An indulgence is attached to the work: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AND PROCESSION
For Who: Anyone
For When: Any day of the year; Holy Thursday; Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi); Eucharistic congress
For Where: Wherever the Eucharist is present inside or outside; Eucharistic congress; (partial)Anywhere
Partial or Plenary: Both
As written in the Manuel of Indulgences, under Grant 7:
7
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION AND PROCESSION
§1 A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who
1° visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration lasting at least a half hour;
2° piously recite the verses of the Tantum ergo after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday during the solemn reposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament;
3° devoutly participate in a solemn Eucharistic procession, held inside or outside a church, of greatest importance on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ;
4° participate religiously in the solemn Eucharistic celebration which is customarily held at the conclusion of a Eucharistic congress.
§2 A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who1° visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration;2° offer any duly approved prayer to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament (e.g., the Adoro te devote, the prayer O sacrum convivium, or the Tantum ergo).
**The prayer O sacrum convivium, and the Tantum ergo are provided. [Bottom of Article]
So, a PLENARY Indulgence is granted to those who, in addition to fulfilling all the other requirements, participate in Adoration or a Eucharistic Procession in one of these ways:
1) visit the Blessed Sacrament/Adoration for at least a half an hour (wherever the Eucharist is present)
2) recite the Tantum ergo as the Eucharist is being repositioned on Holy Thursday
3) participate in a solemn Eucharistic procession on Corpus Christi
4) participate in a solemn Eucharistic celebration held after a Eucharistic congress
-
A PARTIAL Indulgence is granted to those who participate in a Eucharistic Procession or in Adoration, who either intending to only obtaining a partial indulgence this way, or to those attempting to gain a plenary indulgence but they fail to obtain it in some way or another. Some examples of what this may look like are:
1) Visiting the Blessed Sacrament/adoration for less than a half an hour.
2) The other conditions necessary to gain a Plenary Indulgence are less than fulfilled.
3) One’s state of heart is contrite, but not fully detached from affections towards sin.
4)Though qualifiable in every other way, a Plenary Indulgence has already been obtained for that day in another way.
These are a few instances that would lead to a partial indulgence, either by choice or by accident.
-
Examining further, please allow me to address portions of this indulgence. So that we may ponder deeper as to what are reasonable perimeters and expectations to have when attempting to gain this indulgence:
Addressing “visit the Blessed Sacrament”
For this indulgence no specific places are listed and this is because wherever the Sacrament is present, and available for adoration, that is where one may attempt to gain this indulgence.
As far as what a “visit” entails, I’m still a little unclear about this. Primarily, because I question if other methods of adoration, that aren't physical, would apply for an indulgence. Certainly someone physically traveling to a place where the Eucharist is present applies, and is surely what is meant when they say “visit”.
However, in our current age of technology I myself am exposed to social media accounts that often presents live-feeds of the exposed Eucharist. And I wondered, is this form of Eucharistic adoration applies for an indulgence? Even a partial one?
Again, this is likely one of those questions that doesn’t have an answer, because it hasn’t been asked enough or at all. I tried to reach out to what I believe is a trust worth source to answer this question and this was part of their response: "Regarding Eucharistic Adoration, we encourage you (if able) to attend in person. Yes, your devout remote participation is meritorious and pleasing to God if you cannot get to adoration (and He no doubt will give you some special grace as a result), but it does not suffice for the graces of sacramental participation."They then go on to recommend consulting your local hierarchy for questions and resources.
So, though I still feel that this doesn't explicitly answer my questions about virtual adoration, I do think it is sound advice. If you are able to attend in-person Eucharistic adoration then these other questions about virtual attendance don’t matter. Although I still wish I could give clearer advise one way or the other, certainly if we follow this (or any) indulgence in the spirit that is was written (namely that we go in-person), then we should not come across any problems.
Addressing “adoration”
Often when one thinks about Eucharistic Adoration, I bet the image of a Monstrance comes to mind (that often golden encasement where the Eucharist is placed in the center for all to see.) A Monstrance is officially defined as: an open or transparent receptacle in which the consecrated Host is exposed for veneration. Many churches (at least that I know of) have a period of time known as a ”Holy Hour” where they will expose our Lord, present in the Eucharist, openly for anyone to come in and adore Him. This is one form of adoration.
BUT! Did you also know that Eucharistic adoration may be done both when the Eucharist is exposed for viewing and when it is not? If the Eucharist is present at all, even enclosed in a tabernacle (where it is usually housed), we are able to approach and adore Christ this way too. This makes this indulgence that much easier since we then don’t have to wait for a specific time for the Eucharist to be exposed. As long as we have the access, we may enter an area that houses the Eucharist, whether the Eucharist is visible or not, and complete this work of adoration that is required for this indulgence.
Addressing “the solemn reposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament”
Every year during Holy Week, on Holy Thursday, Mass is held. However, there are two irregularities that take place on this day. With much of Holy Week being spent remembering the events that happened each day leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, this day’s Mass recalls and reenacts the washing of feet and of Christ's ‘going away’ from his disciples/the Church. This second part is done by “repositioning” Christ in the Eucharist; taking him from the church tabernacle to an alternative tabernacle/alter. This repositioning involves a procession and likely adoration at this alternative location. It is this portion of the celebration, the procession of the Eucharist from one location to the other, that the Church has enriched with an indulgence.
Addressing “solemn Eucharistic procession”
As many may be familiar with, Eucharistic procession is when the Eucharist is carried (usually in the Monstrance so as to be exposed) away from the alter, following a certain path that ends back at the alter and tabernacle. The congregation follows, usually in song, and often times these processions are taken onto public streets or around the property of the church. Some processions are even said to travel from one church to another.
Addressing “of greatest importance”
I may be wrong, but I speculate this portion has been added just to show the weight that the Church attaches to this particular procession. I don’t believe it’s to imply that one Eucharistic procession is better then the other, but rather that all processions held on this day are vastly important.
Addressing “solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ”
This Solemnity, also known as Corpus Christi, is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, 60 days after Easter, or, in countries where it is not a holy day of obligation, on the following Sunday. It celebrates and honors the real presence of the body (corpus) of Jesus Christ (Christi) in the Eucharist. The church has been celebrating this since 1246, and many of the stories that surround the onset of this holiday (stories of Christ making his bodily presence known in the Eucharist) are quite fascinating.
Addressing “solemn Eucharistic celebration”
As is similar to the ‘solemn reposition’ and the ‘solemn procession’, I suppose this is likely to indicate the spirit of bing formal and dignified (by definition). But I am reminded of information I found regarding a “solemn Mass” which appears to be an actual Mass type of unorthodox prayers, incense, and additional men (deacons and such) aiding the presiding priest. I do wonder if sometimes when the Church uses the word “solemn” if they simply mean the emotional or spiritual manner that the celebration should be viewed in (reverent), or if they mean that there is actually something categorically different between this this celebration and a usual celebrations, or this procession and a usual processions?
Addressing “Eucharistic congress”
According to online sources; A eucharistic congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Congresses bring together people from a wide area, and typically involve large open-air Masses, Eucharistic adoration (Blessed Sacrament), and other devotional ceremonies held over several days.
Addressing “duly approved”
To be duly approved means that something has been ‘formally approved.’ I’m not exactly sure how this is defined or where this stands as opposed to other mentions of ‘approved’ prayers or prayers being ‘approved by legitimate authority,’ but just by observing the prayer names that have been included in the example I’m guessing that this more so means something along the lines of “tried and true.” Perhaps the reason these prayer have been formally approved is simply because they have been around for a long time or they have been widely discussed to the point of having an overall ecclesiastical approval.
And this covers Grant 7! I hope this has been helpful. Indulgences can be a confusing topic so please feel free to leave your thoughts and questions. I hope to address all I can so that we can come to know this hidden gem of the Catholic Faith.
**As mentioned above, here are the 2 prayers provided alongside this indulgence:
O sacrum convivium
O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
Tantum ergo
Down in adoration falling,Lo! the sacred Host we hail;
Lo! o’er ancient forms departing, Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail.
To the everlasting Father, And the Son who reigns on high,
With the Holy Spirit proceeding Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing, Might and endless majesty. Amen.
V. You have given them bread from heaven, R/. Having all delight within it.
Let us pray. O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of your Passion:
grant, we implore you, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries
of your Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of your Redemption.
You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Comments