Nabożeństwa eucharystyczne w pobożności ludowej

Abstract

The point where the cult of the Eucharist and popular piety meet is presented in The Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy – it should be read along with the liturgical book The Holy Communion and the Cult of the Eucharist Mystery Beyond the Holy Mass. The issue of popular piety in the context of evangelization was pointed to after the Council, in Paul VI's adhortation Evangelii nuntiandi. Referring to the tradition of adoration of the Holy Sacrament, The Directory mentions various forms of adoration: the usual visiting the Holy Sacrament in the tabernacle – a short meeting with Christ occasioned by the faith in His presence and a prayer in silence; adoration, according to the liturgical regulations, in front of the Holy Sacrament; the so-called eternal adoration or a forty-hour service. The Directory reminds that the Eucharistic piety should be formed in such a way that the Lord’s Pasch should be the most important point of reference for it and that any form of Eucharistic piety should have its inner reference to the Eucharistic Sacrifice. The point of meeting of popular piety and liturgy is also regulated by the Canon Law Code, which in canons 934-944 addresses the issue of the place where the Holy Eucharist should be kept, and of the access to the church in order to adore the Holy Eucharist, also for a long time. Analysis of one of the very popular collections of services has shown that combining various services occasioned by some holidays with a short adoration of the Holy Sacrament is very often suggested. Everyone who takes up the liturgical formation has to face the question whether so much stress on adoration in popular piety does not still result in concentrating the spirituality of the people taking part in the Holy Mass mainly on this form of Christ’s presence. If popular piety is to shape the ecclesiological awareness of God’s People in the correct way, care should be taken to present all the dimensions of the Eucharist: gathering around the Word, the Eucharist feast, gathering of love, making the sacrifice manifest – at the same time still appreciating adoration and developing it.