Sacramental blessing

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Sacramental devotion in a Dutch Carmelite monastery

The sacramental blessing (also eucharistic blessing ) is a rite in the Roman Catholic Church in which the blessing with the most holy of holies is given to the believers at the end of a time of silent adoration .

history

The sacramental blessing, along with other forms of Eucharistic piety, has its roots in the early thirteenth century, particularly influenced by the introduction of the solemn festival of Corpus Christi . At that time, Marian brotherhoods and guilds met every evening in front of a statue of Our Lady and sang hymns . These devotions were often accompanied by the exposure of the Blessed Sacrament . Both during and at the end of the service the faithful, especially the sick, were blessed with the Holy of Holies. The tradition of blessing the sick with the Holy of Holies is particularly present in the pilgrimage site of Lourdes . On March 27, 2020, Pope Francis donated the blessing urbi et orbi in the form of the sacramental blessing.

Liturgical act

The eucharistic blessing is often accompanied by one of the hymns of St. Thomas Aquinas introduced: Pange lingua (especially the last two stanzas, beginning with Tantum ergo ) or O salutaris hostia .

Versicle and oration follow . The oration is sung by the priest or the deacon ; the people sing the responsa of the versicle and the acclamation "Amen":

Versicle

Latin

German

℣: Panem de caelo praestitisti eis.
℟: Omne delectamentum in se habentem. ( White 16.20  EU )

℣: You gave them bread from heaven.
℟: That all contains refreshment.

Oration

Latin

German

℣: Oremus. Deus, qui nobis sub sacramento mirabili passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti: tribue, quaesumus, ita nos corporis et sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari, ut redemptionis tuae fructum in nobis jugiter sentiamus. Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
℟: Amen.

℣: Let's pray. Lord Jesus Christ, in the wonderful sacrament of the altar you have left us the memory of your Passion and Resurrection. Grant us the grace to venerate the sacred secrets of your body and blood so that we may bear the fruit of salvation. You who live and rule forever.
℟: Amen.

The priest or deacon then gives the kneeling believers the blessing with the monstrance or the ciborium . Typically by ringing altar with the altar bells. After the blessing, the Holy of Holies is transferred back to the tabernacle .

The eucharistic blessing is not a separate form of the worship of the Eucharist, but follows a certain period of Eucharistic adoration , a prayer or a procession . It is not permissible to suspend the Blessed Sacrament solely for the purpose of imparting the sacramental blessing. Usually, therefore, the sacramental blessing concludes particularly long periods of adoration, for example during eternal adoration or on Sacred Heart Friday . It can also be given during May and Rosary services, if there was a time of silent adoration.

During the Corpus Christi procession , the sacramental blessing is donated at the individual stations and at the end of the processional path. The blessing can also be donated with the holy of holies during processions on prayer days .

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