Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

The sacramental blessing (also Eucharistic blessing) is in the Roman Catholic Church a particularly solemn form of blessing. The name comes from the fact that they will be donated to a changed in the celebration of the Holy Mass Eucharist ( the " Blessed Sacrament " ), which is according to the Catholic faith truly the body of Christ.

History

The sacramental blessing has in common with other forms of Eucharistic piety its roots in the early thirteenth century, influenced in particular by the introduction of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. At that time, Marian confraternities and guilds of Notre met every evening in front of a statue woman and sang hymns. These devotions were often accompanied by the suspension of the Blessed Sacrament. Both during and at the end of the service were with the Blessed Sacrament, the faithful, especially the sick, blessed. This tradition is still in the Sanctuary of Lourdes present.

Liturgical action

The priest or the deacon granted it the kneeling believers the blessing with the monstrance or ciborium the. Most ring to altar as in the conversion with the altar bells. After the blessing, the Holy of Holies is transferred back into the tabernacle. The eucharistic blessing is often one of the hymns of St.. Thomas Aquinas introduced Pange lingua (especially the last two stanzas, beginning with Tantum ergo ) or O salutaris hostia.

The eucharistic blessing is not an isolated form of the Eucharistic worship, but is adjacent to a certain time of Eucharistic adoration, a reverence or a procession. It is not allowed to just make the exposition of the Blessed in order to give the sacramental blessing can. Usually, therefore, includes the sacramental blessing from particular longer times of worship, such as the eternal worship or at the Sacred Heart Friday. It can also be granted in the context of devotions and Rosary devotions when doing a time of silent adoration was involved.

In the Corpus Christi procession of the sacramental blessing will be donated to the individual stations and the end of the causeway. Even with processions Bitttagen the blessing can be donated with the Blessed Sacrament.