Conversations in the Adoration Chapel

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crenfro

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Hello.

A few weeks ago I was distraught so I went to the Adoration chapel and during my visit a woman who is very spiritually grounded in the faith came and we had a talk about the nature of my distraughtness in the Presence - in the Adoration chapel.

Last night I was at Adoration and this gentleman wanted to talk to me about the HHS mandate - I think he just wanted to talk or was curious about something about me or whatnot - it wasn’t anything that important - he was wearing headphones during his adoration visit and I’m wondering if there’re any guidelines or something about talking while one is in the Very Presence. To me it feels like it cheapens it, or something.

I really don’t know though.

Any constructive thoughts are welcome.

Thanks for listening and please pray for me.
 
Probably does seem disrespectful, but what if he was listening to a sermon or a rosary recitation? Maybe it would help you to feel better about it if you just asked him what he was listening to.
 
Hello 🙂

At my parish, we discourage conversations in the chapel since it is usually a place for prayer and contemplation before Christ. We want to avoid causing any distraction to others who might be there to adore.

If you two were the only ones there, there’s probably no harm done – so no need to worry. But as a general rule, I would think that the adoration chapel is not really the best place for a conversation.

Having said that, it would have been possibly uncharitable to shut somebody down if they want to talk. So I would think you just need to use your judgement. As long as you are not interrupting anybody else’s prayers, and are acting respectfully, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

God bless!
 
If someone wanted to talk to me, I would politely ask them to step outside so we could speak freely and openly, and not disrupt the holy silence of the space. Remember - even if you are the only two visitors, you are still not alone in the room.

As for the headphones - he may have been listening to a rosary or music - it’s completely irrelevant, as long as no one else can hear it or be otherwise disrupted by it.

~Liza
 
I would talk to your administrator / adoration coordinator. They typically have guidelines to help us be reverent. Also, it let’s them know if many people are losing their reverence and if they need to address this at mass (homily) or set out reminders by the chapel.
 
mountee said:
Probably does seem disrespectful, but what if he was listening to a sermon or a rosary recitation? Maybe it would help you to feel better about it if you just asked him what he was listening to.
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I always use headphones in the adoration chapel for two reasons. 1) I listen to a recording of the Benediction to focus my attention; 2) the proliferation of WOMEN who just must convert every thought to speech, even in the Real Presence. Only one person ever asked me what I was listening to, and I was glad to tell her it was the Benediction. She thought that was a good devotion.
 
lizaanne said:
If someone wanted to talk to me, I would politely ask them to step outside so we could speak freely and openly, and not disrupt the holy silence of the space. Remember - even if you are the only two visitors, you are still not alone in the room.

As for the headphones - he may have been listening to a rosary or music - it’s completely irrelevant, as long as no one else can hear it or be otherwise disrupted by it.

~Liza
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If you’re the only two in the chapel, you can’t step outside, as you would be leaving the Blessed Sacrament alone.

I think using common sense would kick in here. If there are other people in the chapel, step outside. If you’re alone, and it’s something that is important/can’t wait, whisper and keep it brief.

I once had a guy wander into the chapel in the middle of the night and start singing to Jesus. It was…peculiar. He wasn’t drunk either.
 
Yes, don’t leave the exposed Blessed Sacrament alone.
I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk at adoration, but I have had short appropriate conversations. I prefer to nod hello and goodbye to the next person coming in.
If a troubled person came in and needed to talk about something, it would be uncharitable not to lend aid, keeping in mind that the silent presence of Jesus is the real healer.
 
clem456 said:
Yes, don’t leave the exposed Blessed Sacrament alone.
I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk at adoration, but I have had short appropriate conversations. I prefer to nod hello and goodbye to the next person coming in.
If a troubled person came in and needed to talk about something, it would be uncharitable not to lend aid, keeping in mind that the silent presence of Jesus is the real healer.
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👍 good post.
 
lizaanne said:
If someone wanted to talk to me, I would politely ask them to step outside so we could speak freely and openly, and not disrupt the holy silence of the space. Remember - even if you are the only two visitors, you are still not alone in the room.

As for the headphones - he may have been listening to a rosary or music - it’s completely irrelevant, as long as no one else can hear it or be otherwise disrupted by it.

~Liza
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But if you are the only two in the room, you can’t both step out at the same time. The Blessed Sacrament can never be left alone, at least in our parish. I thought that is how it is everywhere, but I could be wrong.
 
I’d have no trouble at all holding a finger over my lips and nodding in the direction of the monstrance with an admonishing expression on my face. Reverent silence is supposed to be maintained in Eucharistic Adoration. This gentleman could go elsewhere to discuss the HHS or whatever else is on his mind.

Naturally, if an actual emergency was in progress, I’d lend what aid I could, including my cell phone for an emergency call.
 
Some people listen to audio rosary, scripture or sermons. I do not know what the “rules” are for adoration though.
 
Ophelia said:
But if you are the only two in the room, you can’t both step out at the same time. The Blessed Sacrament can never be left alone, at least in our parish. I thought that is how it is everywhere, but I could be wrong.
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I think your right. At our church we have a 24 hour adoration. We have volunteer “adorers” that take shift with a pass code to get in.
 
I don’t know there are any guidlines beyond the golden rule and whatever your pastor may have set. I prefer to quietly read scripture for most of the adoration, then perhaps finish with a rosary either prayed my self, or if a group starts I will join.
 
I went into the adoration chapel one day and a woman was sitting in there crocheting…yup, you read it right the first time
 
Elizabeth779 said:
I went into the adoration chapel one day and a woman was sitting in there crocheting…yup, you read it right the first time
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That may not be as weird as it seems. There are some ladies in our parish that knit and crochet prayer shawls for the sick and pray for them while making them so they are “soaked” in prayer. Some also make blankets for preemie babies and pray for them while making them. I could picture someone doing this–praying for the sick and babies before the Blessed Sacrament while making their blankets and shawls.
 
we have a perpetual adoration chapel that’s been open 24/7 for 20+ years. we are ‘keepers’ of the chapel for a couple of hours every week for the past 10 years.

at our chapel, people pray, read, bring newspapers, crochet, knit, quilt, do rosary, sleep, meditate, pray some more, etc. all sorts of things…i think they’re all ok. being in the presence of Jesus is wonderful. because He is my friend, i’m comfortable just being there and don’t feel the need to meet anybody’s expectations.

in our chapel there’s a BIG sign that says “SILENCE…the only talking that should be going on is the Holy Spirit talking to YOU”. it’s cute but gets the point across!
 
I usually visit Lord Jesus in the Adoration Chapel with my 12-year old son. This is a locked chapel with a code and I have my “special” reserved time every week.

Normally we pray Scriptural Rosary. My son interrupts now and them with questions regarding a Scripture passage that caught his eye. Obviously, I explain to him the best I can. After Rosary, he reads Scriptures, which brings more questions.

Once, at the end of our hour, he started “dance” in one spot. When I reprimanded him, he said: But, mum, I feel so happy! Well, I thought of King David in front of the Ark, and I had to smile. That’s what Lord Jesus does to us, brings complete joy.

Anyway, I was not feeling quite comfortable with this cheat-and-chat, and I asked a very orthodox priest if this inappropriate behaviour. His answer was, as long there was no other person in the chapple, there is no problem with us talking (about godly things).
 
This is how I feel about this: an adoration chapel is for adoration.

Christ is standing in front of you. Think of it this way: you are talking to your father, and suddenly you turn away from him, ignore him, and start talking with a friend (or texting to a friend). Don’t you think that is slightly disrespectful towards your Father? Especially if, instead of walking away, he stands there, waiting for you to turn again towards him, and you make him wait there.

Everything has a proper place and a proper time. An adoration chapel is not a place for conversation. Nor it should be a place for loud prayer. Adoration should be a fully contemplative act, crowned with pearls of mental prayer.

Since God is omnipresent, we can perform all of those other acts someplace else while still being at the presence of the Lord. But before the Blessed Sacrament, a special reverence should be required.
 
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