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Perpetual Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Committee on the Liturgy
National Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference
Over the past several years a number of questions have been raised regarding the practice of perpetual exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Liturgy Committee discussed the issues raised several times and decided to submit a series of questions regarding perpetual exposition to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The following responses were received from the Congregation

The Real Presence Association.
Discusses Introduction to the Eucharist, The Eucharist in Scripture, The Eucharist and Vatican II, Eucharistic Miracles, The Real Presence, The Early Christians Believed in the Real Presence, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, Spiritual Resources

Altar Breads
From Catholic Encyclopedia.
Bread is one of the two elements absolutely necessary for the sacrifice of the Eucharist. Explains what is necessary for valid consecration.

Altar Wine
From Catholic Encyclopedia.
Wine is one of the two elements absolutely necessary for the sacrifice of the Eucharist. For valid and licit consecration the pure juice of the grape naturally and properly fermented, is to be used.

Aspects of the Church Understood as Communion
Congregation for The Doctrine of the Faith
Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church
May 28th, 1992

Benediction Of The Blessed Sacrament
Fr. William Saunders
Explains the history and practice of Benediction. This article appeared in the August 4, 1994 issue of "The Arlington Catholic Herald."

Bible Proves Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist
By Rev. Daniel Maher
Taken from "The Catholic Truth'" Vol. 1 No. 1 June 1995.

The Blessed Eucharist as a Sacrament
The Catholic Encyclopedia
Since Christ is present under the appearances of bread and wine in a sacramental way, the Blessed Eucharist is unquestionably a sacrament of the Church.

Can priests order one
to stand to receive Communion?
by James Akin
Your pastor does not have any authority to place such a restriction. Your right to receive communion on the tongue while kneeling is guaranteed by Church law, and a local pastor cannot change this.

Catholic Communion
By Paul Turner
"Catholic communion is just that, a sign of Catholic unity. The Eucharist symbolizes our union with God but also our union with one another."

Communion-in-the-Hand: An Historical View
"St Catherine Review" May-June 1996
If you are among the many who have wondered over the past decade just how the practice of communion-in-the-hand originated and for what reasons, the following provides a concise history as well as a brief look into what has resulted from the institution of this curious practice.

Christus Dominus
Pope Pius XII
The Apostolic Constitution Of His Holiness Pope Pius XII issued on January 6, 1953, concerning the Discipline to be Observed with Respect to the Eucharistic Fast. Also contains "An Instruction on the Discipline to be Observed with Reference to the Eucharistic Fast" Issued by the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office on the same date.

A Crime Against All We Hold Most Dear
By Stefania Falasca
This article, taken from "30Days" Issue #5, 1996, discusses canonical penalties for desecration of the Holy Eucharist

"Sanctus Pontifex"
Issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy and the Sacred Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments
Declaration on First Confession and First Communion. This document issued on May 24, 1973, calls for the cessation of experiments and the reinstatement of the traditional practice of reception of Penance before the Holy Eucharist.

Devotion to the Holy Eucharist
Advances Devotion to Jesus' Person
By Fr. John Hardon, S.J.
Most Catholics take for granted the intimate relationship between the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart. Fr. Hardon explains how these two mysteries are intimately related.

The Eucharist
"Protestant attacks on the Catholic Church often focus on the Eucharist. This demonstrates that opponents of the Church–mainly Evangelicals and Fundamentalists–recognize what central sacramental is. What's more, the attacks also show that Fundamentalists are not always literalists. This is seen in their interpretation of the key biblical passage, chapter six of John's Gospel, in which Christ speaks about the sacrament that will be instituted at the Last Supper. This tract examines the last half of that chapter."

The Eucharist
By the Rev. Mark Connolly
Through receiving the Eucharist we can boldly proclaim, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me." April 1996 Issue of "Spirituality Today"

Eucharist As A Sacrifice
Catholic Encyclopedia
The word Mass (missa) first established itself as the general designation for the Eucharistic Sacrifice in the West after the time of Pope Gregory the Great (d. 604), the early Church having used the expression the "breaking of bread" (fractio panis) or "liturgy" (Acts 13:2, leitourgountes); the Greek Church has employed the latter name for almost sixteen centuries.

The Eucharist and Freedom
Document of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses issued in 1996 in preparation for the 46th International Eucharistic Congress to be celebrated in Wrodaw, Poland, in 1997. For the first time in the history of the International Eucharistic Congresses, this Congress will reflect on the rich and stimulating theme of the Eucharist in relation to freedom at the close of a century which has witnessed the drama of entire nations being subjugated to totalitarian regimes.

The Eucharist and the Mass
By Frank J. Sheed
Chapter 18–of Theology for Beginners published by Servant Books. Topics include: the Real Presence, Transubstantiation, Communion in One Kind and the Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Eucharist: Sacrifice of Love
A Pastoral Letter by:Most Reverend John J. Myers Bishop of Peoria (Part 1 of 2) December, 1990

The Eucharist: Sacrifice of Love
A Pastoral Letter by:Most Reverend John J. Myers Bishop of Peoria (Part 2 of 2) December, 1990

The Eucharist and Vocations
By Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J
It is impossible to exaggerate the close relation between the Holy Eucharist and vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Eucharistiae Sacramentum
Promulgating the editio typica of rites for holy communion and worship of the eucharist outside Mass, 21 June 1973 Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship. "Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside Mass" General Introduction, Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, June 21, 1973.

Eucharistic Adoration: A Window to Heaven
By Fr. Raymond T. Gawronski, S.J.
"There is no monitor or video screen at eucharistic adoration, no figures or colors shifting across the screen. We simply sit and look at a round piece of bread encircled by light. That bread is the Body of Christ, the consecrated Host, before which countless Catholics gaze in rapt adoration throughout the world. Why?" Read this article for an insight into Catholic teaching.

Eucharistic Catechesis: Four Questions
by John Thomas Lane, SSS
Meal. Sacrament. Sacrifice. Presence. What do these elements of the church's traditional eucharistic teaching mean today?

The Eucharistic Devotion of St. Thomas Aquinas
By Warren H. Carroll, Ph.D.
St. Thomas Aquinas was one of the supreme advocates of Eucharistic devotion and exponents of the nature of the mysterious process by which the host becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. Indeed, it was St. Thomas Aquinas who not only explained transubstantiation but provided for the first time the word for it.

Eucharistic Fasting: Preparation and Penance
Fr. William Saunders
Explains the Church's discipline of fasting before receiving Holy Communion. This article appeared in the June 8, 1995 issue of "The Arlington Catholic Herald."

Eucharistic Theology Today
By Donald Keefe
Published in "Faith & Reason", Fall 1988. In this article, Fr. Keefe, SJ brings his erudition to an examination of contemporary eucharistic theology. This scholarly essay reveals the inroads of immanest thought into Thomism.

The Fourth Cup: The Sacrament of the Eucharist
Dr. Scott Hahn
Transcript of a taped address by Dr. Scott Hahn, former Presbyterian minister and Professor of Theology at The Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Eucharist as the Supreme Expression
of Church Unity
John Paul II
General Audience
November 22, 2000

Unity in faith is seen as the condition for full communion in the Eucharistic Assembly
John Paul II
General Audience
November 15, 2000

Why can only priests consecrate the Eucharist?
by James Akin
Consider the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. If any layperson could consecrate the elements, Christ would suffer innumerable offenses in the Eucharist. Only someone who has been specially trained and who is specially trustworthy must be allowed to minister in this sacred event.

The Holy Eucharist
Baltimore Catechism Lessons 26, 27 & 28.

The Greatest Need in the World Today:
Forming the Eucharistic Faith and Love of Children
By Fr. John Hardon, S.J.
This conference covers: A brief summary of the Church's pedagogy of the Holy Eucharist over the centuries; An explanation of why parents and teachers should develop the Eucharistic faith and love of children from infancy to adulthood; To provide some guidelines to children on how to grow in their faith and love of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Guidelines for the Reception of Communion
NCCB
On November 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of communion. These guidelines replace the guidelines approved by the Administrative Committee of the in November 1986. The guidelines, which are to be included in missalettes and other participation aids published in the United States, seek to remind all those who may attend Catholic liturgies of the present discipline of the Church with regard to the sharing of eucharistic communion.

The History of Eucharistic Adoration:
Development of Doctrine in the Catholic Church
By John A. Hardon, S.J.
Apostolic Times to Early Middle Ages, Berengarius to St. Francis, Middle Ages to Council of Trent

The Holy Eucharist Is the Whole Christ
Article by Fr. John Hardon, S.J
from "Soul Magazine" on the mystery of Christ's presence in the Holy Eucharist

How Many Times May the Eucharist
be Received on One Day?
Fr. John Trigilio
The faithful may receive Holy Communion Again on the same day only during the celebration of the Eucharist in which the person participates.

Is Christ "Really" Among Us Today
By Rev. Regis Scanlon
The question about the validity of the Eucharists celebrated in the United States involves a most serious matter of justice to the faithful. This article appeared in the October 1995 issue of "The Homiletic & Pastoral Review."

Instruction on Eucharistic Worship
Issued by the Congregation of Rites
on May 25, 1967.

Inaestimabile Donum
Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship
Instruction on the Holy Eucharist 1980 Instruction concerning worship of the Eucharistic Mystery prepared by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, approved and confirmed by His Holiness Pope John Paul II

Memoriale Domini
Issued by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship
Instruction on the Manner of Distributing Holy Communion. This document attests that the majority of Catholic bishops felt the practice of receiving Communion on the tongue should be retained. It also gives guidelines for the reception of Communion in the hand. on May 19, 1969.

Introduction to the Eucharist
Catholic Encyclopedia

Kneeling & Faith in the Eucharist
Fr. Regis Scanlon
maintains that to exclude all acts of "latria" from the Eucharist would be to refuse to acknowledge the Incarnation. He says that the best testimony to the Real Presence (kneeling) is facing elimination. He addresses the issues of whether or not we should kneel for the Consecration and whether or not it is proper to genuflect before receiving the Blessed Sacrament. This article was taken from the August/September 1994 issue of "The Homiletic & Pastoral Review."

The Liturgy and Contemplation
Fr. Thurian
Thoughts on the renewal of liturgical prayer from Fr. Thurian of the International Theological Commission.

Modern Misconceptions About the Eucharist
By Rev. Regis Scanlon, O.F.M. Cap.
Joseph Cardinal only thirty percent of our faithful believe what the Church teaches on the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.' Once more, there is also a campaign to eliminate kneeling during the entire Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. The cause of these two related phenomena can be discovered by examining past and present Catholic theology of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Norms for Use of Low-Gluten Bread and "Mustum"
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Released August 22, 1994 Addresses the question of the use of low-gluten altar breads and "mustum" as matter for the celebration of the Eucharist.

On admitting Other Christians to Eucharistic Communion in the Catholic Church
Issued by the Secretariat for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians (predecessor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity)
In Quibus Rerum Circumstantiis, 1 June, 1972.

Immensae caritatis
Sacred Congregation of the Sacraments (now Congregation for Divine Worship) January 29, 1973.
On Facilitating Reception of Communion in Certain Circumstances

Dominicae Cenae
John Paul II
On the Holy Eucharist, issued on February 24, 1980. This letter is addressed to the bishops and priests discussing certain aspects of the Eucharistic Mystery and its impact on the lives of those who are the ministers of it.

Mirae Caritatis
Pope Leo XIII
on the Holy Eucharist, Promulgated on May 28, 1902.

Mysterium Fidei
Pope Paul VI
Teaching of faith on worship of the Holy Eucharist. Promulgated Sept. 3, 1965

A Pastoral Letter On Reverence for the Eucharist
By Most Rev. John R. Keating
The true center of the sacred liturgy, and indeed of the whole of Christian life, is the Eucharist (EM 1). The Eucharistic action is the "source and summit" (LG 11; CCL 897), "the soul" (DC 5) of all Christian life, "the very heartbeat of the congregation of the faithful."

Perpetual Adoration: An Ancient Devotion in Modern Times
Mike Aquilinay
At a time when surveys are showing that belief in Christ's Eucharistic Presence is slipping even among churchgoing Catholics, such devotions can play an important role in restoring authentic Catholic faith at a popular level. This file provides a good outline of perpetual adoration.

Praying Ad Orientem Versus
This article by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf appeared in the Winter 1993 issue of "Sacred Music." Father discusses the current practice of the priest facing the people at the altar and provides background on the origins of the Eucharistic prayer and the arrangement of the altar.

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
"God's love for us is poured out in the sacrament of the Eucharist, where Christ is truly present for us, giving us life and healing."

The Sacrament of the Eucharist
"The doctrine of the Holy Eucharist consist of that of the Eucharist sacrifice, the sacrificial meal, and the sacrificial food, or to express it otherwise, it consists of the doctrine of the Mass, of Communion, and of the Real Presence."

Source and Summit of Christian Spirituality
Mark Brumley
"The Holy Eucharist, Vatican II tells us, is 'the source and summit of the Christian life' (Lumen gentium, no. 11; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1324). Since the Christian life is essentially a spiritual life, we might say as well that the Eucharist is the 'source and summit of Christian spirituality' too."

These Are the Sacraments
By Fulton Sheen
Published by Hawthorn Books in 1962. A book on the Seven Sacraments. "This book...is written because men live in a world that has become entirely too serious.... No significance or meaning is seen in the things that make a sound to the ear, or a sight to the eye. In a world without a divine sense of humor, architecture loses decoration and people lose courtesy in their relationships with one another."

Thirteenth Session of the Council of Trent
This was the third under the Supreme Pontiff, Julius III, celebrated on the eleventh day of October, 1551. Decree concerning the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

The Eucharist
Catholic Answers
Jesus told them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:53-56).

The Real Presence
Catholic Answers
The doctrine of the Real Presence (that Jesus is literally and wholly present–body and blood, soul and divinity–under the appearances of bread and wine) is frequently attacked by Evangelicals and Fundamentalists as "unbiblical," but the Bible is forthright in declaring it (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-29; and, most forcefully, John 6:32-71).

The Mass
Catholic Answers
"At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of his body and blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us" (Sacrosanctum Concilium 47).

Confession Before Communion
By Paul Turner
Is confession required before every communion?

To Jesus Through Mary
Rev. Herbert de Launay
(On the appropriateness of the Rosary during Eucharistic Exposition) An article for the September 1996 edition of "The Acadiana Catholic", monthly newspaper of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana.

Eucharistic Adoration:
A Window to Heaven
Father Raymond T. Gawronski, S.J.
There is no monitor or video screen at eucharistic adoration, no figures or colors shifting across the screen. We simply sit and look at a round piece of bread encircled by light. That bread is the Body of Christ, the consecrated Host, before which countless Catholics gaze in rapt adoration throughout the world. Why? Read this article for an insight into Catholic teaching

The History of Eucharistic Adoration–
Development of Doctrine in the Catholic Church
John A. Hardon, S.J.
Devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is authentic Catholic doctrine and it rests on the unchangeable truth of our revealed faith. But it needs to be explained, and the explanation is a classic example of what we call development of doctrine.

The Priesthood and the Sacrifice of the Mass
John A. Hardon, S.J.
By now, there must be as many definitions of the priesthood as there are dictionaries in print. But in the Catholic Church, the priest exists for one main purpose: to offer the Sacrifice of the Mass
The Catholic Faith Magazine
September/October 2000

The Priesthood and the Eucharist
John A. Hardon, S.J.
The priesthood in the Catholic Church is identified with many things because over the centuries in the Church’s history there have been priests engaged in a variety, a bewildering array of enterprises.
The Catholic Faith Magazine
September/October 2000