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Vatican tries to revive Eucharistic adoration

VATICAN CITY (RNS) For seven centuries, Eucharistic adoration -- praying before an exposed consecrated Communion host -- was one of the most popular forms of devotion in the Roman Catholic Church, the focus of beloved prayers and hymns and a distinctive symbol of Catholic identity.

Following the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the practice fell from favor, especially in Europe and the U.S. But over the last decade, under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the church has strongly encouraged a revival of the practice.

"No one eat this flesh, if he has not adored it before; for we sin if we do not adore," Benedict said, quoting St. Augustine, in a 2009 speech at the Vatican.

Next week (June 20-24), the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome will host an academic conference on Eucharistic adoration, where the speakers will include six prominent cardinals, focusing on the rediscovery of the practice.

At the same time, however, some theologians object to adoration as outdated and unnecessary, and warn that it can lead to misunderstandings and undo decades of progress in educating lay Catholics on the meaning of the sacrament.

Monsignor Kevin W. Irwin, dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, said Eucharistic adoration by the laity originated in the 13th century as a substitute for receiving Communion at Mass. 

At the same time, he said, the church often encouraged a believer's sense of "personal unworthiness" to receive the sacrament -- which Catholics believe to be the body of Christ -- so many resorted to so-called "ocular communion" instead.

Eucharistic adoration was also used as a teaching tool to reaffirm the doctrine of the "real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist, said the Rev. Richard P. McBrien, a noted theologian at the University of Notre Dame.

For instance, McBrien said, devotion grew during the 16th- and 17th-century Counter-Reformation, in response to the arguments of some Protestant Reformers that the Eucharist was merely a symbol, not the actual body of Christ.

In the days when priests celebrated Mass in Latin with minimal participation by the congregation, the hymns and prayers associated with adoration gave lay Catholics an opportunity for public worship, Irwin said.

Liturgical reforms after Vatican II greatly increased the laity's participation at Mass, which Irwin said satisfied the "felt need for participation in public prayer." Irwin called that an "underlying reason" for the practice's decline.

John Michael Talbot Finds 'Rebirth' With New CD - The Church Report

BERRYVILLE, Ark. -- The world's most popular Catholic Recording Artist and Contemporary Christian Music pioneer, John Michael Talbot's long-awaited new CD, "Worship and Bow Down," is scheduled for release June 21, 2011. The radio debut for "Worship and Bow Down" is Monday, June 13 at 1:00 PM on SIRIUS Satellite's "Sounds from the Spires" (SIRIUS and XM 129). John Michael Talbot will be on the program discussing this new CD. His first studio project since a fire destroyed much of his monastery in April of 2008, Talbot has literally "risen from the ashes" over the last two years with a new CD, a new look and a new touring style with teaching and motivational speaking as much a part of events as song. Included in "Worship and Bow Down" is John Michael's new "Mass of Rebirth" (New Roman Missal Translation) in a Contemporary Chant setting. For "Worship and Bow Down," Talbot has teamed with the top Catholic music publisher, OCP (Oregon Catholic Press). Publisher John Limb states, "No one bridges the two musical worlds of Catholic liturgical music and Contemporary Christian Music like John Michael Talbot. Like he did with The Lord's Supper many years ago, this new recording will bring the beauty of the mass, and the new translation of the Roman Missal, to many ears and hearts. The songs are vintage John Michael Talbot: scriptural, melodic and very musical - just beautiful." Of the 17 tracks on "Worship and Bow Down," favorites during his current tour are new compositions "Hail Mary," "Breathe," "In Remembrance of Me" and "Jesus Prayer." The song "Hinds' Feet on High Places" is a title many Protestants will recognize from the classic book by the same name and approaches Talbot's best work.

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The hymn-book, containing a collection of the most popular Catholic hymns, arranged for the use of the Sunday schools and Catholics throughout the United States

A dictionary of hymnology, setting forth the origin and history of Christian hymns of all ages and nations

A dictionary of hymnology, setting forth the origin and history of Christian hymns of all ages and nations ...