Adoration for the first time...What should I expect?

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ambrosegirl_84

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I’m an LCMS Lutheran exploring the Roman Catholic Church. I’ve always been drawn to adoration, but have never had the opportunity until now, tomorrow. I’ve arranged a sitter for my kids and have a one hour time slot. I’m excited but also a bit nervous (I’m also nervous about what to tell my husband, who doesn’t know yet!). What should I expect?
 
Is it Perpetual, or a period beginning with Exposition and ending with Benediction?

If Perpetual:
You’ll come in, and Christ will be exposed. May be some people there (There are usually less here than the second option since you can come anytime). Catholic custom is to kneel on two knees, towards the Monstrance, when you enter the chapel. After that, you can do any number of things… read scripture, journal, sit in silence…

If with Exposition and Benediction:
Try to get there maybe 5 minutes before the scheduled beginning.
The priest will come onto the altar, expose the Blessed Sacrament, usually sing a hymn, and then exit the sanctuary. Adoration will then last until Benediction, in which the priest blesses the congregants with the Eucharist, and then Our Lord is reposed.
 
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For your first time it’s hard to say. I might suggest you bring your Bible given you are a LCMS Lutheran(I have many friends that profess their faith as LCMS Lutherans, and one that converted to Catholicism.) so you can read it until you have some sense of the complete quietness you will enjoy that you can use to calm your soul and utilize the time in any manner that may help you grow spiritually.

Many Catholics pray the Rosary, the Divine Chaplet, and prayers we have memorized; however you can utilize your time anyway you would like to. Simply reflecting on God or keeping your mind clear of thoughts and open to the stillness where God’s voice can still be heard like, Elijah. You may not be comfortable with memorized Catholic prayers so pray as you would like to. That’s the beauty of adoration anything quietly done is acceptable.

Anything goes that is respectable. I love my LCMS friends they are so well read regarding the Bible and devoted Christians. I hope it goes well with you, and perhaps you will even find the peace of God that transcends all understanding as you reflect upon the sacrifice of Jesus our savior to atone for our sins.

Hope you enjoy your hour there and God Bless!~
 
Hi ambrosegirl

Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful time. Jesus is truly there under the veil of bread. When I first started going to adoration I found it quite difficult to remain for any length of time. I struggled to stay for 5 minutes. But I made an act of the will to remain for an hour. I returned the next day and the next. Don’t expect anything dramatic to happen. Jesus is gentle and doesn’t kick the doors down so to speak.

Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and trust that He will. Just sit there and rest in His Eucharistic radiance. Though it “appears” nothing is happening, this couldn’t be further from the truth. At adoration we get to sit at the feet of Jesus just like the apostles. In this encounter we learn from Him who is truly a rabbi, a teacher. The best of teachers.

I can honestly say adoration has changed my life. I can truly feel His Presence there. It is very powerful and beautiful. Just give Jesus time. The key is perseverance. In His own time He will reveal Himself to you and from then on your life will never be the same. Jesus will become truly the well of living water that you return to time and again to draw from.

God bless you.
 
Just go and be with the Lord.
Don’t bring expectations.
Listen, pray, talk to Him who loves you so much.
But don’t think that something “amazing” or supernatural will happen.
Just be with Him.
God bless you, I hope you enjoy your time with the Lord!
 
I find the whole experience very calming and peaceful. I’ve prayed, read my Bible, and just listened. It is amazing.
 
As others have said it depends on the type of Adoration. Don’t expect a ton right the first time, you may have a sudden revelation that’s lifechanging or you may not. I guess the point just is to “hang out” with Jesus for while; which is the best thing you could do. I guess people do a bunch of things like pray (but it’s a bit different because He’a right there and I include sitting silently whilst loving Him and/or being loved by Him as praying) and maybe read Scripture. Do expect silence to be the norm (but I guess gentle whispers work) I’d say and I guess it is costumary to kneel upon arrival but do what feels natural. The Eucharist will probably be in this thing called a Monstrance (google is your friend) which is a sparkly sun shaped thing usually but they can also be plain and I don’t know how Lutheran costume is but at least for Roman Catholics the Host looks like a circular shaped piece of bread (when we are referring to the accident of appearance I mean). Good luck and have fun 🙂
 
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