This popular devotion began in the 13th century. It is an extension of that very brief section of the mass when, just before Communion, special devotion is addressed to Jesus present on the altar under the outward signs of bread and wine. The Mass, however, is addressed to God the Father and it would overturn the nature of the Eucharistic action to give the Mass over to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Devout hearts felt the need of expressing their love and faith in their Eucharistic Lord and out of this grew the custom of taking the sacred Hosts from the tabernacle at some time when the Mass was not being offered for the purpose of veneration and acts of devotion. Thus, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament supplies a need for those faithful who have entered into the meaning of our Lord's real presence in the Blessed Sacrament, while at the same time guarding against the danger of making devotion to the Blessed Sacrament a substitute for the Eucharistic action of offering to the Father.

The Priest enters with the assisting ministers and places the Blessed Sacrament in a special Vessel used for adoration called a Monstrance (from the Latin, "to show"). Incense is made and the people sing or say hymns as the Blessed Sacrament is censed.