Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been around for a long time, its popularity changing over the years. Currently, we are in a time when it is one of the growing edges of the Church’s ministry, especially its ministry to young people. That is why we at OCP decided to support this devotion with its own liturgical book.
As a person of a certain age, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was not a major part of my devotional life. Growing up attending a mission church, the Blessed Sacrament was not reserved in our church for the majority of our history. With no resident pastor, higher security concerns meant that the Blessed Sacrament was reserved in the main parish church. So, I came to appreciate Adoration only as an adult.
As a liturgist, of course, I studied the history and practice of Adoration and Exposition, and helped organize and participate in daily Adoration at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. As discussions formed around Adoration here at OCP, I felt there was a need for someone to try and make sense of all the history, current liturgical legislation and ritual.
I knew that there needed to be a clear and easy-to-use resource written on the liturgy of Exposition and on Adoration (which had been a popular devotion). I knew it should be done by someone who has written on both liturgy and devotions. And as I had been spending a lot of time looking at the devotional life of the Church1, it occurred to me that I was the one who needed to write this new book. This is how the book began. I hope that it helps parishes, especially youth ministries around the country, as they try to find their way forward with Adoration and Exposition. My prayers go with you all.
1 See Dr. Byer’s books: Via Lucis (on the Stations of the Resurrection), Like Spokes on a Wheel (on Catholic non-Eucharistic prayer) and Unlocking the Feasts and Seasons of the Liturgical Year (on how to live out a devotional life in concert with the Mass)
Dr. Glenn CJ Byer has written widely on the liturgy, including articles on the meaning of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, marriage preparation, the renovation of churches and the anointing of the sick. He speaks to the role of lay ministers in the Mass.
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