Adoration Question

[jasm]

My children (23, 8 and 6) and I signed up for a regular hour of Adoration each week. Most of the time we have the chapel to ourselves. This works out great because we say a lot of prayers together out loud, and we don’t disturb anyone. However, a few times there has been someone else in the chapel. I didn’t feel right about saying our prayers out loud and bothering them, so I took the kids inside the church in front of the Tabernacle, and finished our adoration there. My kids are focused and well behaved, as long as the hour has structure and I lead them in a combination of prayer and silent time. Just sitting silently for an hour isn’t going to work and I really don’t think it’s fair to them. I explained to them the chapel is open to all at all times and even though we ‘signed up for an hour’, it’s not our chapel. I must admit though, we all are very disappointed when we work so hard to get to our ‘Hour’ and then feel no choice but to leave the presence of Jesus in the Monstrance to carry on our adoration in the church, so we don’t disturb others.
What would you do?

 

[DallasCatholic]

What would you do?

Depends on your Parish. At my Parish when you “sign up” for an hour of Adoration you are signing up for the responsibility for keeping Jesus company for the hour to make sure that Our Lord is not left alone while exposed in the Monstrance. If you have a separate Adoration chapel then when you leave to “finish” your adoration you are abidicating your responsibility. You are correct in that you do not “own” the hour you signed up for and I respect your consideration of others by not doing your vocal prayers when others are present. I would suggest either asking the other Adorer(s) who show up if they would like to join you in your vocal prayer with your children or bringing some books (for the older children and yourself) and maybe coloring books for the six year old for those occasions when other Adorers come to share your hour of Adoration. Personally, I wouldn’t leave the Adoration chapel if I had signed up for the responsibility of keeping an hour with Jesus.

 

[tcraig]

I would just be honest if someone else is there. Tell them that you signed up for this hour of adoration, and that you are trying to instill a good habit in your children. Because of their very young ages (8 and 6, I’m assuming the 23 year old is fine) you must help them focus by praying out loud at times.

The very fact that such young children are at adoration will probably be an inspiration to others.

 

[juliamca]

I love to go to adoration!!!.
i would not mind if someone was praying out loud. try it and see what reaction you get. I agree that we don’t “own” the hour we sign up for . people come when they have time but did not know they would be available at that time. I love to see the kids there the most. Keep your heart open to anything that might come up in that hour and remember how lucky you are that your church has adoration. A lot of churches these days don’t have it at all. I have to travel 20 miles to go to adoration.

 

[Cathryn]

I would probably want to join you and your children in your prayers out loud. It wouldn’t disturb me at all.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I would ask whoever if they minded. I think it is WONDERFUL that you signed up for adoration with your cherubs!

 

[jpjd]

I hate to be the party pooper here, but another party’s verbal prayers would be a distraction to me, as I use Adoration time to meditate, which best works for me in silence. If I was in adoration where another party was praying out loud, I’d probably leave and return at another time.

Also, Adoration was never meant to be a private occasion for one party. Adoration is really a public liturgy. You need to expect and actually pray that many others will show up to adore the Lord.

I think your solution is the perfect one. Your family doesn’t have to give up your verbal prayers, and you allow the other adorers to have their silence. Since the point of signing up is to ensure that our Lord is not left alone if no one else is there, NOT that you must remain rooted in the chapel, I don’t see a problem with your family moving out to the church to continue your verbal prayers, since there is another party in the Adoration Chapel. If the other party leaves, you are responsible for returning to the chapel, which I’m sure you are more than happy to do.

I think you are setting a superb example to your children.

 

[Vittorio23]

My children (23, 8 and 6) and I signed up for a regular hour of Adoration each week. Most of the time we have the chapel to ourselves. This works out great because we say a lot of prayers together out loud, and we don’t disturb anyone. However, a few times there has been someone else in the chapel. I didn’t feel right about saying our prayers out loud and bothering them, so I took the kids inside the church in front of the Tabernacle, and finished our adoration there. My kids are focused and well behaved, as long as the hour has structure and I lead them in a combination of prayer and silent time. Just sitting silently for an hour isn’t going to work and I really don’t think it’s fair to them. I explained to them the chapel is open to all at all times and even though we ‘signed up for an hour’, it’s not our chapel. I must admit though, we all are very disappointed when we work so hard to get to our ‘Hour’ and then feel no choice but to leave the presence of Jesus in the Monstrance to carry on our adoration in the church, so we don’t disturb others.
What would you do?

The only suggestion I would have is that you mention to whomever is in the Chapel that you will be in the church with your family, so if they should find it necessary to leave at any time they don’t feel obligated to stay in order to ensure that someone is with Jesus. Not everyone stays for an entire hour during Adoration. Just make sure they realize that you’re there for the hour and that you’ll go back in if they need to leave.

 

[Orionthehunter]

I would just be honest if someone else is there. Tell them that you signed up for this hour of adoration, and that you are trying to instill a good habit in your children. Because of their very young ages (8 and 6, I’m assuming the 23 year old is fine) you must help them focus by praying out loud at times.

The very fact that such young children are at adoration will probably be an inspiration to others.

Personally, I like the current solution of the family. It is my experience that there are two types there. One is a person who is in pursuit of Holiness and what better way than to be close to the Lord. The other is someone suffering or struggling. You can usually tell by the distress on their face. The latter is who drops in. Consideration for the person is to depart if you are unable to keep the chapel quiet.

Additionally, most expect to find quiet when they come. Despite the merits of what you are doing and the fact that some would join your family in their prayers or not be bothered at all, the norm is quiet and you should defer to that.