Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

A service of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. In this service a large Host is placed in the luna of a monstrance on the altar so that the Host is visible to the congregation. The Host is censed while it is in the monstrance and used to bless the congregation by making the sign of the cross over the people. This service includes prayers and one or more hymns that emphasize the Incarnation and Christ's real presence in the sacrament of the eucharist. The Host is returned to the tabernacle at the end of the service. The BCP makes no provision for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, but it may be seen in parishes with an Anglo-catholic piety. See Luna; see Monstrance.