Adoration and Benediction at Humanitas Symposium
(Bishop Thomas Tobin presides, Br. Benedict Maria second to his right)
The following article is drawn from an interview with Brother Benedict Maria, O.S.B.., who is presently completing his studies for the priesthood. He discusses the place of eucharist devotion in the seminary’s program of formation.
This year’s “Liturgy” column has taken its inspiration from the Eucharist Renewal, now ongoing across the United States. Brother Benedict Maria, currently undertaking study for priestly ordination at the Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, has had a front row seat for some of this renewal. And beyond the Renewal as such, he has discovered how central the Blessed Sacrament is to the program in place at Saint Vincent de Paul (SVDP). He describes a rich experience of eucharistic devotion at the seminary, linking the eucharist to formation and continuation in priestly life.
St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida
One manifest example of this is the role played by Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, a substantial and recurrent part of the seminarians’ life at SVDP. Throughout the week, this devotion is carefully integrated into seminary life. Br. Benedict notes that the seminary’s “horarium,” or daily schedule, resembles in central ways that of the monastery. Morning prayer with the full community of the seminary starts the day, with Mass following. Evening prayer is routinely at 5:45pm, followed by dinner. Consistently woven in to this practice are repeated moments of Adoration and Benediction, through the practice of a Holy Hour. Notably, since Wednesdays provide a special weekly afternoon Mass often with invited guests, that morning opens up an opportunity for a morning Holy Hour, culminating in Benediction. This Wednesday morning practice fostering personal prayer is followed the next day by a community Holy Hour each Thursday evening. For these liturgies, evening prayer leads into Adoration and Benediction, which is then followed by a shared community dinner. A third significant community experience of adoration occurs each Sunday evening. This gathering allows for the entire community to regroup and refocus, after weekend placements have taken them out across the region.
Br. Benedict notes that the seminary also recognizes the special significance of this devotion at various stages of priestly formation. Notably, the diaconate offers an important moment and an opportunity for seminarians to both develop their formation and live out their sacramental privileges. The transitional deacons are given the responsibility for these liturgies, helping to lead their fellow community members in a life centered on the eucharist. For Brother Benedict himself, diaconate ordination is soon on the horizon, so he anticipates sharing in these responsibilities as well for the final year of priestly formation. These weekly liturgies, compounded with community members sharing such responsibilities, creates a eucharist-centered experience at SVDP. Added to these frequent celebrations are special occasions, such as a “Dio-Night” in which seminarians from the various dioceses represented at SVDP share this devotion with their own diocesan fellowship. This fosters their own sense of community, an important quality to nurture, particularly in preparation for priestly life in the diocese. It encourages the kind of shared experience that will help them, as priests, to find support in the more dispersed life of diocesan ministry. While being a “resident monk,” Brother Benedict has been invited to share in a number of the diocesan nights, through friendships made at the seminary.
Eucharistic chalice, St. Vincent de Paul Seminary
Additional experiences of eucharistic devotion have highlighted his time at SVDP. His long-standing relationship with the Jesus Youth movement has led, beyond the seminary program, to participation in their local events. He has been grateful for the opportunity to join them, bringing a monastic sensibility to their evening prayer and adoration. Br. Benedict also mentions the annual seminarians’ retreat, which always incorporates the practice of adoration. Further, Br. Benedict mentions the “Forty-Hour Adoration.” This is a shared community project, with individuals signing up to take different hours. This has been associated with the feast of St. Joseph, whose fatherhood has been linked to the fatherhood of the priest. To cap off this “marathon,” the seminary also has included the practice of holding a Eucharistic Procession on the campus, an “in-house” liturgical procession engaging the entire community, with priests on the staff sharing the duty of carrying the Host.