Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament

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Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament (LCC)
Liturgies of the Liberal Catholic Rite

Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament
The rubrics in this on-line version have been abbreviated to make the liturgy more readable.

In this service the people receive the blessing of Christ Himself through the Most Holy Sacrament. The Sanctissimum is first exposed in the monstrance for the adoration of the people. Then the Priest, covering his hands with the humeral veil, takes the monstrance and gives the Solemn Benediction. The greatest devotion should mark this service.

Sometimes the Host is carried in procession.
THE INVOCATION
Priest In the Name of the Father cross and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
All R/. Amen.
The people kneel. The Priest removes the Most Holy Sacrament from the tabernacle and places it in the monstrance. The Priest offers incense before the Most Holy Sacrament. Meanwhile the people sing the following hymn, or, if there be no music, it is said after the censing:
O SALUTARIS HOSTIA
All O Saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below,
Our foes press in from every side;
Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
All praise and thanks to Thee ascend
For evermore, blest One in Three;
O grant us life that shall not end
In our true native land with Thee.
Amen.
Collects
The Collect of the Day and any additional Collects may be said here, provided that the service of Benediction has not been preceded by another service.
Litany
The following Litany is sung, the people kneeling. If there is to be a Procession of the Most Holy Sacrament, it takes place during the Litany. If it be convenient, the Priest alone (or a cantor appointed by him) may sing the first, third, fifth, and any other verses bearing odd numbers, the even verses being sung by the choir and the people.
The Litany may be shortened at the discretion of the Priest-in-charge or Officiant. Convenient divisions are verses 1- and 22, or verses 1 and 10-22.
All God the Father, seen of none,
God the co-eternal Son,
God the Spirit—Three in One,
Hear us, Holy Trinity.

Son of God and Prince of Light,
Throned in glory, robed in might,
Morning Star, serene and bright,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee.

Captain of the Hosts of Light,
Overcoming sin's dark blight,
Ever-glowing splendour bright,
Son of God, we hail Thee.

Thou, before whose purging ray
Mists of evil fade away;
Orb of everlasting day,
Son of God, we hail Thee.

Thou, whose wisdom all things planned,
Held by whose almighty Hand
All things in their order stand,
We Thy Church, adore Thee.

Thou, whose life and strength pervade
Whatsoever Thou has made,
All-Preserver, strong to aid,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee.

Thou, whose beauty, like a star
Throbbing in the void afar,
Only earth-born clouds can mar,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee.

Thou, whose universal might
Saints acclaim with mystic rite,
Clad in robes of dazzling white,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee.

Thou, for whom, in heavenly choir,
Angel forms of living fire
Wake the everlasting lyre,
Christ, our Lord, we hail Thee.

Lord of Wisdom, from whose lore
Wisest men of earth may store
Riches new for evermore,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee.

Still in bounty, Lord, bestow
Blessings on Thy Church below,
Till her measure overflow;
King of Glory, hear us.

King of Salem, Priest Divine,
Thou, whose love hath sealed us Thine
Through Thy mystic Bread and Wine,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee.

Priest and Victim, whom of old
Type and prophecy foretold,
Thee Incarnate we behold;
Son of God, we hail Thee.

Purged in vision through Thy grace
We by faith may see Thy Face,
Feel Thee near in every place,
Christ our Lord, we hail Thee.

Ruth divine that givest heed
Unto every cry of need,
Healing balm to hearts that bleed,
Help us, holy Master.

Healer of the souls distressed,
Happiness of all the blest,
Peace of those who long for rest,
We, Thy Church, adore Thee.

Sweet Physician, skilled to heal
Every pang the soul can feel,
Thou that hearest each appeal;
Help us, holy Master.

Lest by thought or action base,
Ignorant, we slight Thy grace,
Lest we hide from us Thy Face,
Help us, holy Master.

That our hearts may win release,
That our hands from ill may cease,
That our souls may know Thy peace,
Help us, holy Master.

That from selfish lusts made free,
Each, at length, clear-eyed may see—
See, and tread, the path to Thee,
Help us holy Master.

Till, our pilgrimage complete,
Rest shall come and comfort sweet,
Friend of pilgrims, at Thy Feet,
Son of God, we hail Thee.

God the Father, seen of none,
God the co-eternal Son,
God the Spirit—Three in One,
We are Thine, O Trinity.

A time may be set apart at this place for meditation.
The following hymn is next sung. After the first verse, the Officiant again puts incense into the thurible and censes the Blessed Sacrament as before, during which action the people continue the second verse; but if there be no music a pause is observed until after the censing.
The people remain kneeling.
TANTUM ERGO
All Therefore we, before Him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here.
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes our inward vision clear.
Glory let us give, and blessing,
To the Father and the Son,
Honour, might and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever, too, His love confessing,
Who from Both with Both is One.
Amen.

Priest Thou didst give them bread from heaven.
All Containing within itself all sweetness.
Priest O Lord Christ, Thou Hidden Dweller in the human spirit.
All Open Thine eyes in us, that we may see.
Priest O God, who in the wonderful Sacrament of the altar hast left us a living memorial of Thine eternal Sacrifice; grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate the sacred mystery of Thy Body and Blood that we may ever perceive within ourselves the power of Thine indwelling life, and thus, by the glad pouring out of our lives in sacrifice, may know ourselves to be one in Thee and through Thee with all that lives; who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God throughout all ages of ages.
All R/. Amen.
THE ASCRIPTION
Priest To the most holy and adorable Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons in one God; to Christ our Lord, the only wise Counselor, the Prince of Peace; to the seven mighty Spirits before the throne; and to the glorious Assembly of just men made perfect, the Watchers, the Saints, the Holy Ones, be praise unceasing from every living creature; and honour, might and glory, henceforth and for evermore.
All R/. Amen.
THE SOLEMN BENEDICTION
After the Benediction and after the Most Holy Sacrament has been replaced in the tabernacle, the following Psalm is sung, or said if there be no music.
PSALM
All stand.
Antiphon O come, let us adore Him. Christ the Lord.
All O praise the Lord, all ye His servants: praise Him, all ye nations.
For His lovingkindness is ever more and more towards us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end.
Amen.
Antiphon O come, let us adore Him. Christ the Lord.
Closing Hymn
The following hymn may be sung either as a retrocessional or before the procession passes out.
All Closed is the solemn hour,
The sacred rites are done;
And lo! the music of Thy power
Thrills through us, every one.
O Master, let that harmony
Sing through the lives we lead for Thee!
And now with reverent pace,
Our strength renewed by Thine,
Devoted guardians of Thy Grace,
Quit we this holy shrine,
And pass into the silent night,
To be the bearers of Thy light.
Amen.

This service may be considerably shortened, the O Salutaris Hostia, the Tantum Ergo, the Versicles and Responses and Prayer which follow and the act of Benediction being the only portions of liturgical obligation. It is permitted to give the Benediction with the veiled ciborium.

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