From its earliest days, the Church has reserved the Eucharist in order to allow those who could not gather for the Sunday celebration to receive the sacrament. This was done so that the faithful might be strengthened by the Eucharist on days when it was not or could not be celebrated. This practice eventually led to the worship of Christ present in the reserved Sacrament. In his encyclical Mysterium fidei (3 September 1965), Pope Paul VI affirmed:

The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers the worship of latria [adoration] to the Sacrament of the Eucharist, not only during Mass, but also outside it. It does so by reserving the Consecrated Host with the utmost care, exposing It to solemn veneration by the faithful, and carrying It in processions to the joy of great crowds of the faithful (no. 56)

The Eucharistic Sacrifice is the source and culmination of the whole Christian life. Therefore devotion, both private and public, toward the Eucharist even outside Mass is strongly encouraged, as long as it conforms to the norms laid down by lawful Church authority.

When the faithful adore Christ present in the Sacrament, they should remember that His Presence is derived from the Sacrifice and has both sacramental and spiritual communion as Its purpose.

Therefore, the devotion prompting the faithful to visit the Blessed Sacrament draws them into an ever deeper share in the Paschal Mystery and leads them to respond gratefully to the gift of Him Who through His humanity constantly pours Divine Life into the members of His Body. Abiding with Christ the Lord, they enjoy His intimate friendship and pour out their hearts before Him for themselves and for those dear to them, along with praying for the peace and salvation of the world. Offering their entire lives with Christ to the Father in the Holy Spirit, they derive from this sublime colloquy an increase of faith, hope and charity. Thus they foster these right dispositions that enable them with due devotion to celebrate the Memorial of the Lord and receive frequently the Bread given to us by the Father.

"The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and in contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease. " (Pope John Paul II)