Eucharistic Benediction Celebrants?

[Koopa]

Does the person who takes the Eucharist from the tabernacle, places it in the monstrance, etc. during Eucharistic Benediction have to be a priest or deacon or can he be a lay person?

Our parish has a lay person do it, although, if it be relevant, there are no priests or deacons available at the time to do it.

Help?

[G&S]

A lay person may be deputed to expose the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance when a priest or deacon is not available; e.g. in cloister of women dedicated to adoration. A lay person may never give the benediction with the monstrance.

[PhilotheaZ]

Originally Posted by Koopa

Does the person who takes the Eucharist from the tabernacle, places it in the monstrance, etc. during Eucharistic Benediction have to be a priest or deacon or can he be a lay person?

Just to clarify — "exposition" means placing the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance for adoration. A lay person can do this with permission.

"Benediction" is giving a blessing with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Only a priest or deacon can do this.

[Koopa]

OOOOOOHHHHHH.

Thank you.

Our lay person just does exposition, then, not benediction.

Thank you for clarifying.

[puzzleannie]

Originally Posted by Koopa

Does the person who takes the Eucharist from the tabernacle, places it in the monstrance, etc. during Eucharistic Benediction have to be a priest or deacon or can he be a lay person?

Our parish has a lay person do it, although, if it be relevant, there are no priests or deacons available at the time to do it.

Help?

if as title of your thread suggests, you are asking if anyone other than the priest can give the benediction, the answer is no. If you are asking can anyone other than the priest expose the blessed sacrament for adoration, the answer is yes, in a church or approved oratory, a deacon or layperson who has been commissioned by the pastor to do so, may expose the blessed Sacrament, including placing the host (in its glass case) in the monstrance, but only at times and occasions designated by the priest, in his absence.

[G&S]

Originally Posted by puzzleannie

if as title of your thread suggests, you are asking if anyone other than the priest can give the benediction, the answer is no. If you are asking can anyone other than the priest expose the blessed sacrament for adoration, the answer is yes, in a church or approved oratory, a deacon or layperson who has been commissioned by the pastor to do so, may expose the blessed Sacrament, including placing the host (in its glass case) in the monstrance, but only at times and occasions designated by the priest, in his absence.

A slight clarification: The deacon is an ordinary minister of Benediction. A lay person may not offer the Benediction under any conditions.