Is Adoration a sacrament?

[saurav]

I wanted to know whether Sacramental Adoration is a Sacrament as such.
The other day the charismatic group in our church had organised an adoration session to which lots of people came. Sometime during the course of the worship, the leader stated that there is no other sacrament except for the sacrament of Eucharistic Adoration which one can approach even while in mortal sin. She said,and to my agreement,that adoring God is not denied to even the filthiest sinner.
What I am confused about is her declaration about the *adoration *being the Sacrament itself. I think adoration is the subject and the Eucharistic Presence is the object of that worship…Aren’t there only seven Sacraments which purchase us Grace?
Also,in the Divine Praises,we say:
‘Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.’
is the Holy Altar a sacrament…or am I wrong in understanding the praise?
Thank you!

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

That statement was made in ignorance. You are correct. The Eucharist is a sacrament. Adoration is the act of worshiping the Eucharist.

While one can come before the Eucharist in the state of mortal sin, one can gain no merit in such a state. To be in the state of mortal sin is to be God’s enemy. The sooner one repents and receives absolution the better. This is not to say that one cannot by God’s mercy receive the grace that enables one to repent. But such help is the result of God’s mercy and not the result of the sinner’s effort.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.