What is Eucharistic Adoration?
Spending time with Jesus
Eucharistic Adoration is spending time with Jesus who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. During adoration we watch and wait, we remain silent in His presence and open ourselves to His graces which flow from the Eucharist. Just by being present, we become what God wants us to be. Like a magnet, Jesus draws us to Himself and gently transforms us.
Is Jesus really present during Adoration?
Heart to Heart, Face to Face. He is There!
During the consecration at every Mass, the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit – the miracle of transubstantiation. The words spoken by the priest are the words of Jesus Himself, “This is my body, given up for you” (Luke 22:19). What an amazing gift we have, knowing our God is truly present to us, body, blood, soul, and divinity each time we go to adore Him.
Although we don’t see Christ with our bodily eyes, through our faith we believe He is present and see Him with the eyes of faith. Just as He said to Thomas after His resurrection, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29), Jesus is reaffirming His real presence to us in the Eucharist. So, each time we go to adoration, we encounter, “The whole Christ” – heart to heart and face to face. He is there!
What do I do during Adoration?
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Ultimately, Eucharistic Adoration is about “being present” with Jesus, and how you choose to spend this time is really up to you. Prayers of thanksgiving, repentance, and intercession for others are always important, but if you fill your entire time with prayer, you may miss out on what God has to give you. Just as we can’t be exposed to the sun without feeling the effects of its rays, neither can we be exposed to Jesus during our time, without feeling the effects of His grace. If we really want to pray during our Holy Hour, we must also take time to listen, for it is in the silence of the heart that God speaks, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Why a Holy Hour?
Jesus Himself said, “Could you not keep watch for one hour with me?” (MT 26:40).
Prayer for faith in the Real Presence
We come to Thee, dear Lord asking for a vivid faith, that Thou art really present in the Blessed Sacrament, a strong and active faith, that we may live by it. Give us the faith of Thy beloved disciple, John, to recognize Thee and say: “It is the Lord, my God and my All!” Give us the faith of Peter to fall on our knees and confess, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Give us the faith of Mary Magdalen to fall at Thy Feet, crying, “Rabbi, Master!” Give us the faith of the father of the sick boy, that faith which Thou didst reward with a miracle when he cried out in tears, “I do believe, Lord! help my unbelief.” Give us the faith of all Thy Saints to whom the Blessed Sacrament was Heaven begun on earth. In every Communion and at every visit, increase our faith, our love, our humility, our reverence, and all good things will come to us. Dearest Lord, increase our faith. Amen.