Eucharistic adoration

[mathematoons]

What exactly is done at Eucharist adoration? I want to do that tomorrow (my only chance this month), but I've never been.

[Denny in Gaines]

Eucharist adoration is the best kept secret in the Catholic Church.

You quietly enter the church or chapel, kneel on both knees before the exposed Eucharist and enter the pew or chair. Most people stay for an hour. In that time you do whatever you feel comfortable with. You can pray (a lot of people say the rosary), read the bible, read a prayer book that you bring with you or just sit and listen, or any combination of these things.

I go three times a week and feel it is the best part of my week next to Sunday mass.

[po18guy]

Originally Posted by mathematoons

What exactly is done at Eucharist adoration? I want to do that tomorrow (my only chance this month), but I've never been.

Adoration is the worship of Jesus Christ outside of the sacrifice of the mass. You spend silent, quality time in the presence of Jesus Christ. Our Lord is due five things from us (in order):

1. Adoration - simply because He is. No other reason.
2. Praise - because all creation and goodness come through Him.
3. Thanksgiving - for all that He has given you, and to those you love.
4. Propitiation for sin - because our sins go before us. Our default is sinfulness.
5. Petition - because He desires to give us that which is ultimately good for our souls.

Notice how often we reverse the order? That is our bad, I'm afraid.

While many look upon Jesus Christ and see bread, we are called to look upon what was bread, and see Jesus Christ. If you doubt that He is there, ask Him to reveal His presence to you. Then just adore in patience. The wise words of Fr. Benedict Groeschel: "Once you are aware that He is there, you will be changed."

A couple of great books which will assist you:
1. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist by Francis Cardinal Arinze
2. 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, by Vinny Flynn.

As Catholics, we have the sublime blessing of being one of only two Christian Churches on earth who can stand in the physical and spiritual presence of Christ. Your parish office will have a set of conduct guidelines for Eucharistic adoration. Reverence and silence are primary.

[po18guy]

Originally Posted by Denny in Gaines

Eucharist adoration is the best kept secret in the Catholic Church.

You quietly enter the church or chapel, kneel on both knees before the exposed Eucharist and enter the pew or chair. Most people stay for an hour. In that time you do whatever you feel comfortable with. You can pray (a lot of people say the rosary), read the bible, read a prayer book that you bring with you or just sit and listen, or any combination of these things.

I go three times a week and feel it is the best part of my week next to Sunday mass.

Very well said. Drop by more often!

[fred conty]

There is a gold vessel which has a round glass in the center, behind which is kept the
real presence of Jesus under the appearance of unleavened white bread, the Eucharist.
This is in plain view for all to see and adore. Once in the chapel and either kneeling or
sitting in the pew, then many people just talk to Jesus similiar to Mary, Martha's sister,
who was currled up at the feet of Jesus and keeping Him company when Jesus was in
her home. Many talk about their life, family, world, job, sports, church, problems, and
good things, hobbies, anything you wish to converse with Him He wants to hear it all.
Some wish to pray the rosary, chaplet, litany, or other prayers of love and thanksgiving.
The Bible is always a good source for thoughts to share with Him. And a variety of
spiritual books are usually available in the chapel for ideas to talk to Him about.
A good one that is a familiar book found in Blessed Sacrament Chapels is "Diary of St.
Maria Faustina Kowalska". Another is "The Imitation of Christ" by Kempis
And there are a few who bring a notepad and pen to write down their thoughts.

Silence is observed out of reverence to the Blessed Sacrament and respect for others praying in the chapel. If you stay with this, it will change your life.

Just a happy note.

[acadian]

A little oasis from the rest of the world. You can go when the Eucharist is exposed in a monstrance or if you have the good fortune to find a church that is unlocked, you can adore Jesus in the tabernacle. Many people make a "holy hour" but many stop in for a quick prayer, 5, 10, 20 minutes or whatever.

Echoing what the others have said, and adding that I often take my journal and will write as I pray. Sometimes in think God speaks through that.

It is a wonderful thing. There is an in locked church by my work, and it a Godsend to spend 10 or 20 minutes there in the morning before work.

[fred conty]

Originally Posted by po18guy

Adoration is the worship of Jesus Christ outside of the sacrifice of the mass. You spend silent, quality time in the presence of Jesus Christ. Our Lord is due five things from us (in order):

1. Adoration - simply because He is. No other reason.
2. Praise - because all creation and goodness come through Him.
3. Thanksgiving - for all that He has given you, and to those you love.
4. Propitiation for sin - because our sins go before us. Our default is sinfulness.
5. Petition - because He desires to give us that which is ultimately good for our souls.

Notice how often we reverse the order? That is our bad, I'm afraid.

While many look upon Jesus Christ and see bread, we are called to look upon what was bread, and see Jesus Christ. If you doubt that He is there, ask Him to reveal His presence to you. Then just adore in patience. The wise words of Fr. Benedict Groeschel: "Once you are aware that He is there, you will be changed."

A couple of great books which will assist you:
1. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist by Francis Cardinal Arinze
2. 7 Secrets of the Eucharist, by Vinny Flynn.

As Catholics, we have the sublime blessing of being one of only two Christian Churches on earth who can stand in the physical and spiritual presence of Christ. Your parish office will have a set of conduct guidelines for Eucharistic adoration. Reverence and silence are primary.

"Secrets of the Eucharist" is a good one.

[Delaine75]

I am so glad you asked this question! I was going to ask the same thing tonight as I will be attending my first Adoration tomorrow and was wondering what to do and expect!

[odile53]

It is a time that you spend in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, not in the tabernacle, but on the altar, displayed in a monstrance. He sits there waiting for you to spend time with Him in awe, adoration, thanksgiving, praise, humility, joy, grief, or whatever is on your mind, soul, and heart. It's just you and Him, with you joining your heart with His. It is a life-changing experience.

There is always supposed to be someone present whenever the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, to prevent the horrible possibility of vandals (or worse) stealing or desecrating the Real Presence of Jesus. Occasionally, this is the parish priest, but more frequently nowadays, it is a parishioner that signed up for that watch (usually, an hour block of time.) If you find that Adoration speaks to your spirituality and you can make the time, volunteer at the parish office. You will be performing a great service to the Church and to Jesus.

Frequently, Adoration starts or (more frequently) ends with Benediction. Occasionally, the priest will bless those present with the Host in the monstrance by making the Sign of the Cross over them before putting the Blessed Sacrament back into the tabernacle. During Benediction, usually the Divine Praises are recited and a hymn (classically, Tantum Ergo) is sung.

I am fortunate, indeed, so very blessed, to have in my diocese a parish which has Eucharistic Adoration daily (from after the noon Mass to before the 5 pm Mass.) Though family responsibilities interfere frequently, I get there at least a couple of times a week after work, and stay for Mass. These times are the great joys of my week.

[mathematoons]

All this is helpful. Thanks. I'm really excited about going.

I'm amazed that some of you can go every week. I can't get to a parish that does adoration any time other than First Friday. Plus, they usually only do it during the workday, so I can only go to the one near work during my lunch hour tomorrow.

It's too bad that none of the parishes in my town do it on Saturday, and that the one near work won't do it more than once a month. Maybe it has something to do with how godless this area is, I don't know. I know I'm going to want to do this more... What will I do?

[po18guy]

Check this link to the locations and times of adoration in the San Francisco Diocese. You might just be surprised at the availability. Some have daily until after work, and some offer perpetual adoration. Perpetual adoration tells you something about the love that the parishioners have for Jesus Christ.

[acadian]

Originally Posted by mathematoons

I know I'm going to want to do this more... What will I do?

Jesus is present whether He is displayed behind a glass in a monstrance or hidden in a tabernacle. So if you can find a church that is open, (or one that you can access by a keypad lock) He is there. Often I am the only one in the church (besides Jesus), and there is something peaceful about that. One of my blog posts on such an experience.

We delight in spending time with Jesus, but He also delights in spending time with us. Even if it is only for a few minutes here and there!

[po18guy]

An inspiring impromptu Eucharistic Adoration flash mob video. To me, it brings tears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ5aYoSr3Hg

[acadian]

Originally Posted by acadian

One of my blog posts on such an experience.

We delight in spending time with Jesus, but He also delights in spending time with us. Even if it is only for a few minutes here and there!

Editing to add the link to the specific blog post. Beggars at the Feet of Jesus

[odile53]

Wow! Two churches in SF that have 24/7 Perpetual Adoration?

I thought we were blessed to have Adoration daily. I'd love to be able to duck out on a sleepless night to spend time with Our Lord!