Adoration
Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament draws the worshiper into spiritual communion with God. Whether done on one's own time or at a scheduled service, adoration of the eucharistic presence of Christ fosters our devotion for participation in the Mass.

Jesus instituted the Eucharist for our eating and drinking. Sharing communion at Mass brings us nourishment, healing and sustenance. There is no substitute for participation in the Eucharist; adoration should enhance it, not replace it.

Catholics reserve leftover communion breads in a tabernacle. The primary purpose for this custom is to have the Body of Christ ready for the dying at any time. The tabernacle also provides communion for the sick or those unable to come to Mass. Because it houses the sacramental Body of Christ, it serves as a place for adoration.

Adoration may be private or public. When adoring the Blessed Sacrament in private, Catholics usually go to any church, where the communion hosts are kept inside the tabernacle. They say whatever prayers they wish. Public adoration may take place in the context of a brief service (traditionally called "Benediction" although that only refers to the blessing which concludes it) or over a more extended period of time. The Blessed Sacrament is usually presented for adoration outside the tabernacle on an altar or a stand.

Extended periods of adoration used to be common. They filled the void for people who were not receiving communion frequently. However, in the twentieth century, the church has urged people to more frequent communion and has forbidden exposition during Mass. Participation in the Eucharist at Mass accomplishes spiritual communion more perfectly and renders simultaneous adoration unnecessary. Prolonged periods of adoration may happen in church where a large number of the faithful are gathering and when the bishop has given his approval. If Mass is celebrated, the Blessed Sacrament should be returned to the tabernacle.

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Benediction
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a service of worship and blessing centered on the Catholic belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It began in the Middle Ages as a popular devotional exercise. In recent years the frequency of its celebration has lessened, but it remains in our liturgical books. Some older Catholics remember it fondly; some younger Catholics have never heard of it.

After Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church revised its order of service for Benediction along with all the other liturgical rites. The full title, "Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction," helps explain its purpose. The faithful gaze at an unconsumed host from a previous Mass and worship the presence of the risen Christ in that host.

The ceremony has four parts: exposition, adoration, benediction, and reposition. During exposition, the minister goes to the tabernacle and removes a large host reserved there. Placing it in a monstrance (a windowed liturgical vessel which displays the host), the minister sets the object of our devotion on the altar. The period of adoration may be lengthy. Prayers, Scripture readings, songs, homily, and silence may fill the time. At the close of this period, if the minister is a priest or a deacon, he blesses the assembly with the monstrance and says a concluding prayer. This blessing is the benediction from which the service derives its name. If a communion minister is presiding, he or she does not give a blessing. Finally, the minister removes the Blessed Sacrament from the monstrance and places it back in the tabernacle, an action called "reposition."

Traditionally, Catholics have sung two popular eucharistic hymns during the adoration, "O Salutaris Hostia" and "Pange Lingua" but any eucharistic hymn will serve. A litany of acclamations to God "The Divine Praises," usually concluded benediction, but the revised liturgy does not specifically include them. Any acclamation or song of praise may close the service.

Benediction enhances our devotion to the Eucharist and whets our appetite for the Mass. The main reason we have eucharistic bread is to consume it in communion with one another and with Christ. However, it may also serve as an object of praise, a vision of the great treasure we share at every Mass.

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