By JEN RANSOM
The ancient Catholic practice of eucharistic adoration is often perplexing to those who have never experienced it.
In typical fashion, a parishioner will reverently enter a church or chapel, kneel before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and remain quiet before God for an hour or more.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the consecrated species of bread — the Blessed Sacrament — is “Christ himself, living and glorious.” The Eucharist is the “substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present” in the physical world.
It can be confusing as to what one should “do” during such an encounter. But, as it was explained in a recent talk on adoration at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Soldotna, if Christ is in-the-flesh, exposed and waiting for you, you best show up and let God do the rest.
“In the fullest sense, adoration is you and God reaching out for one another at the same time,” Deacon Rick Ernst said during the February presentation. “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth.”
Once the consecrated host is set out — or “exposed” — for adoration, at least one person must be present at all times, hence the typical sign-up sheet for eucharistic adoration. But adoration is available for all who wish to come, even if they’re not officially signed up.
Joseph Koss “stumbled” into the practice of eucharistic adoration when invited to attend with his fiancée (now wife) and her family six years ago. He spent many hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament while discerning whether to become Catholic. Today, he still spends at least an hour a week in adoration.
“It’s something to look forward to in the middle of the week,” Koss said of his time before the Blessed Sacrament. “It is the central focal point of my life,” added Koss, who, with his wife and their one-year-old daughter, schedule their trips into town when adoration is available.
“Jesus asks us to be with him. We don’t know how he works, but we can be sure that just by being there he is doing something,” Koss said. “People have said to me, ‘I don’t know what to do when I am there.’ So what? He calls us to go and we just go.”
The youngest member of the Koss family also participates in eucharistic adoration — the best she can.
“As she doesn’t think analytically yet, there’s not much we can do right now except expose her to the sacred. We’re doing our end by bringing her to Christ; he’s doing all the heavy lifting.”
Koss’s thinking is in line with recent teaching by Pope Benedict XVI. In the 2007 Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Sacramentum Caritatis,” the Holy Father recommended the practice of eucharistic adoration for all Catholics, both adults and children: “I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before His presence in the Eucharist,” the pope wrote.
Twelve-year-old Joan Johnson has participated in adoration since she was a baby. After adoration, she says she feels “peaceful, kind and more loving toward her siblings.” She plans on continuing the prayer practice as an adult.
“It’s just a good chance to spend some time with Jesus,” Johnson explained.
For others spending time in adoration connects them with the physical presence of Christ in the world.
“I set aside time to spend with the other special people in my life,” said Ruthann Truesdell. “I figured, why not Christ? It’s like if you don’t set up a regular date night, the date doesn’t happen. Adoration is my date with Christ.”
Truesdell often begins adoration with prayers of intention and then switches to simple prayers she learned in grade school. She spends much of the time in silence, usually working on a prayer shawl for a friend or relative, but sometimes breaks out into songs of praise with others who come for adoration, especially around Christmas.
“You get to know the person who comes in before and after you. We often pray for one another’s intentions,” said Truesdell, who recommends the practice for anyone wanting to get to know Christ more personally.
“Our lives get so busy,” she added. “Commit to a certain time. It’s so easy to say ‘I’ll get there.’ Start with just 15 minutes a week. Don’t worry about how you pray there; whatever you are called to do is right.”
Deacon Ernst suggests that one silence the “mind talk” for at least part of the adoration time.
“I’ve noticed that our culture tends to feel a little awkward with silence. We like to talk. In adoration, we take time to listen,” he said. “If you don’t come regularly, I highly recommend you come a few times during the season of Lent.”
Contact local parishes to find times and locations where eucharistic adoration is available. For more information about the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic adoration, visit catholic.com/library/ecclesia_de_eucharistia.asp.
Nice article with some good advice about Adoration!
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