Eucharistic Adoration: A Time To Sit Quietly And Listen

Eucharistic adoration is one of God’s greatest gifts to us.

Of course, we kneel and pray before the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Savior any time we are in a sanctuary where the Eucharist reposes in a tabernacle. We do it all the time in church; but something about praying before the Son of God, exposed in a monstrance on an altar, has grown very special to me.

My connection isn’t inspired by a certain Biblical passage well-known to many – Mark 14:37. “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Jesus’ question to the man who would become the first leader of our Church has become a call for us to make Holy Hours of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. No; something else motivates me.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI summed it up best, I believe, in “Light of the World,” the book-length interview he granted to German journalist Peter Seewald during a summer visit to Castel Gandolfo a few years ago. Seewald asked the Holy Father why he had mandated that the faithful take Communion on the tongue – and on their knees – during public Masses in St. Peter’s Basilica and in St. Peter’s Square.

Benedict XVI noted that he is not opposed to the faithful receiving Communion in the hand, as is the norm here in America. He went on, however, to talk about why he felt compelled to institute the “new” old standard during certain Masses.

“I have heard of people who, after receiving Communion, stick the Host in their wallet to take home as a kind of souvenir. In this context, where people think that everyone is just automatically supposed to receive Communion – everyone else is going up, so I will, too – I wanted to send a clear signal. I wanted it to be clear: Something quite special is going on here. He is here, the One before Whom we fall on our knees. Pay attention! This is not just some social ritual in which we can take part if we want to.”

He is at Eucharistic adoration, too – waiting for you, me, … us … patiently offering the depth and breadth of His mercy, the depth and breadth of His love, to everyone who enters the adoration chapel.

Think about that; contemplate it. Our minds, feeble as they are, can never truly grasp the concept of eternity – whether it be an eternity of peaceful rest and joy in heaven, or an eternity of despair, suffering and sadness in hell. Jesus gives us a taste of the concept through His patient waiting … in those tabernacles, those adoration chapels. He will wait for us until the end of time. Pretty amazing.

It’s not, however, as amazing as the transubstantiation and the truth that Benedict XVI proclaimed so emphatically in “Light of the World.”

“He is here….”

Visit Him, why don’t you? Make a Holy Hour during adoration. You don’t even have to pray the whole time. Matter of fact, you shouldn’t.

“Wait … what?!” you ask. Seriously; instead of praying non-stop for an hour – or however long you can visit – make a conscious effort to sit quietly and listen. Or, as Benedict XVI said, “Pay attention!” – although that’s a bit strong in this context.  A while back, I downloaded the PDF of a “Holy Hour of Reparation” from the Sacred Heart Institute. It’s on my iPad.

Near the end, the following verses set up a period of silent adoration:

“Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” (1 Kings 3:10)

“Lord, what wilt thou have me do?” (Acts 9:6)

Go to adoration; give Jesus an opportunity to speak to you. He will. He is there.

You’ll find the link to the Holy Hour PDF on the Message Facebook page and in our Twitter feed.

Stay faithful my friends.