marks the start of the Eucharist Renaissance in Europe’s churches. While the adoration in Italy was credited to St. Francis of Assisi. After St. Juliana of Liege’s vision of our Lord Jesus Christ, Pope Urban IV instituted the Feast of Corpus Christi which strengthened the adoration. It was also proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas, who also wrote the texts of the Holy Mass and the office of the feast. The Council of Trent greatly emphasized it, and later promoted by St. Charles Borromeo and Blessed Alain de Solminihac. St. Charles was also responsible for putting the Tabernacle in a central and higher position at the altar.

In the 17th century, the adoration spread and many faithful kneeled and prayed in front of the altar to adore the Sacred Host at the tabernacle even there’s no scheduled Mass. Although there are many challenges such as the French Revolution in France, it did not hinder the practice of adoration and continues to be promoted by many saints such as St. Anthony Mary Claret, Ven. Leo Dupont, St. Jean Vianney, St. Peter Julian Eymard and St. John Neumann.

Here are some ways of honoring our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist:

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

Honoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament outside of the Mass can be done through this most common, simple, and less formal method. In front of the tabernacle, the faithful sit or kneel, praying or studying scripture. In some churches, the Sacred host is displayed in a small chapel while inside a Monstrance. While in the church, when you pass by the tabernacle, including the aisle, you must genuflect to show reverence.

Holy Hour

Spending an hour in the presence of the Sacred Host is a form of Eucharistic adoration, particularly on Maundy Thursday. This traditional devotion was inspired by the Gospel of St. Matthew 26:40. He told His three disciples (St. Peter, St. John, and St. James the Great) to stay and watch with Him. After He had prayed, He discovered His disciples asleep. He spoke to Peter:

“What? Could you not watch one hour with me?”.

Quarant’Ore (40 Hours of Devotion)

The faithful participate in a liturgical act that lasts for forty hours before the Holy Eucharist in solemn exposition through prayer. St. Philip Neri introduced it to Rome in 1548 to commemorate the time our Lord Jesus Christ spent in the tomb. The devotion started with a Holy Mass called ‘Mass of Exposition’ and concluded with ‘Mass of Reposition’. After that, a procession and benediction. It was exposed during the daily mass and will return to the exposition after the mass.

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