The schedule of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Wednesdays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Consider spending one hour a week, in the real presence of Jesus, our Lord. Become an integral part of the ministry of eucharistic Adoration by calling
Joan Rizza at 352-243-6765.

HISTORY OF THE MONSTRANCE

                As the first Middle Ages came to an end, Eucharistic Devotion
would achieve a permanent, clear, and universal acceptance. During the
second half of the 13th century, there appeared a vessel which allowed the
faithful to gaze upon the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass - the Monstrance.

                During the 14th century, monstrance in their earliest forms began to
be seen, although the very first monstrance were introduced even earlier,
evinced by the oldest known depiction of such a vessel, shown in the hands
of St. Clare, in a Franciscan manuscript dated between 1250-1275.

                During the national and religious wars in Europe during the 14th and
15th centuries, exposition of the Eucharist became an important part of
Catholic piety. This public exposition permitted people to gaze upon the
Eucharist for prolonged periods of time. This devotion enlisted a
universal anthropological symbol, the mandala, a geometric configuration
focusing one's attention on the center. The figure we recognize as the
monstrance assists people to meditate. Monstrance became more symmetrical
and drew the individual's eyes and mind to the exposed Blessed Sacrament -
the visible sign of the presence of Jesus in the world. The first monstrance
were modeled after medieval reliquaries, with the Host often mounted
in a crescent shaped holder within a tube of glass that rested atop an ornate
base.

                Monstrance for carrying and exposing the Eucharist in Corpus
Christi processions continued to develop in splendor during the 1 5th
century... Barcelona's "custodia" studded with 2000 pearls and over 1200
diamonds is still in use to this day.

During the 16th century there arose a new form of monstrance the "sunburst"
with the Host appearing in a sun-like setting of dazzling, outwardly
radiating molded rays. As beautiful as were the monstrance of the Middle
Ages, baroque artisans strove to surpass the achievements of their forefathers
with more magnificent forms. In Germany [circa 1700), men crafted a
monstrance wherein the Host fills the actual place of Christ at a table
with His disciples, in a depiction of the Last Supper. In Seville, dating 1587,
a vessel nearly 12 feet high and weighing over half a ton, is in the form of
a five - story circular Roman temple, into which is placed a gold
sunburst monstrance containing the Eucharist.
 

              Today we see the most simple design and we still can see incredibly
ornate designed monstrance, but whatever the design of the monstrance we
kneel before, it is Jesus Christ that we adore.

(In the presence of Our Lord by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R. and James
Monti)

TABERNACLE

By the tenth century the Eucharist had been moved out of the sacristy and into
the church, and was placed in a vessel that would eventually become the
tabernacle.

Tabernacles have taken many forms over the centuries, simple to incredibly
ornate, such as the German designed monstrance (circa 1700), wherein the Host
fills the actual place of Christ at a table with His disciples, in a depiction of the
Last Supper. In Seville, dating 1587, a vessel nearly 12 feet high and weighing
over half ton, is in the form of a five -story .circular Roman temple, into which is placed a gold sunburst monstrance containing the Eucharist. (In the Presence or
Our Lord - Fr. Groeschel)

Not quite as large or ornate, it is a pleasure to ponder the beautiful tabernacle
at Blessed Sacrament Church. This stunning vessel, designed and crafted through
the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, blends beautifully the Old Testament and
New Testament, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, and focuses our
attention on God Our Father, and Jesus the Son.

In the Old Testament God instructed Moses to build Him a "Dwelling Place".
Moses received specific instructions as to the design and details for building
God's sanctuary.

"They shall make a sanctuary for me, that l may dwell in their midst. "Ex25:8

When you look upon the Tabernacle, you may recognize the references gleaned
from the Old Testament and the New Testament. Pray and enjoy the artistry of
the exterior tabernacle. Then delight in the loveliness of the interior tabernacle.

EXTERIOR TABERNACLE

THE CROSS -The symbol of our salvation.

TABERNACLE - "Plate it inside and outside with pure gold, and put a molding of
gold around the top of it." Ex 25:11

THE FOUNTAIN - "Like a deer that yearns for running streams so my soul is
thirsting for you my God. Psalm 42:2-3

"Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be
thirsty again' but whoever drinks the water I shall give will become in him a
spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13¬14

"Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the
gift of life¬giving water." Rev 22:17

PLATFORM - "You shall also make a table... Plate it with pure gold and
make a molding of gold around it. Ex 25:23-24

FOUR PEDESTALS - ". . . And shall rest on four silver pedestals." Ex 26:32

FOUR FIGURES - The four Evangelists depicted in art according to St. Ambrose.
The symbolism according to the vision of Ezekiel [1:10j and John (Rv4:7).

Matthew is represented by a man (because he begins his Gospel with
Christ's genealogy).

Mark is represented by the lion (because he begins his Gospel with the Baptizer's message proclaimed in the wilderness).

Luke is represented by the ox (because the sacrifice offered by Zechariah is
recorded in the opening verses of this Gospel).

John is represented by the eagle (because of the sublime heights reached in his prologue) NAB Dictionary

INTERIOR TABERNACLE

"Plate it inside and outside with pure gold...." Ex 25:11

CHERUBIM - "Make two cherubim of beaten- gold ; far the ' two. ends of the propitiatory, . The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above.., they
shall be turned toward each other, but with their faces looking toward the propitiatory. E x25:18-20

"You shall have a veil woven ..., with cherubim embroidered on it."... behind this
veil which divides the holy place from the holy of holies." Ex 26:3 1-33

MONSTRANCE The monstrance assists people to meditate and draws the
individual's eyes and mind to the exposed Blessed Sacrament - the visible sign
of the presence of Jesus in the world.

WE DO NOT FIX OUR GAZE ON WHAT IS SEEN BUT ON WHAT IS UNSEEN. WHAT
IS SEEN IS TRANSITORY; WHAT IS UNSEEN LASTS FOREVER. (1 Cor 7:31 ]