question about adoration

[RedTulipMom]

I have been over in Ancient Way the Eastern Orthodox threads asking them questions and finding out more about their teachings. I ran across something that made me think. They do not have adoration chapels to adore the Blessed Sacrament. So i am wondering if anyone knows the history of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Since the schism was in 1054 am i to assume we never adored the host until after that date. If so, WHY did we as Catholics start adoring the host? When did we start doing it? Are there any official pronouncments about it? Any links to info someone can give out? thanks in advance.
karen

 

[InnerPhyre]

I was wondering about this too. Man are they missing out on a wonderful gift!

 

[frettr00]

I'm missing out too! I don't go nearly enough I tend to feel awkward when I do as well..probably because I dont got often.

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Here is a link that explains the entire history of Eucharistic adoration, beginning with the Church Fathers.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/HISTOREA.TXT

 

[RedTulipMom]

Therese,
thanks for the link. Wow..22 pages of history on it. I read quite a few pages and skimmed through others so far. Enought to get the gist of it. Hopefully soon i will have the time to read the whole thing. Its something i never really thought about before.
karen

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

I didn't read the whole thing either, but maybe Iwill have time at some point also.
I didn't realise that it was 22 pages. I searched for "Eucharistic adoration history" on Google. Maybe there is a shorter on on there if you would prefer.

Well, enjoy reading.
Therese

 

[Rising_Suns]

If so, WHY did we as Catholics start adoring the host?.

Hi karenmarie, peace be with you,

Church history aside, I think it follows simple logic why we have come to adore the host; which is founded in the Real Presence. Both Catholics and Orthodox realize that Christ is fully present in the Eucharist. So if this is true, why wouldn't we want to spend time in His presence?

Adoration is in fact a perfect reflection and testimony to the profound truth of His Real and complete presence; body, blood, soul, and divinity. It gives light to this truth, and through it, helps strength our faith in this mystery.

May the Lord give you His peace!

-Davide

 

[TexasCatholic]

Could this come down to simple logistics and sanitation? I wonder if Orthodox actually keep the consecrated Hosts or if the Body and Blood is all consumed by the Priest/Deacons before Liturgy (mass) ends?.... Since they mix the two together, there's no bread (Body, Host) to save....

Just curious about that...

-Michael

 

[Alexis OCA]

Could this come down to simple logistics and sanitation? I wonder if Orthodox actually keep the consecrated Hosts or if the Body and Blood is all consumed by the Priest/Deacons before Liturgy (mass) ends?.... Since they mix the two together, there's no bread (Body, Host) to save....

Just curious about that...

-Michael

Thats a very interesting consideration.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Adoration!

 

[Roald]

Since the schism was in 1054 am i to assume we never adored the host until after that date.

I used to assume this sort of thing too, but I think a more accurate historical picture pushes away from it. There are many things that we do that the Orthodox do not do, and vice-versa. Many of these differences existed way before the schism and were just legitimate differences in practice among the Rites. (I don't know when the Latin practice of Adoration was begun, though.)

 

[Archbishop 10-K]

I read somewhere that Adoration began during the Counter-Reformation. The Protestants denied transubstantiation, and so the Church countered be re-affirming it through the practice of Adoration.

 

[Kripost]

Could this come down to simple logistics and sanitation? I wonder if Orthodox actually keep the consecrated Hosts or if the Body and Blood is all consumed by the Priest/Deacons before Liturgy (mass) ends?.... Since they mix the two together, there's no bread (Body, Host) to save....

Just curious about that...

-Michael

The Orthodox only keep the Holy Gifts in the Tabernacle which is behind the iconostasis. The consecrated bread is kept seperately from the wine in this tabernacle, and is consumed during the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, or for the sick in emergencies. The Orthodox do make the sign of the cross whenever they pass the tabernacle.

 

[HappyMomof4]

I heard once a long time ago (I forget from who) that the reason we have adoration is to make up for the time of Jesus' agony in the garden when his disciples fell asleep. Jesus was left alone for that time of his suffering.

That may not be correct, but it's what I heard once.

 

[Xpycoctomos]

The Orthodox only keep the Holy Gifts in the Tabernacle which is behind the iconostasis. The consecrated bread is kept seperately from the wine in this tabernacle, and is consumed during the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, or for the sick in emergencies. The Orthodox do make the sign of the cross whenever they pass the tabernacle.

Also, if you serve behind the iconostasis (icon screen.. basically the altar area) then you are to make three prostrations the first time you go back there that day (although in some jurisdictions you only touch the ground on Sundays as prostrating is a form of repentance and SUnday is a day when we put more emphasis on God's Mercy than our shortcomings). We also prostrate at the anaphora (basically when the bread and wine are consacrated when the Priest invites the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ) which is one of the biggest reasons I like serving. In Romania they stay protrate on the ground during a good part of the second half of the Liturgy when the bread and wine are being prepared and when it is consecrated... of course there it is a lot easier because they don't have pews as we US Orthodox tend to... but that's another thread that has probably been repeated in TAW a hundred times! lol

Although Eucharistic Adoration doesn't have a place in Eastern liturgical practice (it wouldn't fit really well into our understanding of its integral connection to the Liturgy) I think it is a very beautiful practice and would surely take advantage of it were I Catholic.

John

 

[PioMagnus]

thanks for the Orthodox input.

God Bless