Explanatory note to help the increase in the dioceses
(parishes, rectories, chapels, monasteries, convents,
seminaries)
of the practice of continual Eucharistic adoration [1]
to the benefit of all priests and priestly vocations
In the Apostolic Exhortation
“Sacramentum Caritatis”, the Holy Father Benedict XVI has concretised the perennial teaching of the Church on the
centrality of eucharistic adoration in ecclesial life, in an operational appeal
for perpetual adoration addressed to all pastors, bishops, and priests, and to the People of God: “With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the
Church's pastors and to the People of God the practice of eucharistic
adoration, both individually and in community. (194) Great benefit would
ensue from a suitable catechesis explaining the importance of this act
of worship, which enables the faithful to experience the liturgical celebration
more fully and more fruitfully. Wherever possible, it would be appropriate,
especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specific churches or
oratories for perpetual adoration. I also recommend that, in their
catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy
Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with
Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the
Eucharist. (Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 67)
In order to support the Holy Father’s
appeal, the Congregation for the Clergy,
in its own solicitousness for the presbyters, proposes that:
1.
each diocese
appoint a priest who will devote himself full time – inasmuch as possible – to
the specific ministry of promotion of eucharistic adoration and the
coordination of this important service in the diocese.. Dedicating himself
generously to such ministry he himself will have the possibility of living this
particular dimension of liturgical, theological, spiritual and pastoral life,
possibly in a place especially set aside for that aim, allocated by the bishop
himself, where the faithful will be able to benefit of perpetual eucharistic
adoration. As there are Marian Shrines, with rectors in charge of a particular
ministry, adapted to the specific needs, it will be possible to have almost
“Eucharistic shrines” – with priests in charge of them – irradiating and
fostering the special love of the Church for the Holy Eucharist, worthily
celebrated and continually adored. Such ministry, within the presbyterate will remind all diocesan priests, as
Benedict XVI said, that “the secret of
their sanctification lies precisely in the Eucharist. (…)
the priest must be first and foremost an adorer who contemplates the
Eucharist” (Angelus, 18
September 2005);
2.
specific
places be assigned to be reserved expressly for continual eucharistic
adoration. To that end, parish priests, rectors, and chaplains be encouraged to
introduce in their communities the practice of eucharistic adoration, both
personal and communitarian, according
to each one’s possibilities, and in a collective effort to enhance prayer life. Let everyone be
involved, beginning with the children
who are preparing for First Communion;
3.
the dioceses
that are interested in the project may look for appropriate subsidies in order
to organize continual eucharistic
adoration in the seminary, in parishes, rectories, oratories, shrines,
monasteries, and convents. Help from Divine Providence will not be lacking in
finding benefactors who will contribute towards suitable works to set in motion
this project of eucharistic renewal of the particular Churches, such as: the
construction or: adaptation of a place of worship for adoration within a large
worship building; the purchase of a solemn monstrance or a noble liturgical
vestment; the funding of
liturgical-pastoral-spiritual material for such promotion;
4.
the
initiatives aimed at the local clergy, especially those in relation to the
continuing formation of priests, be always permeated by a eucharistic climate,
which will be favoured indeed by a congruous time dedicated to the adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament, so that it
may become – together with the Holy
Mass – the driving force for each individual and communitarian commitment.
5.
the
modalities for eucharistic adoration in different places may be different,
according to the possibilities. For example:
·
perpetual
eucharistic adoration throughout the 24 hours;
·
continual
eucharistic adoration, starting in the early hours of the morning until the
evening;
·
eucharistic
adoration from … to … of every single day;
·
eucharistic
adoration from… to… of one or more days a week;
·
eucharistic
adoration for special circumstances, such as Feastdays and recurrences.
The Congregation for the Clergy expresses its gratitude to the Ordinaries who will become promoters of this
project, which will not fail to renew spiritually the clergy and the People of
God of their particular Churches.
With the aim of being able to closely
follow developments of something that the Holy Father desires, the individual
Ordinaries who are interested in this initiative are kindly requested to keep
this Dicastery informed on developments in relation to continual eucharistic
adoration in their dioceses, indicating especially which priests and places are
involved in this important eucharistic apostolate.
Should you need further clarifications on
the matter, the Congregation for the Clergy will be quite willing to provide
them..
From the
Vatican, 8 December 2007
Solemnity
of the of the Immaculate Conception of
Mary