Eucharistic adoration

There is evidence of the defense of the practice of eucharistic adoration by Lutherans.

In 1523 Luther wrote "The Adoration of the Sacrament" in which he defended the practice although with the stipulation that its practice not be forced.

Gnesio-Lutherans Joachim Westphal of Hamburg and Andreas Musculus defended the practice against Melanchthon and the Philippists.

Although I do not have it, recent research is provided in the book The Sacrament of the Altar. A Book on the Lutheran Doctrine of the Lord's Supper by Tom G A Hardt

Hence, eucharistic adoration is not unknown in the Lutheran traditon.


Joachim Westphal (c. 1510-1574)

Andreas Musculus (1514-1581)

Recovery of the liturgy

"Urgent business there is every morning, referring to excesses and errors which are being committed in the liturgy, but above all, the most urgent issue that is pressing all over the world, is that the sense of the liturgy be truly recovered. This is not about changing rubrics or introducing new things, but what it is about, is simply that the liturgy be lived and that it be in the center of the life of the Church. The Church cannot be without the liturgy, because the Church is there for the liturgy, that is, for praise, for thanksgiving, to offer the sacrifice to the Lord, for worship ... This is fundamental, and without this there is no Church. Indeed, without this there is no humanity. It is therefore an extremely urgent and pressing task."

- Cardinal Cañizares, Catholic Church
(http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/10/prefect-of-congregation-for-divine.html#at)

De Ecclesiasticis Officiis

Recently I picked up a recent English translation of the Latin, De Ecclesiasticis Officiis by Isidore of Seville (c. 560 - 636). This writing would be of most interest to those interested in liturgical history and the education of clergy, which are two emphases of Isidore here. The reason for these emphases was the Visigoths had recently converted from Arianism to Orthodoxy and Isidore was responsible for moving toward ending the remaining influences of Arianism.

The Mozarabic Rite, or "the old Spanish liturgy" (Fortescue), is one of the western Rites that pre-dates the Roman Rite. Although this Rite is in limited use today the history and practice of this Rite is helpful in understanding the development of the eucharistic liturgy. Book I describes the liturgy. Book II describes the office of clerics and other offices of the Church. The translation includes notes and a selected bibliography at the end.

Isidore is writing for the Church. Those interested in the history and development of the liturgy and the offices of the Church and how both continued in difficult times should read this book.

the Eucharist and what matters

Capitalism and socialism will equally misunderstand, misrepresent and even serve as enemies of the Eucharist. Meanwhile, the liturgy remains the Eucharist's friend and serves as the place where the Eucharist matters most.

A prayer for Lent

May Thy faithful people, O God, be strengthened by Thy gifts: that in receiving them they may seek after them the more, and in seeking them may receive them for ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ . . . (Oratio super populum, Sat. after Ash Wed.)

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

The Gospel reading for Thursday after Ash Wednesday, St. Matthew 8:5-13 (healing of centurion's servant), on two occasions provides wording which may apply to later sacramental and liturgical understanding: "Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof" and "as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee."

Priest, Doctor, Confessor

Luther is commemorated by Lutherans on this date, the anniversary of his death in 1546. We may be so bold as to note that the Roman Missal provides a collect that Luther might have appreciated:

"O God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do: mercifully grant, that by the protection of the Doctor of the Gentiles we may be defended against all adversities. Through our Lord . . ." (Collect for Sexagesima Sunday)

It was in part external threat of invasion that brought pressure to bear on talks between Luther, his fellow reformers and the Catholic Church resulting in the Augsburg Confession and later confessional writings. No doubt at this time internal disunity was not something to be desired by Charles V and the Holy Roman Empire while the Empire faced external adversities. When there are times of stress confession may be clearer but this same confession may also be forced and patience may be short.

The above collect could easily reflect those difficult days. On the one hand, Luther and the Augsburg Confessors insisting that we cannot trust in any thing that we do but in God and His mercy and the Roman Church and Empire seeking unity and assurance in the face of adversity. The collect draws these concerns together and unites them under the merciful protection of the Lord.

Without knowing the history of this particular collect it is a happy coincidence that this prayer is found in the Catholic liturgy during the week of this commemoration. In spite of any real differences of which we are reminded of on a regular basis, Luther would most probably be glad to pray this Catholic prayer today as if it were one he wrote himself.