Mass and Exposition

[Southern Comfort]

Johnquin39's comment took us off in a new direction deserving of its own thread, so I've split it accordingly- mod (doc)

In my church, we have 24/7 exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (in the side chapel). When I practice the organ, I generally use an 8 ft stopped flute with the box closed. (To be fair, some adorers like the music and have said so).

Does this mean that the Blessed Sacrament is exposed while Mass is being celebrated? I thought that was not permitted....

M

It isn't. Not that doing unpermitted things ever stopped some people.....

[FrGareth]

Ah, exposition during Mass isn't permitted in the same liturgical space, but

Eucharisticum Mysterium 61. http://www.adoremus.org/eucharisticummysterium.html
It Is Forbidden to Celebrate Mass before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed
While the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, the celebration of Mass in the same area of the church (eadem aula ecclesiae) is forbidden, all concessions and contrary customs valid up to the present time, even those worthy of special mention, notwithstanding... unless it is celebrated in a chapel apart from the exposition area and at least some of the faithful remain in adoration.

So if it's a truly separate side chapel, you're off the liturgical hook.

FrGareth

[johnquinn39]

In my church, we have 24/7 exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (in the side chapel). When I practice the organ, I generally use an 8 ft stopped flute with the box closed. (To be fair, some adorers like the music and have said so).

Does this mean that the Blessed Sacrament is exposed while Mass is being celebrated? I thought that was not permitted....

M

It isn't. Not that doing unpermitted things ever stopped some people.....

Groan / bore /winge

No, the Sacrament is never exposed at Mass (So why do parishoners insist on 'Sweet sacrament divine' at communion?) - I supppose this is youth culture.

[Southern Comfort]

Ah, exposition during Mass isn't permitted in the same liturgical space, but

Eucharisticum Mysterium 61. http://www.adoremus.org/eucharisticummysterium.html
It Is Forbidden to Celebrate Mass before the Blessed Sacrament Exposed
While the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, the celebration of Mass in the same area of the church (eadem aula ecclesiae) is forbidden, all concessions and contrary customs valid up to the present time, even those worthy of special mention, notwithstanding... unless it is celebrated in a chapel apart from the exposition area and at least some of the faithful remain in adoration.

So if it's a truly separate side chapel, you're off the liturgical hook.

FrGareth

And cf. Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass ─ vol I: Rites (1973):

52. During the exposition of the blessed sacrament, the celebration of Mass is prohibited in the body of the Church. In addition to the reasons given in no. 6 [which talks about the eucharistic presence of Christ being seen as the fruit of the consecration, and that, at the altar where Mass is celebrated, there should if possible be no reservation of the sacrament in the tabernacle from the beginning of Mass], the celebration of the eucharistic mystery includes in a more perfect way the internal communion to which exposition leads the faithful.
If exposition of the blessed sacrament is extended for an entire day or over several days, it is to be interrupted during the celebration of Mass. Mass may be celebrated in a chapel distinct from the area of exposition if at least some members of the faithful remain in adoration. [with footnote reference to Eucharisticum Mysterium, (1967) para 61].

This seems to be saying very clearly:
(1) If exposition is taking place in a side chapel, you can't have Mass in the body of the Church at the same time.
(2) If exposition is taking place in the body of the Church, it must cease while Mass is being celebrated there.
(3) If exposition is taking place in the body of the Church, Mass can take place in a side chapel but some people will not be able to take part in it since they must remain in the body of the Church while exposition continues.

[Mithras]

This seems to be saying very clearly:
(1) If exposition is taking place in a side chapel, you can't have Mass in the body of the Church at the same time.
(2) If exposition is taking place in the body of the Church, it must cease while Mass is being celebrated there.
(3) If exposition is taking place in the body of the Church, Mass can take place in a side chapel but some people will not be able to take part in it since they must remain in the body of the Church while exposition continues.

This surely begs the question: why would a euchristic community feel the need to have exposition in another part of the church if the Lord is due to appear as it were "anew"? Surely the focus should be on the presence of Christ in his priest, his word, his people and his sacrament. For the same reason I understand that genuflection towards the tabernacle is not permitted during Mass as the attention should be directed towards the altar, the table of sacrifice (= making holy) and of our sustenance.

M

[Southern Comfort]

This surely begs the question: why would a euchristic community feel the need to have exposition in another part of the church if the Lord is due to appear as it were "anew"? Surely the focus should be on the presence of Christ in his priest, his word, his people and his sacrament.

Why, indeed? And yet John Quinn's community obviously does, since this all began with him saying

In my church, we have 24/7 exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (in the side chapel).

I suspect his is not the only church where this is the case. It may sound uncharitable, but in my experience some adorers (and some rosary groups, come to that) give the strong impression that they think what they do is at least as important as Mass, if not even making up for something that is lacking in the Mass, which is of course nonsense.

For the same reason I understand that genuflection towards the tabernacle is not permitted during Mass as the attention should be directed towards the altar, the table of sacrifice (= making holy) and of our sustenance.

M

"Not permitted" is going a bit far. "Not required" would be more accurate.

This whole thread reminds me of those priests who insist on telling the people that the most important place in the church is the tabernacle. It isn't. It's the altar, certainly while Mass is going on, if not all the time.

[presbyter]

This whole thread reminds me of those priests who insist on telling the people that the most important place in the church is the tabernacle........

You want to add any particular Bishops to that SC?