The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus/Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
When a Bishop or priest gives you his blessing, he makes the sign of the holy Cross over you in the Name of the Blessed Trinity, and our Lord blesses you through His priest. But in the Rite of Benediction it is our Lord Himself, present in the Blessed Sacrament, who gives you His benediction, as He blessed His Apostles the last thing here on earth before He ascended into heaven.
Adore Him with your whole heart, and receive His blessing. Beg Him to forgive you for all your want of reverence in the past, and join gently in the singing of the congregation.
As the Priest opens the Tabernacle door is sung:
O Salutaris Hostia,
Quæ cœli pandis ostium;
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patriâ. Amen.
Then may follow a Litany, a Psalm, or a Hymn.
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui;
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Præstet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
Genitori Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
V. Panem de cœlo præstitisti eis.
R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem.