Adoration Chapel question

[rosarywarrior]

We are remodeling our Adoration Chapel and have been informed by our pastor that he does not want the statue of Mary put back in the chapel as he had seen some parishioners kneeling in front of the statue and praying to it. He also does not want any books or pamplets of prayer displayed as he feels these are distractions and that the people should focus only on Jesus.

While I agree that the focus should be on Jesus, I am well aware that not all of us are in the same place spiritually. Therefore I feel the prayer pamplets and books may be beneficial to others. As to the parishioners kneeling in front of the statue of Mary, I told him I felt that was an issue he could correct from the pulpit and with better catechesis. I am hoping to meet with him to discuss this further but I am wondering if I am being disrespectful, disobedient, or hardheaded. (P.S. we had to remodel because they enlarged the bathrooms, making the chapel smaller)

 

[Didi]

Regarding the books and pamphlets in the adoration chapel, I can only offer my own experience.

When I began Eucharistic adoration I still had a lot of questions about the Eucharist and Jesus’ True Presence and why adoration was an important part of prayer. Through a friend (and the grace of God) I committed to a weekly hour.

It was only because of the wonderful reading material that I have learned (and continue to learn) about this great gift of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. I agree with you that we are not all in the same place spiritually, so we need good guidance and good materials to guide us.

Some that were most beneficial to me include:

*Come to Me in the Blessed Sacrament

Praying to Jesus with the Heart of Mary

Letters to a Brother Priest*

These are all available at www.ACFP2000.com

I have also read wonderful meditations on the stations of the cross, lives of the saints, prayers of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II, essays by Bishop Fulton Sheen, etc.

None of these distracted me from Jesus on the altar, quite the contrary – they made me understand Him better and appreciate Him more. Also most of these books led me deeper into prayer and/or were meditations and prayers themselves.

I have a very limited income and would not have been able to buy these materials myself, or to really even know about them. I am so thankful to whoever donated them to the Adoration Chapel.

Regarding the statue of Mary, I think maybe your priest has some issues regarding Mary. It is my experience that when people kneel to pray to Mary in front of the statue, they are not praying to the statue or idolizing Mary, they are using the statue as a prayer vehicle to keep them focused on Mary as they ask for her intercession. It’s like looking at a picture of my Mom when I talk to her on the phone 2000 miles away. I might even kiss the picture when we’re done talking because I miss her, but that doesn’t mean I idolize or love the picture, I love what it represents – my Mom. I don’t idolize or worship Mary when I kneel before a statue of her, it just reminds me that she’s my spiritual Mother and I’m talking to her.

You might talk to some of the other regular adorers and get their (name removed by moderator)ut regarding both issues. Then, together, you could take your concerns to the priest backed up with testimonies and support from others. Do this all with a spirit of charity.

 

[puzzleannie]

your priest is in charge. humbly and obediently follow his recommendations. He has his reasons and they are good ones, and in any case, it is his call. The pamphlets and so forth can be made available elsewhere if necessary, and the statue of Mary can be placed in another appropriate place. The trouble with pamphlets is that a lot of people just drop off magazines etc. they have collected, without any judgement on their orthodoxy or worth. From our chapel I have picked up Dan Brown’s books (didn’t burn them, just tossed them in the garbage), Blue Army stuff and SSPX literature, Guideposts and other non-Catholic literature, and other stuff which has no relation to prayer or the Eucharist. We have available in Church and the office two or 3 resources for personal holy hours and adoration, but in the chapel itself only a half-dozen bibles and rosaries. Above all, do not allow this to become a bone of contention. Be grateful your parish has an adoration chapel, as shamefully many parishes are denied this blessing.

 

[Joseph_Bilodeau]

puzzleannie:

…From our chapel I have picked up Dan Brown’s books (didn’t burn them, just tossed them in the garbage), Blue Army stuff and SSPX literature, Guideposts and other non-Catholic literature, and other stuff which has no relation to prayer or the Eucharist…

Just curious as to why Blue Army literature is mentioned with these other items. Are you just noting that you have found these in your chapel, or do you equate the Blue Army with Dan Brown, SSPX, etc.?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

rosarywarrior:

We are remodeling our Adoration Chapel and have been informed by our pastor that he does not want the statue of Mary put back in the chapel as he had seen some parishioners kneeling in front of the statue and praying to it. He also does not want any books or pamplets of prayer displayed as he feels these are distractions and that the people should focus only on Jesus.

While I agree that the focus should be on Jesus, I am well aware that not all of us are in the same place spiritually. Therefore I feel the prayer pamplets and books may be beneficial to others. As to the parishioners kneeling in front of the statue of Mary, I told him I felt that was an issue he could correct from the pulpit and with better catechesis. I am hoping to meet with him to discuss this further but I am wondering if I am being disrespectful, disobedient, or hardheaded. (P.S. we had to remodel because they enlarged the bathrooms, making the chapel smaller)

My opinion is that printed material in the adoration chapel should be available but it should be only prayer material, NOT “reading” material. The statue of Mary does not belong in the Euchatistic chapel. The proper place for it is in an area LEADING to Christ in the Eucharist.

 

[puzzleannie]

Joseph Bilodeau:

Just curious as to why Blue Army literature is mentioned with these other items. Are you just noting that you have found these in your chapel, or do you equate the Blue Army with Dan Brown, SSPX, etc.?

I am referring to a particular pamphlet, attacking our beloved deceased pople John Paul II claiming he did not honor requests of the Virgin supposedly given at Fatima to consecrate Russia to her, published with the logo of the Blue Army. If that is the basis of that organization’s teaching, then yes I equate it with the SSPX mentality.

 

[Joseph_Bilodeau]

puzzleannie:

I am referring to a particular pamphlet, attacking our beloved deceased pople John Paul II claiming he did not honor requests of the Virgin supposedly given at Fatima to consecrate Russia to her, published with the logo of the Blue Army. If that is the basis of that organization’s teaching, then yes I equate it with the SSPX mentality.

Huh. I’ve been getting their catalog for years and have seen many of their publications. I’ve never seen anything like you describe. Do you still have it?

 

[Joseph_Bilodeau]

Are you sure that pamphlet was published by the Blue Army? The following is from their website:

http://www.bluearmy.com/fatima_message.html:

…As is well known, Pope John Paul II immediately thought of consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and he himself composed a prayer for what he called an “Act of Entrustment”, which was to be celebrated in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on 7 June 1981, the Solemnity of Pentecost, the day chosen to commemorate the 1600th anniversary of the First Council of Constantinople and the 1550th anniversary of the Council of Ephesus. Since the Pope was unable to be present, his recorded Address was broadcast. The following is the part which refers specifically to the Act of Entrustment:

“Mother of all individuals and peoples, you know all their sufferings and hopes. In your motherly heart you feel all the struggles between good and evil, between light and darkness, that convulse the world: accept the plea which we make in the Holy Spirit directly to your heart, and embrace with the love of the Mother and Handmaid of the Lord those who most await this embrace, and also those whose act of entrustment you too await in a particular way. Take under your motherly protection the whole human family, which with affectionate love we entrust to you, O Mother. May there dawn for everyone the time of peace and freedom, the time of truth, of justice and of hope”.

In order to respond more fully to the requests of “Our Lady”, the Holy Father desired to make more explicit during the Holy Year of the Redemption the Act of Entrustment of 7 May 1981, which had been repeated in Fatima on 13 May 1982. On 25 March 1984 in Saint Peter’s Square, while recalling the fiat uttered by Mary at the Annunciation, the Holy Father, in spiritual union with the Bishops of the world, who had been “convoked” beforehand, entrusted all men and women and all peoples to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in terms which recalled the heartfelt words spoken in 1981:

“O Mother of all men and women, and of all peoples, you who know all their sufferings and their hopes, you who have a mother’s awareness of all the struggles between good and evil, between light and darkness, which afflict the modern world, accept the cry which we, moved by the Holy Spirit, address directly to your Heart. Embrace with the love of the Mother and Handmaid of the Lord, this human world of ours, which we entrust and consecrate to you, for we are full of concern for the earthly and eternal destiny of individuals and peoples.

In a special way we entrust and consecrate to you those individuals and nations which particularly need to be thus entrusted and consecrated.

‘We have recourse to your protection, holy Mother of God!’ Despise not our petitions in our necessities”.

The Pope then continued more forcefully and with more specific references, as though commenting on the Message of Fatima in its sorrowful fulfillment:

“Behold, as we stand before you, Mother of Christ, before your Immaculate Heart, we desire, together with the whole Church, to unite ourselves with the consecration which, for love of us, your Son made of himself to the Father: ‘For their sake’, he said, ‘I consecrate myself that they also may be consecrated in the truth’ (Jn 17:19). We wish to unite ourselves with our Redeemer in this his consecration for the world and for the human race, which, in his divine Heart, has the power to obtain pardon and to secure reparation.

The power of this consecration lasts for all time and embraces all individuals, peoples and nations. It overcomes every evil that the spirit of darkness is able to awaken, and has in fact awakened in our times, in the heart of man and in his history.
How deeply we feel the need for the consecration of humanity and the world—our modern world—in union with Christ himself! For the redeeming work of Christ must be shared in by the world through the Church…

Mother of the Church! Enlighten the People of God along the paths of faith, hope, and love! Enlighten especially the peoples whose consecration and entrustment by us you are awaiting. Help us to live in the truth of the consecration of Christ for the entire human family of the modern world.

In entrusting to you, O Mother, the world, all individuals and peoples, we also entrust to you this very consecration of the world, placing it in your motherly Heart…"

Sister Lucia personally confirmed that this solemn and universal act of consecration corresponded to what Our Lady wished (“Sim, està feita, tal como Nossa Senhora a pediu, desde o dia 25 de Março de 1984”: “Yes it has been done just as Our Lady asked, on 25 March 1984”: Letter of 8 November 1989). Hence any further discussion or request is without basis…

This is consistent with other Blue Army publications I have read and does not appear to be consistent with the pamphlet you describe.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

puzzleannie:

I am referring to a particular pamphlet, attacking our beloved deceased pople John Paul II claiming he did not honor requests of the Virgin supposedly given at Fatima to consecrate Russia to her, published with the logo of the Blue Army. If that is the basis of that organization’s teaching, then yes I equate it with the SSPX mentality.

That sounds like material from Father Gruner and the Fatima Crusader. Note that Father Gruner was suspended from priestly duties several years ago.

 

[Penitent]

I agree with PA–it’s the pastor’s call and doesn’t really seem appropriate that it should be debated. As far as reading materials, maybe pamphlets if they deal only with Eucharistic Adoration or prayer. I also think it’s not appropriate to have any statues in there as our focus is on Jesus. One of the chapels I frequent has various literature and statues and I always see people kneeling at the Mary statue and reading materials about various feast days, saints, all good, but not really placing your focus on Jesus. On the other hand, we do have the one volume Liturgy of the Hours which somehow does seem appropriate. Maybe it’s just my personal bias, LOL.

Penitent

 

[Orionthehunter]

I agree with PA–it’s the pastor’s call and doesn’t really seem appropriate that it should be debated.

While I totally agree it is the Pastor’s call, I don’t think there is anything wrong w/ the Original Poster talking directly to the Pastor to express his views. The OP might give the Pastor information he hadn’t considered or more likely the OP might hear reasoning he had not considered and would be more understanding of the decision, if not becoming supportive.

As far as reading materials, maybe pamphlets if they deal only with Eucharistic Adoration or prayer.

The Priest should periodically review what is availalbe to make sure it is appropriate as it is true that well-intentioned people do sometimes leave literature (inadvertently or intentionally).

I also think it’s not appropriate to have any statues in there as our focus is on Jesus. One of the chapels I frequent has various literature and statues and I always see people kneeling at the Mary statue and reading materials about various feast days, saints, all good, but not really placing your focus on Jesus.

Now, this is something that I disagree with (actually possibly not if the chapel is exclusively an Adoration Chapel). At our parish we have the only Tabernacle in the building on the main altar and the chapel is used for daily Mass and private prayer during the day. Since the Blessed Sacrament is in the main church, I think that statues used to focus the heart and mind during a particular devotional prayer are more appropriate not in the same prayer space as the Tabernacle.

On the other hand, we do have the one volume Liturgy of the Hours which somehow does seem appropriate. Maybe it’s just my personal bias, LOL.

Penitant, I love your humility here. One person’s “reading material” might be another’s “prayer material”. I go back to my comment above, the material should be deemed appropriate by the Pastor.