Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
The word ‘Benediction’ means blessing. Priests and Bishops are ordained to confer God’s blessing on His people, generally at the Eucharist before sending the congregation out to be messengers of the Gospel. We receive God’s blessing as a sign of God’s everlasting love and faithfulness.
At Benediction, the blessing is given in a very special way. Instead of the priest blessing the people with his or her hands, we are blessed by the ‘Real Presence’ of Jesus Christ in the Host consecrated at the Eucharist. This blessing reminds us of Jesus’ presence among us in the breaking of the bread. It is a sign that He is powerfully present with us, sacramentally in the Eucharistic elements ‘until the end of the age’ (Matthew ch. 28 v. 20). While we continue our earthly pilgrimage we need these signs – sacraments – of Christ’s presence to sustain us until the day when Christ will come in glory and we shall see him with unveiled faces – the day that all sacraments will cease.
The consecrated Host is placed in a sacred vessel called a monstrance. The word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning "to show". At the centre of the monstrance is a glass case called a lunette in which the sacred Host is displayed. Around the lunette there is decoration. Our monstrance has a cross as a reminder that Jesus died for us and that the Eucharist is the living memorial of His sacrifice.
When the priest blesses the people with the monstrance, the priest covers his/her hands with the ends of a special strip of decorated cloth called a humeral veil. The priest’s hands are covered so they do not touch the monstrance, as a mark of respect for the sacred vessel and its sacred contents. Most importantly, it is the sign that it is Jesus present in the Eucharistic bread who blesses the people with the sign of the cross, not the minister. At the blessing, incense is offered in worship and bells rung in celebration of Christ’s blessing upon us.
The service of Benediction consists of prayers, hymns and a meditation which focus our attention on the mystery of Jesus’ presence in the sacrament of the altar before the actual blessing itself. A prayerful spirit is encouraged by periods of silence both during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, which precedes the service and during the service itself.
Incense is offered during the singing of the hymns. Incense is a symbol of the heavenly worship (Revelation ch. 8 vv. 3-5) especially of the ‘prayers of the saints’ (Revelation ch. 8 v. 4). Incense, with its sweet-smelling perfume and high-ascending smoke, is a sign of our prayer, fragrant and pure, offered to our Lord. In the heavenly worship, incense is offered before God’s throne. At Benediction we offer incense in adoration of Jesus, here present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a sign that we offer him ourselves as we surrender our lives to Him in prayerful humility.
At Benediction, the blessing is given in a very special way. Instead of the priest blessing the people with his or her hands, we are blessed by the ‘Real Presence’ of Jesus Christ in the Host consecrated at the Eucharist. This blessing reminds us of Jesus’ presence among us in the breaking of the bread. It is a sign that He is powerfully present with us, sacramentally in the Eucharistic elements ‘until the end of the age’ (Matthew ch. 28 v. 20). While we continue our earthly pilgrimage we need these signs – sacraments – of Christ’s presence to sustain us until the day when Christ will come in glory and we shall see him with unveiled faces – the day that all sacraments will cease.
The consecrated Host is placed in a sacred vessel called a monstrance. The word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning "to show". At the centre of the monstrance is a glass case called a lunette in which the sacred Host is displayed. Around the lunette there is decoration. Our monstrance has a cross as a reminder that Jesus died for us and that the Eucharist is the living memorial of His sacrifice.
When the priest blesses the people with the monstrance, the priest covers his/her hands with the ends of a special strip of decorated cloth called a humeral veil. The priest’s hands are covered so they do not touch the monstrance, as a mark of respect for the sacred vessel and its sacred contents. Most importantly, it is the sign that it is Jesus present in the Eucharistic bread who blesses the people with the sign of the cross, not the minister. At the blessing, incense is offered in worship and bells rung in celebration of Christ’s blessing upon us.
The service of Benediction consists of prayers, hymns and a meditation which focus our attention on the mystery of Jesus’ presence in the sacrament of the altar before the actual blessing itself. A prayerful spirit is encouraged by periods of silence both during the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, which precedes the service and during the service itself.
Incense is offered during the singing of the hymns. Incense is a symbol of the heavenly worship (Revelation ch. 8 vv. 3-5) especially of the ‘prayers of the saints’ (Revelation ch. 8 v. 4). Incense, with its sweet-smelling perfume and high-ascending smoke, is a sign of our prayer, fragrant and pure, offered to our Lord. In the heavenly worship, incense is offered before God’s throne. At Benediction we offer incense in adoration of Jesus, here present in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a sign that we offer him ourselves as we surrender our lives to Him in prayerful humility.
Benediction in this Benefice
Benediction is one of our regular Sunday evening services in the Benefice. Please see our worship schedule to find out more details of when the next service is. Benediction usually lasts about twenty to twenty-five minutes and utilises contemporary music as well as traditional tunes.
Benediction is one of our regular Sunday evening services in the Benefice. Please see our worship schedule to find out more details of when the next service is. Benediction usually lasts about twenty to twenty-five minutes and utilises contemporary music as well as traditional tunes.
