holy hour

[Warandpeace]

I did a holy hour today. I usually start out by praying a rosary and/or the liturgy of the hours depending on the time of day. Perhaps a divine mercy chaplet or stations of the cross. I also do petitions and spend some silent time with Jesus in the tabernacle. I feel like it is such a vital part of my life now. Of course, I really enjoy adoration, but often adoration times don’t mesh with my schedule. I really should do a holy hour every day. Does anyone else feel like they need this time with the Lord?

 

[jmjZelie]

I have never understood what a holy hour is, and by reading your post, I can tell that I have misunderstood it completely. Can you please tell me where you learned about it?

 

[7_Sorrows]

I thought a Holy Hour was Adoration, but maybe a Holy Hour can be any spiritual hour devoted to scripture reading or praying the Rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy or the Stations of the Cross.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

jmjZelie:Simply stated, a holy hour is an hour of prayer passed in the company of Jesus. It can take many different forms.

When made before the Blessed Sacrament, either exposed in the monstrance or reposed in the tabernacle, various devotions can be combined such as those listed in the original post. It can also be 60 minutes (or more or less) spent in the four ends of prayer: adoration, reparation, thanksgiving and supplication. Personally, I find it helpful to do the Stations of the Cross in the midst of the holy hour so that I am able to move a bit, as opposed to sitting or kneeling for 60 minutes straight.

One of the resources I came to really cherish when I first began making holy hours more than 30 years ago is a booklet written by the late John Cardinal Carberry, who was a wonderful and holy man. It is still published by the Daughters of Saint Paul and you might find it very helpful and I still return to it after all of these years. It is called “Reflections and Prayers for Visits With Our Eucharistic Lord.”

There are many resources available and a variety of approaches to making a holy hour. It is a matter of using the materials and methods that you find personally beneficial. I recommend reading Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who was an apostle of Eucharistic adoration in the 19th century.

Also, there is the devotion as practiced by Saint Gemma Galgani. It is especially helpful if you are not, for some reason, able to make a holy hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Her way is tied to the Agony of Our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemani and is beautiful and inspirational. You will find more information about her method here: stgemmagalgani.com/2013/04/st-gemma-holy-hour-booklet.html

 

[AKDee]

I joined our Perpetual Adoration group and do one hour a week before the Blessed Sacrament (they only had a few times which meshed with my schedule). But I always find myself wishing I had more time. I’d gladly do two hours in a row, if it were an option, and may take other time slots as they become available throughout the week. Most of the time slots open are in the wee hours and that doesn’t work with my job.

I haven’t yet developed a habit of how I do my Holy Hour. Sometimes I start out with prayers of thanks, moving on to prayers of reparation or contrition. Sometimes I start right out with a Rosary, and then read from my Bible the rest of the time. Sometimes I read from a prayerbook, such as my “The Blessed Sacrament Prayerbook”. One thing I’ve noticed is that while nothing “miraculous” has happened for me, I often “hear” answers to things I’m concerned about in my mind while I’m there. And I do believe those answers come from the Lord. There are people in my parish that have experienced real miracles in Adoration, and visions. Perhaps someday I will be so fortunate, but for now I find that the hour with the Lord really helps me in my faith journey and helps to ground me for the rest of the week. I think it also has helped me to listen more for the voice of the Lord to speak to me in my heart, as other answers are coming to me at odd times now.

 

[7_Sorrows]

jmjZelie:Simply stated, a holy hour is an hour of prayer passed in the company of Jesus. It can take many different forms.

When made before the Blessed Sacrament, either exposed in the monstrance or reposed in the tabernacle, various devotions can be combined such as those listed in the original post. It can also be 60 minutes (or more or less) spent in the four ends of prayer: adoration, reparation, thanksgiving and supplication. Personally, I find it helpful to do the Stations of the Cross in the midst of the holy hour so that I am able to move a bit, as opposed to sitting or kneeling for 60 minutes straight.

One of the resources I came to really cherish when I first began making holy hours more than 30 years ago is a booklet written by the late John Cardinal Carberry, who was a wonderful and holy man. It is still published by the Daughters of Saint Paul and you might find it very helpful and I still return to it after all of these years. It is called “Reflections and Prayers for Visits With Our Eucharistic Lord.”

There are many resources available and a variety of approaches to making a holy hour. It is a matter of using the materials and methods that you find personally beneficial. I recommend reading Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who was an apostle of Eucharistic adoration in the 19th century.

Also, there is the devotion as practiced by Saint Gemma Galgani. It is especially helpful if you are not, for some reason, able to make a holy hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Her way is tied to the Agony of Our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemani and is beautiful and inspirational. You will find more information about her method here: stgemmagalgani.com/2013/04/st-gemma-holy-hour-booklet.html

Thanks for the link.

 

[mh2007]

Oh yes, alone time with the Lord is essential to cultivate and grow in faith, and to gain blessings and perspective on life, and to develop spiritually. It will become the anchor of your day - a routine to look forward to, and to have peace with the Lord.

 

[LJL5]

A holy hour is a joy and a truly wonderful privilege - one which I hope we never lose here in the US. I like the idea of having that time alone with the Lord - just the two of us. But practically speaking, I will go after work - while there is daylight and folks are honoring their commitment to an adoration hour. It’s a perfect time to share your day with the Lord - even if all you can do is stay a few minutes and pray. I have had the most effective prayer time at my holy hour and find that it really resonates throughout the week. It also gives you the blessing of being in companionship with others who love being with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a perfect place to read scripture and to practice prayer. You can only benefit from this pious practice.

 

[DebChris]

I have never understood what a holy hour is, and by reading your post, I can tell that I have misunderstood it completely. Can you please tell me where you learned about it?

Sometimes a parish will offer a Holy Hour. This was common practice in the overseas parish to which I belonged. The monstrance would be displayed on the altar throughout this time of prayer. There would be sacred readings and music to guide the congregation. First Fridays of the month are very often set aside for this purpose.

A holy hour can also be private pious practice at home or before the Blessed Sacrament is possible. Many people set aside 3pm to make their holy hour, or hour of prayer.

 

[Warandpeace]

I have never understood what a holy hour is, and by reading your post, I can tell that I have misunderstood it completely. Can you please tell me where you learned about it?

I probably first heard about doing a holy hour from reading/listening to Blessed Fulton Sheen. He did a holy hour every day from what I understand. The Focus missionaries at the community I go to do a holy hour, though what they do during it dffers. Reading scripture, etc. I went on a retreat with this community, and the priest encouraged us to spend an hour with Jesus. I find it helpful to making changes in my life in order to better serve the Lord. Though I could probably pray more for knowledge of God, etc…

I consider doing a holy hour as primary prayer time. It has definitely changed my life.