Wouldn’t it be great to be physically in Jesus’s presence? When we pray He is spiritually present with us, but how wonderful would it be if His physical body was also present with us. As it turns out, this is entirely possible and is actually a devotion you can find in many churches throughout the world. This devotion is called Adoration, and is attributed to many graces for those who practice it.
The True Presence
Before I write more about adoration we really need to understand a fundamental reality in the Catholic Faith. The Eucharist is the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. It’s not symbolic of His body and blood, it really is His body and blood. There is a crisis in the Church today, where so many Catholics do not know or do not believe the Church teaching on this. The Church teaches that in the mass, through the consecration, the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine. This is a process called transubstantiation.
So when you go into a church or adoration chapel and see the Eucharist in front of you, just know that it is not a piece of bread, even though it may look like one.
To learn more about transubstantiation and Church teaching on this, check out my other article https://catholicgrowth.com/the-eucharist-and-the-true-presence-of-christ/.
What Happens In Adoration?
When we go to an adoration chapel or go to an appointed adoration time in a church, we are keeping an audience with the King Of The Universe. God Himself is waiting there for us, to be with us in comfort and guidance. To share our joys and sorrows. To sit with us as we sit with Him.
Because we take the time out of our day to physically visit Our Lord, we can expect to receive an abundance of graces, flowing from the Blessed Sacrament into our own hearts. It is an incredible way to pray, full of humility and awe. Jesus forms our hearts and minds, leading us into a deeper relationship and changing us into the good Christians we are called to be.
What Should We Do In Adoration?
There are a multitude of things people can do while in the presence of the Lord. The important thing is that it should be something that brings us closer to Christ. Here’s a list of ideas:
- Say a Rosary
- Say a chaplet
- Read your Bible/Lectio Divina
- Read from your favorite prayer book
- Have a meaningful conversation with God
- Reflect on the awesomeness of the Eucharist
- Reflect on the daily readings or the Sunday’s readings
- Bring your problems to Christ
- Ask Jesus for guidance
- Sit in silence, waiting for God to speak
Proper Etiquette In Front Of Our King
With all the things you can do, you really need to remember that you can’t just do whatever you want. Remember that you are in the presence of supreme royalty, and also remember that you are usually not the only one who is there. Even if you’re the only one there, anyone could come in at any time. Proper respect must be shown in Adoration, both for Jesus Himself and for other people who are there to pray. Here’s a list of rules you should know.
- Do not touch the Eucharist or monstrance. Only a priest may touch it.
- Do not chat with others. They need to focus on prayers and it takes away from the focus on Christ, where our focus should be.
- Silence/turn off your phone. Your cell phone can be a huge distraction for yourself and others.
- Do not play any music, even worship music. Adoration is a time of silent contemplation, and it’s rude to others around you.
- Do not pray out loud. Another distraction for others around you, who are trying to say their own prayers.
- Genuflect when you enter the chapel or wherever the Eucharist is displayed. Just as you would in the presence of a king.
- When possible, wear the proper attire. No flip flops or short shorts, no muscle shirts or pajamas. Wear what you should wear to mass. In the event that you need to be with Jesus and cannot change your clothes, it’s OK to wear what you have.
Encouraging This Devotion
Adoration has incredible spiritual effects and benefits. Parishes report incredible growth, people report profound changes in their life, neighborhoods even become safer and better. So of course with all these benefits we need to help encourage the use of this gift in parishes worldwide.
Check your local parish. If they already have Adoration, make sure you go their to show there is interest in it. If they don’t, contact your priest and bring the idea to him, maybe he didn’t know people would be interested. Talk to him about the benefits and how beautiful this practice is. Hopefully he will start this for his parish, to encourage love of Christ and spiritual growth.
The Saints On Eucharistic Adoration
Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him.
St Claire of Assisi
In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering.
Pope Benedict XVI
A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
St Padre Pio
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
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration with exposition needs a great push. People ask me: ‘What will convert America and save the world?’ My answer is prayer. What we need is for every parish to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in holy hours of prayer.
St Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The best, the surest and the most effective way of establishing PEACE on the face of the earth is through the great power of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Pope St John Paul II
What does the poor man do at the rich man’s door, the sick man in the presence of his physician, the thirsty man at a limpid stream? What they do, I do before the Eucharistic God. I pray. I adore. I love.
St Francis of Assisi