Is it disrespectful to read during Adoration?

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I’m wondering if it would be disrespectful to read during Adoration? Obviously I don’t mean pleasure reading so to speak, but rather something that would draw someone closer to our Lord.

I find that it is very difficult for me to stay focused for more than 45 minutes or so if I don’t read.
 
Would you, in any way, feel disrespected if your son or daughter was sitting with you in your living room reading a book?

I wouldn’t, and I don’t think it would be disrespectful to read a book, even for pleasure, in the presence of our Lord who is our Father.
 
jreilly said:
I’m wondering if it would be disrespectful to read during Adoration? Obviously I don’t mean pleasure reading so to speak, but rather something that would draw someone closer to our Lord.

I find that it is very difficult for me to stay focused for more than 45 minutes or so if I don’t read.
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you can most certainly read in adoration, if you wish. I often bring my iPad and pray LOTH and do spiritual reading.
 
No, though it may be against the norms of your church and thus a cause of distraction for others. It is not unusual for people at my church to journal during adoration.
 
It better not be! Otherwise there’s a whole lot of disrespectful adorers out there! 😃

Where I used to go there was actually quite an extensive library available inside the chapel.
 
Blessed John Paul II did most of his writing in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I think a lot of his major documents and encyclicals were written at a desk in front of the exposed Body and Blood of Christ in his private chapel. Not that he always wrote when he was adoring Jesus, but whenever he had something very important to write, he usually did it directly in the Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
 
Warandpeace said:
No, though it may be against the norms of your church and thus a cause of distraction for others. It is not unusual for people at my church to journal during adoration.
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I have never personally seen it, so I would highly doubt that reading is against the norms of a parish.
 
It is not disrespectful for a priest and congregants to READ the missal during Mass. The priest is very careful to read correctly because Mass is that important, especially at Consecration.

Reading approprite material during Mass and Adoration is fine. It helps focus the mind.

Praying at Adoration is also fine even prayer you just make up on the spot.

Being quiet and as thoughtless as possible is also fine. Often that is when an idea God wants to you have come to your mind.
 
The purpose of being in adoration is to be in the presence of God. Whether it’s reading or doing something else. I go into the adoration chapel to study for my courses. I offer the time up to God for His glory.
 
Sometimes it’s through what we’re reading that God speaks to us.

Adoration means being in Jesus presence, because of your love for him.

Jim
 
I’m sorry - but I was quite shocked by some of the answers to this question.

I quite agree - to read prayers and religious material seems just about ok - but laptops and general reading matter, I’m not too sure. The example of JPII is a different matter entirely.

How often do we get to be in the presence of Christ? It’s not often enough, I know that - and I see it as an opportunity to focus on Him alone and to listen and be part of him - and we cannot hear Him if we’re reading or ‘elsewhere’. Just to be near Him should be enough - I find those moments very special and if I’m distracted, then it loses some of its specialness.

I don’t like to sound like a prig, but I see it as a terrible insult to read or be ‘elsewhere’ when He is calling us and present with us. We should make the most of it. If Jesus was there in a human body we wouldn’t be reading, so if He is there in the flesh, why do we read?

I have to admit, I’m not Catholic, so maybe you’ve all just got too used to a good thing!
 
Kits said:
I’m sorry - but I was quite shocked by some of the answers to this question.

I quite agree - to read prayers and religious material seems just about ok - but laptops and general reading matter, I’m not too sure. The example of JPII is a different matter entirely.

How often do we get to be in the presence of Christ? It’s not often enough, I know that - and I see it as an opportunity to focus on Him alone and to listen and be part of him - and we cannot hear Him if we’re reading or ‘elsewhere’. Just to be near Him should be enough - I find those moments very special and if I’m distracted, then it loses some of its specialness.

I don’t like to sound like a prig, but I see it as a terrible insult to read or be ‘elsewhere’ when He is calling us and present with us. We should make the most of it. If Jesus was there in a human body we wouldn’t be reading, so if He is there in the flesh, why do we read?

I have to admit, I’m not Catholic, so maybe you’ve all just got too used to a good thing!
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I think most of the posters (except for one) are referring to prayers, the Bible or some other sort of spiritual reading. If that is the case, does it matter if the material is in a book or on an iPad?
 
TrueLight said:
I think most of the posters (except for one) are referring to prayers, the Bible or some other sort of spiritual reading. If that is the case, does it matter if the material is in a book or on an iPad?
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I don’t see any problem with bringing an ipad or laptop. Of course, you wouldn’t be checking your email, but you’d be praying the LOTH, or spiritual reading or something similar.
 
I’ve used my iPhone to read spiritual articles and to use the rosary app.

I’ve always been inspired to sketch religious-themed art during Adoration. But, when I used to visit my late grandmother we’d sit together and I’d sketch while she read or watched TV, so it seemed natural. 🙂
 
Kits said:
How often do we get to be in the presence of Christ? It’s not often enough, I know that - and I see it as an opportunity to focus on Him alone and to listen and be part of him - and we cannot hear Him if we’re reading or ‘elsewhere’. Just to be near Him should be enough - I find those moments very special and if I’m distracted, then it loses some of its specialness.
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If everybody concentrated in exactly the same way we could expect everybody either to sit in silent meditation, or read suitable material. However while some can and do maintain effective prayer or meditation for 45 minutes or more, others need something on which to focus their thoughts.
Kits said:
I don’t like to sound like a prig, but I see it as a terrible insult to read or be ‘elsewhere’ when He is calling us and present with us. We should make the most of it. If Jesus was there in a human body we wouldn’t be reading, so if He is there in the flesh, why do we read?
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I love it when I can settle with my book in company with a special friend or family member, so cannot understand why Jesus can’t be that special friend or family member.
Kits said:
I quite agree - to read prayers and religious material seems just about ok - but laptops and general reading matter
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At this point in my life, my religious books (including my Bible) are all either on my Kindle or iPad - surely whether it is a paper book or an electronic book should not make any difference?

I would think it is more respectful to read during Adoration than to sit with your thoughts wandering to things that have noting to do with Adoration at all. Unfortunately, wandering thoughts can’t be detected by anyone else who may be sharing the space with you.
 
Just be sure to stop and talk to God occasionally about what you are reading…
 
If you’re doing spiritual reading, that itself should be prayerful.
 
invisiblewitnes said:
Blessed John Paul II did most of his writing in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I think a lot of his major documents and encyclicals were written at a desk in front of the exposed Body and Blood of Christ in his private chapel. Not that he always wrote when he was adoring Jesus, but whenever he had something very important to write, he usually did it directly in the Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
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Same is true of Ven. Fulton Sheen. I saw a picture of his private chapel and where he would sit in front of the Lord during his holy hour was surrounded by books.
 
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