“The Holy Hour in our modern rat race is necessary for authentic prayer. Our world is one of speed in which intensity of movement is a substitute for lack of purpose; where noise is invoked to drown out the whisperings of conscience; where talk, talk, talk, gives the impression that we are doing something when really we are not; where activity kills self-knowledge won by contemplation…The Holy Hour means giving up a golf game or a cocktail party or a nap. Sometimes it is hard.” But it is worth it! –Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Eucharistic Adoration is the respect and worship we give to Jesus Christ, who is truly present to us under the appearance of bread and wine. The Eucharist is a priceless treasure; by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace. Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, He is to be honored with the worship of adoration. “To visit the Blessed Sacrament is . . . a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord.”[CCC 1418]
Adoration
Times
Thursday 3:00PM-10PM (In the Church)
Friday 5:00AM-5:15PM (In the Church)
Responsibilities
Everyone is encouraged to come visit, worship, and adore the Blessed Sacrament. To make sure exposition can safely take place, there is a need to make sure that at least one person, preferably two, is with our Lord at all times. For those who can make a commitment of regular visits each week, they are responsible to keep their scheduled hour (Holy Hour) covered each week. They are not only adorers, but also guardians of the Blessed Sacrament. If they are unable to attend the scheduled hour they have chosen, they are required to find a replacement guardian. Assistance is available when help is needed to find a substitute.
https://www.ncregister.com/news/perpetual-eucharistic-adoration-transforms-a-california-parish
Adoration Reflections by the Saints
“Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the Sacraments, the one dearest to God, and the one most helpful to us.” (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
“The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth.” (Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
“Motivated by an even greater love, when the hour had come for Christ to part with his disciples, he had the power to leave his Church with more than a gesture. In his absence, he left his presence… Thus to say farewell, the Lord Jesus Christ, perfect God and perfect man, did not leave his friends a symbol, but the reality of himself…Under the species of bread and wine, He is really present, with his Body and his Blood, his Soul and Divinity.” (Saint John Paul II)
“The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of
service to the Church and to the whole world….Let Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament speak to
your hearts. It is he who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us: He is
God with us. Seek him without tiring, welcome him without reserve, love him with without
interruption: today, tomorrow, forever…Were we to disregard the Eucharist, how could we
overcome our own deficiency?”
Saint John Paul II
Frequently Asked Questions
Who may participate?
Everyone! To help maintain a prayerful environment adults are encouraged to accompany any children in their care.
How has Adoration changed your life?
Responses to an anonymous survey of adorers at Saint Boniface Parish, Pembroke Pines, Florida.
- “This is where I get fed – my adoration hour is a must.”
- “That chapel is like a magnet.”
- “After my hour, I came away refreshed, recharged, renewed. I need that constantly, since I’m the mother of three teenagers.”
- “My Adoration hour is a must. That’s where I get my priorities straight – at the feet of Jesus.”
- “It’s an awesome experience to meet Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament – words cannot explain it.”
- “How wonderful it is to have Someone to listen to you.”
- “I give the Lord an earful and He listens!”
- “I come on my lunch hour. It’s my daily date with the Lord.”
- “I drop in on my way to work and offer my day to Jesus.”
- “I used to talk all the time at prayer. Now I’m quiet, just there!”
When is Eucharistic Adoration available?
You can always come adore Jesus reserved in the tabernacle while the church is open. There are also times available to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament while he is exposed on the altar in a monstrance. Adoration begins every Thursday afternoon from 3pm-10pm and resumes Friday morning at 5am and ends with benediction and Mass at 5:30pm.
Which hour should I choose?
You should choose an hour that realistically fits into your schedule. The time from Friday 9 am to 3 pm is also very needed because many people are working during this time. You also can be a substitute adorer and fill in for a given hour only when called upon.
What are some of the benefits of Eucharistic Adoration?
Here are a few quotes:
- “Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament consoles a soul far beyond what the world can offer.” -St. Alphonsus Ligouri
- “The spiritual lives of our families are strengthened through our Holy Hour.” -Blessed John Paul II
- “The only time our Lord asked the Apostles for anything was the night He went into agony. Not for activity did He plead but for an Hour of companionship.” – Archbishop Fulton Sheen
- “The love of God and neighbor, the greatest commandment, is expressed in, and the fruit of, Eucharistic worship.” – Blessed John Paul II
- “Know also that you will probably gain more by praying fifteen minutes before the Blessed Sacrament than by all the other spiritual exercises of the day. True, Our Lord hears our prayers anywhere, for He has made the promise, ‘Ask, and you shall receive,’ but He has revealed to His servants that those who visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament will obtain a more abundant measure of grace.” -Alphonsus Liguori
- Personal growth in holiness and intimacy with Jesus
- Communally, increased Mass attendance, conversions, the return of fallen away Catholics and vocations to the Priesthood
and Religious life
What do I do at Eucharistic Adoration?
Here are some suggestions:
- Pray the Psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours. Whether you are praising, giving thanks, asking for forgiveness or seeking an answer, you’ll find an appropriate psalm. The ancient prayer of the Church called the Liturgy of the Hours presents an excellent way to pray through the Book of Psalms throughout the year.
- Recite the “Jesus Prayer”
- Say “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner”, repeatedly as you quiet your heart and mind.
- Meditate using Scripture. Choose a passage from the Bible. Read the words and ask God to let the passage speak to you. Pay special attention to anything that strikes you and ask God what He wishes for you to draw from that message.
- Read the life of a saint and pray with him or her. Most holy men and women have had a great devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist. Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Julian Eymard, Dorothy Day. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Baroness Catherine de Hueck are just a few. Read about them and pray their prayers before the Blessed Sacrament.
- Pour out your heart to Christ and adore Him
- Speak to Jesus, aware that you are in His presence, and tell Him all that comes to your mind. Listen for His response. Pray the prayer that St. Francis instructed his brothers to pray whenever they were before the Blessed Sacrament: “I adore you, O Christ, present here and in all the churches of the world, for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
- Ask for forgiveness and intercede for others. Think of those who have hurt you and request a special blessing for them. Ask God to forgive you for all the times you have neglected or hurt someone else. Bring before the Blessed Sacrament all those who have asked you to pray for them. Ask the Lord to address their concerns.
- Pray a devotion like the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Rosary. Pope John Paul II reminds us, “…is not the enraptured gaze of Mary as she contemplated the face of the newborn Chris and cradled him in her arms that unparalleled model of love which should inspire us every time we receive Eucharistic communion?” (The Church and the Eucharist, Ask Mary to join you as you gaze on Christ in the Eucharist and as you pray the Rosary.
- Sit quietly and just “be” in the presence of God. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46)
Think of a visit to the Blessed Sacrament as coming to see your best friend. Sit quietly and enjoy being in each other’s company. Instead of talking to the Lord, try listening to what He wants to tell you.
Contact me to sign up for a Holy Hour!
