SILENT AND CONTEMPLATIVE
Weekly Eucharistic Adoration is silent and contemplative in nature and is directed to the sanctification of its members.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM THE PRIEST
- His permission, support and blessing.
The Apostolate visits a parish at the invitation of the Parish Priest or priest in charge. - A date for the Presentation at all Masses
- The names of a few people from the Parish who might help at the Masses on the Presentation weekend
DOES IT ADD TO THE WORKLOAD OF PRIESTS OR OF PARISHES?
- No, as this is a Lay Apostolate, organised, developed and maintained by the laity.
THE BEST WAY TO GET ADORATION STARTED IN YOUR PARISH IS:
- Pray and encourage like-minded people to do the same.
- Meet with others who share your desire for weekly Adoration.
- Speak with your Parish Priest making him aware of the interest in weekly Adoration.
- Ask the priest to request a representative of the Apostolate of Eucharistic Adoration to meet him to explore the possibility of organising weekly adoration for the parish.
- Do everything with the permission and blessing of your priests.
- Prayer must precede and follow everything connected to Eucharistic Adoration.
WHY WEEKLY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
- Jesus wants it.
Jesus, in his Eucharistic discourse, said “Indeed this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him, shall have everlasting life. Him I will raise up on the last day “Jn 6.40 - Again, in His appearance to St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus said “I have a burning thirst to be honoured in the Blessed Sacrament”.
- Many people, who are committed to weekly adoration, experience extra graces and blessings.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER REASONS, SUCH AS:
- It helps people grow in personal holiness.
- People who spend time in weekly adoration are powerful witnesses in their community to the real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
- Adoration flows from the Mass itself. “ It intensifies all that takes place in the mass itself “ Pope Benedict XVI.
- It is a wonderful generous response to the invitation of Jesus, “Could you not watch one hour with Me”?
- “Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the Sacraments themselves and the one dearest to God” St Alphonsus Ligouri.
- Saints, Popes and others have constantly advocated EucharisticAdoration.
WHY COMMIT TO A SPECIFIC HOUR?
For these reasons:
Jesus asks in Gethsemane, “Could you not watch one hour with Me?” Mark 14: 37
Adoration, by definition, means that a person is adoring the God truly present in the Sacred Host. If not, then the Blessed Sacrament has to be reposed. The Church requires this, for no adoration is taking place.
When people make commitment to specific hours, we ensure that a number of people (3 or 4 if possible) will be present before the Blessed Sacrament every hour it is exposed. It is really necessary for people to commit to a specific hour each week, for example Tuesday at 4 pm. In this way it is possible to ensure that there are always people present before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. This commitment permits many other people to avail of adoration, if only for a limited period.
Jesus is important enough to us in our life that we set aside at least one hour each week to be in His presence, and to keep Him company.
It is simply a matter of putting first things first. “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success” Proverbs. 3:6
ADORATION – WHAT HAS BEEN SAID AND WRITTEN
“Indeed this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him, will have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the last day” John 6:40
“I have a burning desire to be honoured in the Blessed Sacrament” Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
“What we need in every parish, to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament frequently in holy hours of prayer” Blessed Mother Teresa
“The most efficacious way to grow in holiness, is time spent with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament” Pope Paul VI Mysterium Fidei
“The zeal to carry evangelisation to the ends of the earth comes from contemplation and adoration the Lord Jesus” Pope Francis
“The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in the Sacrament of Love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and contemplation that is full of faith…May our adoration never cease”
Pope John Paul II Dominicae Cenae
“Go to adoration as one would go to heaven, to the Divine Banquet. Our Lord will give us His grace and His love.. He is waiting for us. He is longing for us” St. Peter Julian Eymard.
See also Resource Section: 12 Biblical Reasons and 12 Church Reasons for Adoration
The Apostolate’s Act of Consecration
I promise to spend at least one hour a week in adoration before the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar
I promise to work in communion with my brothers and sisters in the Eucharistic Adoration Apostolate, in a spirit of unity and love. Heavenly Father, acknowledging the Real Presence of your only begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, and knowing His great desire to be loved and adored after giving Himself totally on the Cross, out of pure love for all people, I consecrate myself to my Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
Out of love for Jesus and for others, I commit myself to do what I can to spread Eucharistic Adoration, so that more and more people might come to know the love of our Lord and Saviour through this special Apostolate.
I offer up all the efforts and sacrifices of this work and join them to the sacrifices which Christ the Eternal Priest, offered on the Cross.
I consecrate my efforts in this work, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, which radiates God’s love through the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. Amen