By Glen Leo Mendonca, 

                                                                    Pastoral Associate

The Congregation for Divine Worship has made it permissible
since October 18th 1973, for the Blessed Sacrament to be exposed for worship
by men or women religious or by members of the laity when no priest is
present but only the priest may give the blessing.

This Roman rite consists of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the
monstrance, or a pyx. This a para-liturgical service of worship and it has
its center the Eucharistic presence of Christ in the reserved bread or a
devotion to the Eucharistic Christ.

History has it that there used to be singing of canticles in church before a
statue of the Blessed Mother - these canticles called LAUDE like the SALVE
REGINA were popular as evening devotions. Our present Benediction service
seems to have resulted from the general acceptance of the above. It was later
enhanced in the 16th and 17th centuries by the exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament in order to lend additional solemnity to the service. The Blessing
with the Blessed Sacrament at the conclusion of the service, seems to have
been added because, of the customary Sign of the Cross, whenever the Blessed
Sacrament was replaced in the tabernacle after processions or after the
Blessed Sacrament had been carried to the sick.

Ordinarily an afternoon or evening devotion, Benediction consists in
adoration by  the faithful, a few hymns and the blessing where the priest
makes the sign of the cross with the Blessed Sacrament over the people, and
the recitation of Divine Praises. (These are a litany of praises numbering
13, called the Divine Offices as well and said after the Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament, each is said by the celebrant and then repeated by the
faithful.)

There is a great deal of diversity in the ceremony in various countries with
regard to details - such as the recitation of litanies, hymns to Our Lady,
the singing of canticles or the times of incensing. However certain elements
are constant and obligatory like the use of incense, wax candles, the singing
of the TANTUM ERGO and the blessing given with the Blessed Sacrament.

One of the hymns most often used for Benediction is the O SALUTARIS HOSTIA,
customarily sung as soon as the Blessed Sacrament is taken out of the
tabernacle, the TANTUM ERGO and sometimes SACRIS SOLEMNIIS, which is more
popularly known as PANIS ANGELICUS - bread of angels. All these, were 
written by St. Thomas Aquinas.

The most solemn part of the service takes place when the priest wearing the
ankle-length cope, takes the monstrance in his hands and with it makes the
Sign of the Cross, blessing the adorers.

Benediction with the Ciborium:
A less solemn form of Benediction,  that is now seldom practiced. The priest
wearing a surplice and stole, simply opens the tabernacle door so that the
ciborium containing the Blessed Sacrament can be seen. Prayer, devotions and
hymns are then said or sung. The priest blessed those present with the veiled
ciborium  containing the Blessed Sacrament , before the Blessed Sacrament is
put back into the tabernacle and the tabernacle is again secured.

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