Benediction

BENEDICTION of the MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

   The celebrant kneels at the foot of the altar and members of the Women’s Society kneel at the altar rail with lighted candles.  He intones the first line and then the choir, Women’s Society and congregation sing the following verse three times.

          All:    Holy, holy, holy!

                   Holy, ever holy!

                   Jesus, Thou art ever present

                   In this Holy Sacrament.

   The celebrant removes his chasuable and vests with a cope.  After putting incense on a burning charcoal in the censer, he blesses it and says:  “May this fire be blessed by Him in Whose honor it shall burn.”  The fragrant smoke symbolizes prayer rising to and pleasing God; it also glorifies Christ’s presence in the Eucharist as do all the lighted candles.

   The celebrant ascends the steps, goes to the tabernacle and genuflects before it.  He opens the tabernacle to take the monstrance, which holds the Eucharist, and places it upon the center of the altar.  He returns to the foot of the altar without showing his back to the Eucharist and kneels.  Taking the censer, he incenses the Eucharist and then hands the censer to the deacon or altar server.  The celebrant takes the humeral veil and wears it over his shoulders.  He ascends the steps while the deacon or altar server kneels and continuously incenses the Eucharist.

   The celebrant genuflects before the Eucharist, proceeds around the altar, grasps the monstrance with the humeral veil covering his hands and raises the Eucharist before the congregation.  The following verses are sung between the celebrant and the whole congregation:

          C.:     O ever Holy Sacrament

          All:    Unto mankind from heaven sent.

                   Guide and protect us from all sin;

                   Grant us the strength o'er all to win.

          All:    Born of a virgin, sacred Word,
                   And to the Father, Holy Ghost,

                   We praise Thee with the heavenly Host.

          C.:     Lord, before Thy sacred Body

          All:    We bow down in humble prayer.
                   Lord, the promise of Thy glory
                   Unto man Thou didst declare.

                   May our trust be ever in Thee,

                   Casting on Thee every care.

          All:    In thanksgiving may we sing.
                   May the Holy Spirit bless  +  us

   The celebrant blesses the congregation with the Eucharist by moving the monstrance in the form of the cross.  Members of the congregation receive the blessing by making the sign of the cross while they sing.

                   And His gifts to mankind bring.

                   May our faith to heaven guide us,

                   Where Thy praise we'll ever sing.

   The celebrant places the monstrance upon the altar and without turning his back to the Eucharist descends to the foot of the altar.  There he kneels, removes the humeral veil, takes the censer and intones the next line.  While he incenses the Eucharist, the congregation sings the following verse three times:

          All:    May we praise Thee and adore Thee.

                   May we sing Thy lasting glory,

                   O most Holy Sacrament,

                   Heaven's promised testament.

   As the congregation sings the celebrant ascends the steps, genuflects before the Eucharist and goes around the altar to return the Eucharist to the tabernacle.  He genuflects and goes back to the foot of the altar to conclude this rite by singing with the congregation the following verse:

          All:    Now and forever and throughout all ages.                    Amen.

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