Guide for Celebrating Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass

Praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass has been a part of Catholic tradition for centuries. Although participation in the Eucharist at Mass is the “source and summit of the christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11) praying before the Eucharist after Mass continues the grace received at Mass and leads us into fuller participation at the Eucharistic table.

There are many ways to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and the Church provides particular guidelines for these opportunities for prayer. In this resource, John Thomas Lane, SSS, traces the historical developments of these practices from the early Church to the post-Conciliar reform. Lane walks through the various rituals, providing a theological context for best parish practices. This book addresses the following:

• The Rite of Exposition and Benediction
• Perpetual Exposition
• Perpetual Adoration
• Holy Hours and Forty Hours
• The Corpus Christi procession
• The Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday
• Youth and Exposition
• Eucharistic Congresses and their significance for the paris

• A historical and theological overview of the rites
• Pastoral guidance for celebrating the various rites
• Quotations from Church documents
• Answers to frequently asked questions
• Suggestions for additional resources for study and liturgical preparation
• Glossary