These are
rituals in the
Roman Church which are not seen much any more. Of course, if there is no
belief in
transubstantiation it all seems rather
pointless. If, on the other hand, there is a strong belief that during the
Mass the
elements of
bread and
wine do
actually become the
body and
blood of
Jesus, while
retaining the
appearance of bread and wine, then these
devotions have
enormous meaning and
significance.
The
priest places the
consecrated host, now the body of
Christ, also called the
Blessed Sacrament, in a
monstrance, which is a
receptacle, usually in the form of a
golden sunburst, with a
chamber in which the
consecrated Host is
exposed through a
crystal or
glass panel in the front. (A
ciborium, or covered vessel, containing the Blessed Sacrament may also be used, but the monstrance allows one to view the Host.)
It is placed on the high
altar for the
adoration of the faithful. I'm not quite certain how an
atheist would view the hushed atmosphere in the church during the exposition, but with the eye of faith it is a special time in the
physical presence of the
Diety. A
hymn is sung at the
beginning of the exposition, like
Ol Salutaris Hostia, written by Thomas Aquinas in 1264. The first verse follows:
O SALUTARIS Hostia O SAVING Victim opening wide
Quae coeli pandis ostium. The gate of heaven to all below.
Bella premunt hostilia; Our foes press on from every side;
Da robur, fer auxilium. Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
The monstrance is
censed in the
ancient manner to purify the area and to demonstrate profound respect for the Body of Christ. After some time when any number of devotions may be performed, the monstrance is again censed and another ancient hymn is sung, the
Tantum Ergo. The first verse follows:
Tantum ergo Sacramentum Down in adoration falling,
Veneremur cernui: Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Et antiquum documentum Lo! oe'r ancient forms departing
Novo cedat ritui: Newer rites of grace prevail;
Praestet fides supplementum Faith for all defects supplying,
Sensuum defectui. Where the feeble senses fail.
The priest raises the monstrance and blesses the congregation by making the sign of the cross over them with it. This is the benediction. This ritual seems to have started at the same time as the feast day of
Corpus Christi ( = "Body of Christ") in 1264. On this feast day, the Holy Eucharist was carried in
procession in vessels similar to our present day monstrance, which exposed the Host to view.