Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

1. The Council Constitution “Sacrosanctum Concilium”, n. 13 says: “Popular devotions of the Christian people are to be highly endorsed , provided they accord with the laws and norms of the Church, above all where they are ordered by the Apostolic See…But these devotions should be so fashioned that they harmonize with the liturgical seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some way derived from it, and lead the people to it, since the liturgy by its very nature far surpasses any of them”. The Catechism of the Catholic Church adds to the quotation from the S.C. “These devotions are a prolonging of the liturgical life of the Church but not a substitute for it”.

- Eucharistic Exposition is a celebration connected with the Liturgy as it is confirmed by the “Eucharisticum Mysterium”, n. 62, of the Roman Ritual, “De sacra Communione et de cultu Mysterii Eucharistici extra Missa,” and the “Directory on Pastoral Ministry of the Bishop” (1973) chapter 2.

- The Holy Rosary is undoubtedly one of the popular devotions most recommended by the ecclesiastical authorities cf. also the indications of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, see. 971.1674,2678. 2708.

- Catholic thought never separates Christ from his Mother or vice versa.

2. The Apostolic Letter “Vicesimus quintus annus” (1988) at n. 18 says: “Finally, to safeguard t the reform and ensure the promotion of the Liturgy, it is necessary to take account of popular Christian devotion and its relation to liturgical life. This popular devotion should not be ignored or treated with indifference or contempt since it is rich in values, and per se gives expression to the religious attitude towards God. But it needs to be continually evangelised so that the faith it expresses may become an ever more mature and authentic act. Both the pious exercises of the Christian people and also other forms of devotion, are welcomed and encouraged provided they do not replace or intrude in liturgical celebrations. An authentic pastoral promotion of the liturgy will build upon the riches of popular piety, purifying and directing them towards the Liturgy, as the offering of the peoples.”

2. THE RELATION BETWEEN EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION AND THE HOLY ROSARY

Three documents are the most important, we indicate the numbers below:
1. During Exposition everything must be organized in such a way as to direct the attention of the faithful in prayer to Christ the Lord…” (Instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium, 62)

2. “To nourish intimate prayer, there should be readings from Sacred Scripture with homilies or brief exhortations which increase esteem for the Eucharistic mystery” (Rite of Holy Communion and Eucharist Worship outside of Mass 95).

3. Apostolic Exhortation Marialis cultus says: “As a Gospel prayer, centred on the mystery of the redemptive Incarnation, the Rosary is therefore a prayer with a clearly Christological orientation.” (46)

3. IT WOULD SEEM OPPORTUNE TO POINT OUT

Since the Second Vatican Council the following has been noted:

In the first two decades, more or less, there has been a tendency to suppress among the Christian people adoration in front of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
In recent years there has been a re-evaluation of prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed. In this case two phenomena have been noted, that is: the Most Holy Sacrament is adored with the same, style, mentality and prayers as before the Council, or the celebration takes into account the guidelines given in Church documents.

From a pastoral point of view it is very important to ensure that prayer of adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament is in keeping with the spirit of the documents of the Church. We cannot fail to take this opportunity to direct once again this popular practice.

- It is necessary to promote the recitation of the Rosary in its authentic form, that is, in its Christological sense. At times the traditional recitation of the Rosary appears reduced to the recitation of the Our Father and the Hail Mary. Recently, in some places, the announcement of the mystery is accompanied with the reading of a short passage of Scripture, to help mediation, and this is very positive. It is the Catechism of the Catholic Church (cf. n. 2708) which says that Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus and union with him finds in liturgical devotion to the Eucharist great stimulus and support.

- The Blessed Sacrament must not be exposed only for the recitation of the Rosary, but the recitation of the Holy Rosary may be included in the prayers said, underlining Christological aspects with readings relative to the mysteries and giving time for silent medication and adoration.

- “During exposition, prayers, hymns and readings must be organised in such a way that the attention of the faithful in prayer is directed towards Christ the Lord. To foster intimate prayer there should be readings from Holy Scripture with homilies or brief exhortations encouraging greater esteem for the Eucharistic mystery” (Rite of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass n. 95)

In this field of popular devotions much remains to be done to ensure that pious practices lead to the liturgical life and vice versa, and to educate the Christian people to deeper awareness of the significance of this devotion, in order to enter fully into its true richness.