Length of Time
According to the Baltimore Catechism, Roman Catholics "should spend sufficient time in Thanksgiving after Holy Communion to show due reverence to the Blessed Sacrament; for Our Lord is personally with us as long as the appearance of bread and wine remains."
Through the years, the saints have varied in their recommendation as regards the amount of time to be spent in thanksgiving. A number of saints referred to an hour of thanksgiving. St. Alphonsus specifically advises everyone to devote at least half an hour to it, if it is at all possible.
St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, who taught that lay Roman Catholics can sanctify themselves not just in church but also at their workplaces, stated that Roman Catholics should not neglect their work to spend unnecessary amount of time on acts of piety. But at the same time he realized the infinity of the gift received and the necessity to give proportional thanksgiving. Thus, he said: "If our thanksgiving were in proportion to the difference between the gift and our just deserts, should we not turn the whole day into a continuous Eucharist, a continuous thanksgiving? Do not leave the church almost immediately after receiving the Sacrament. Surely you have nothing so important on that you cannot give Our Lord 10 minutes to say thanks. Love is repaid with love." He thus divided his day into two parts. During the first half of the day, he devoted himself to thanking God for the Eucharist he had received that morning. During the latter half, he would prepare himself spiritually for the next day's Mass, particularly with spiritual communions.
Cardinal Arinze alludes to the practice of staying for 10 minutes after Mass in his lecture on reverence towards the Eucharist. "It is a beautiful testimony to hear parishioners say of their pastor: 'Father is doing his thanksgiving after Mass and will be available to us about ten minutes later'. And why should this not be applicable to the congregation too? Reverence is not automatic. It has to be nurtured, to be built up, to be kept up."
Read more about this topic: Thanksgiving After Communion
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