Did you ever sit in Church,
fervently praying and at the same time deeply desiring the
satisfaction of "SEEING" the Lord? You can be sure that
this is true for many people especially African American
people. As a race they need signs and symbols to better
capture the meaning of Spiritual realities. It is with
the eyes of faith and with a heart full of faith and love
that we know that God is there. God knows us, he loves us,
and he always answers prayers. Signs and symbols remind us
of the presence of Jesus and draw us closer to him. The
desire to see Jesus has a history worth noting.
At Mass the practice of holding
up the host for the adoration of the people dates back to the
13th century. Two candles were lit before the consecration so
the people might see the Lord. The introduction of the elevation
of the Host at Mass brought with it many new practices which
increased the devotion of the people. One of the principal new
practices was exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Another was the Feast of Corpus Christi meaning - The Body of Christ.
These practices afforded the people a chance to slow down and spend
time with the Lord. To grow in Spirituality, it is necessary to take
time out for adoration and contemplation. Exposition of the Holy Eucharist
in the monstrance is intended to acknowledge Christ's marvelous presence
in the Sacrament.
The first known example of benediction
similar to what is used today dates back to the 15th century. It
was a response to the growing desire on the part of the faithful
to look upon the Host.
On the feast of Corpus Christi, on first
Fridays or any other time when the Blessed Sacrament is placed in the
Monstrance all Christians are encouraged to spend at least a half hour
in Church in contemplation and adoration of our Eucharistic Lord.
