This series of posts has attempted to give an overview of the history and place of the practices of reservation, adoration, exposition, and benediction as associated with the Holy Eucharist. In part, the genesis of the series was the occasional question asked on “the sidewalk of the church” whether our church offers Eucharistic Adoration. What they are really asking is whether the parish has Eucharistic Exposition ending with Eucharistic Benediction.

My answer to the question asked (rather than intended) is, “Yes, the Holy Eucharist is reserved in the Tabernacle, the tabernacles candle is lit, and the church is open for anyone to come visit the Blessed Sacrament, and take time in quiet prayer in worship of Christ present in the Eucharist.”  I will then go on to explain that, from time to time, we celebrated the 40 Hours Devotion.

Sometimes the context for the question was they expected to see the Tabernacle along the centerline of the sanctuary inline with the altar – and not finding it there assumed we did not reserve the Eucharist. I am always a little perplexed by this conversation as I am not aware of a church that does not reserve the Eucharist. I have served in parishes in which there was a separate Eucharistic Chapel connected to the sanctuary, the tabernacle was built into the pre-Vatican II altar located behind the “alter table” installed after the Council, as well as parishes built after the Council in which the tabernacle was not behind the main altar but in a prominent location within the sanctuary.

My dad, from time to time, would remind me that “the main thing is that the main thing remains the main thing.” The main things are these: (1) belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, (2) reception of the Eucharist during the celebration of Mass, and (3) the right worship/adoration (latria) of the Eucharist in prayer outside of Mass.

The rest are good things, but not the main thing. Our latria of the Eucharist should not depend on the location of the tabernacle, whether the Eucharist is in Exposition on the altar, or whether there is Benediction available. Certainly these good things can enhance our time in prayerful worship, but without the “main things” they are for naught. One should always remember that latria carries an emphasis on the internal form of worship, rather than external ceremonies. We are always called to latria of the Eucharist whether we can see it or not.

As incomplete as this series is, I hope you found it thoughtful and will lead you to right worship of Christ in the Eucharist.

Image credit: G. Corrigan, CANVA, CC-BY-NC