Our mini-bizarre was a big success this past weekend: Whether it was scarecrows to support our school 8th grade class, baked goods for our parish cheerleaders, or roses sold by our Knights for the Mother of Life Center. A very big thank you to all the parishioners, families, and friends who participated in these events.
Throughout the month of October we pray the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. At the end of Eucharistic Adoration there is the benediction or blessing. People have asked me: “Father, why do we have a blessing at the end of rosary and adoration?”
The monstrance (the word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, which means “to show”) in which the host was placed at the beginning of adoration is raised by the deacon, priest, or bishop. The celebrant blesses the congregation with the monstrance by making the sign of the cross. As a sign of respect bells and incense are used when the monstrance is raised.
Both at the end of Mass and during Benediction the congregation receive a blessing. As we know a blessing is a sacramental, rather than a sacrament. Whereas a sacrament confers unto the person grace, a sacramental does not itself confer grace. Rather, the sacramental awakens a person to the presence of God and disposes the person to receive God’s grace. Other sacramentals include: the sign of the cross, blessing with holy water, lighting candles to the saints, and so on. Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament has the particular effect of aiding us in our spiritual union with Jesus Christ.
The significance of the blessing from the host contained in the monstrance is that the blessing comes from Christ himself. This is one of the reasons why the priest covers his hands with the humeral veil during the blessing. The covering signifies reverence to the Eucharist but also signifies that it is Christ who blesses the congregation at this point. Hence in this way we become more united to Jesus who is himself giving us his blessing.
Please join us Monday nights at 6pm to pray the rosary and receive Christ’s blessing.