Day 189: Worship of the Eucharist

In the liturgy of the Mass, we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord. "The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession." CCC 1378

In today's reading, the Catechism focuses mainly on Eucharistic adoration, that is the worship by Catholics of the consecrated Hosts. The Catechism Compendium gives a summary of this:

The worship due to the sacrament of the Eucharist, whether during the celebration of the Mass or outside it, is the worship of latria, that is, the adoration given to God alone. The Church guards with the greatest care Hosts that have been consecrated. She brings them to the sick and to other persons who find it impossible to participate at Mass. She also presents them for the solemn adoration of the faithful and she bears them in processions. The Church encourages the faithful to make frequent visits to adore the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle. (#286)

We believe that the Eucharist "is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present" for us, which makes such adoration understandable (CCC 1374). 

The Catechism Companion, Vol II comments on this uniquely Catholic devotion:

Some question this doctrine, saying that adoration is idolatry. If Catholic doctrine were wrong, worship of what appears to be bread and wine would by idolatry. However, Jesus said, "This is my body... this is my blood" (Matthew 26:26, 28). We can trust the one who is Truth to tell us the truth. Catholics are not committing idolatry but instead are worshipping. The opportunity to be in God's presence and worship him is uniquely presented through the Eucharist. (p. 142) 

If the Eucharist truly is the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ" as we believe, the devotion makes perfect sense. We believe that "God was manifested in the flesh" (1 Tim 3:16), something that "will make men stumble" (1 Pet 2:8), and at whose very name "every knee should bow... every tongue confess" (1 Phil 2:10-11), yet He cannot be truly present in the consecrated Host to adore? I would say that those who make the charge to Catholics that "your faith is futile" (1 Cor 15:17) because of the proper reverence for Christ through Eucharistic adoration are mistaken. We adore the God-man and cherish His words that "This is my body... this is my blood" (Matt 26:26-28). 

Monstrance at the Eucharistic adoration