by Paula Day

In a presentation reflecting his commitment to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Father Martin Lucia of the Apostolate for Perpetual Adoration addressed priests of the archdiocese March 3.

Father Lucia was in Atlanta at the request of Archbishop John F. Donoghue in conjunction with the inauguration of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Cathedral of Christ the King in June. He spoke to approximately 75 priests gathered in the Hyland center.

Pope John Paul II has spoken and written extensively trying to deepen awareness of the real presence of Jesus and the need for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Father Lucia told the priests.

“The pope has devoted his pontificate to trying to help us become more and more aware of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament,” the priest said. “He puts it in a very simple imperative, saying our communal love for Jesus at Mass must go together with personal love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.”

In the question and answer period following the presentation, Father Lucia addressed the theological question of the scriptural basis for adoration of the sacred species.

Historically, the Eucharist was reserved after Mass to be available to take to those who were unable to attend because of illness. Adoration before the reposed sacrament was a later development in the history of the Church.

Father Lucia cited the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel and said it “sets the tone for adoration.” In the citation, the evangelist recounts the multiplication of loaves and fishes and Jesus’ discourse in the synagogue at Capernaum in which he says, “I am the bread of life.” Full development of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, an “evolution of love” Father Lucia called it, came in the 13th century with definitions and regulations issued by the Fourth Lateran Council. The Council made the first official use of the term transubstantiation to explain the change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

One priest noted the tendency to emphasize one aspect of Catholic practice at the expense of another and expressed concern that emphasis on personal devotion might dilute carrying out the Gospel mandate to perform good works.

Father Lucia said it was a matter of integration, citing the example of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The foundress of the Missionaries of Charity requires her Religious to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament and find there the sustenance to carry out their ministry to the sick and suffering.

Addressing the practical aspects of initiating perpetual adoration in a parish, Father Lucia said smaller parishes could identify a centrally located church as a site and pool resources to maintain the devotion. Parishes which already have a day chapel set aside for weekly Masses could convert that area into a perpetual adoration chapel.

“People enthusiastically respond to perpetual adoration,” the priest said, but their response has been “half-hearted” to partial adoration, adoration limited to certain times during the day or week.

Father Lucia also spoke at the weekend Masses at Christ the King March 5 and 6, explaining the devotion of perpetual adoration to parishioners. The Cathedral will initiate perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on June 5, the feast of Corpus Christi.