Is it right during Eucharistic adoration to drink Coffee?

[Sursumcorda1]

we had Eucharistic adoration all through the night

Which is worse in front of our Lord for an “all nighter”: dozing off or sipping coffee?
Recall that the origin of Eucharistic Adoration started with Jesus complaining to his dozing Apostles in Matthew 26:40, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?” Seems like sipping coffee is better than dozing off.

 

[SteelArchangel]

My cousin is a priest. My great aunt a nun. I’m even related to St. Andre Bessette (entering 5/6th cousin territory). Does any of that make them correct?

You can accuse me of dwelling within a hostile Adoration environment all you want, but at the end of the day I keep my focus in there 100% on Jesus.

 

[SteelArchangel]

Lets put it this way, a cursory search of a dozen parishes online reveals they all forbid food and drink in the chapel. I’ve yet to find one that gives it a free pass.

 

[babochka]

all-night Adoration. They were not guzzling soda but having some coffee.

In the Byzantine Rite after certain services (Great Vespers) the priest blesses bread and wine and it is consumed by the people present. It is largely symbolic at this point, but has its origins in an all-night vigil.

The blessing of bread​

In the Byzantine Rite, certain feast days are marked with a vigil at which the faithful may gather, sing, and keep watch during the night in order to better celebrate the feast. During the Middle Ages, this vigil began with Vespers and a litija procession, after which the faithful would take part in a simple meal of bread and wine that had been blessed by the priest, to allow them to stay in prayer late into the night. During the meal, the Acts of the Apostles would be read, and after the meal, the Psalms would be chanted, followed by Matins for the feast.

This All-Night Vigil is not normally celebrated in our church outside of monasteries; but on vigil feasts and great feasts, we bless wheat, bread, wine, and oil at Vespers, after the singing of the troparia:

• Wheat represents the providential care of God in supplying our needs. After the blessing, it may be ground and used for baking.
• Bread and wine represent the staples of life; they are blessed and are distributed to the faithful (the wine may be poured over the bread) to begin the feast.
• Oil (usually olive oil) represents the grace of God; since strict fast days preclude the use of oil in cooking, its presence here stands for feasting and “rich things.” The oil will be used to anoint the faithful at Matins.

In the blessing (which takes place at the tetrapod), the priest prays:

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, you blessed the five loaves in the wilderness and fed the five thousand. Likewise bless these loaves, wheat, wine, and oil, and multiply them in this city [or: in this holy monastery] and throughout your whole world. Sanctify your faithful who will partake of them. For you, yourself, bless and sanctify all things, O Christ our God, and we give glory to you, with your eternal Father, and your all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and forever.

Then the faithful respond, “Amen”, and sing three times:

Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever!

then chant Psalm 33, which describes God’s providential care for us, and contains the words: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; they lack nothing, those who revere him.” (The bread and wine are distributed after the dismissal of Vespers, and the blessed oil is used to anoint the faithful during the singing of the canon at Matins.)

 

[tafan2]

I am sure none give a free pass. I agree it shod not be done normally (although I see nothing wrong with Fr @edward_george1 doing so in his house chapel every morning). But I do not think that someone bring a thermos in to adoration in the middle of the night and sipping on it would provoke much of a negative reaction in most parishes even though they have such rules.

I am surprised those rules are actually posted on parish’s websites, but I certainly take your word for it.

 

[SteelArchangel]

If a priest wishes to take a coffee in there…that’s his business. But I take umbrage with people who can’t even go thirty minutes in there without having to eat or drink something (diabetics aside).

If you have the time, do a small search of parishes in your area that have a website and page about Adoration. I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t expressly forbid food and drink.

 

[edward_george1]

But I take umbrage with people who can’t even go thirty minutes in there without having to eat or drink something (diabetics aside).

Maybe it would be better to occupy your thoughts with something else and not worry about what other people are doing so much. If you see it firsthand, say a prayer and go about your day. If it’s a serious problem, like people are snacking loudly or making a mess of the chapel, then report it to the priest and leave it at that.

 

[TheLittleLady]

And I also just checked the websites of 20 nearby parishes.

Not a one of them lists “Adoration Chapel Rules” on their websites.

 

[puer.dei]

Lets put it this way, a cursory search of a dozen parishes online reveals they all forbid food and drink in the chapel. I’ve yet to find one that gives it a free pass.

A dozen. Out of, what, 17,000?

 

[JMMJ]

If it’s my personal opinion, why does it agitate you?

It agitates me because you have an air of arrogance and rudenesss.

 

[Annie]

If it’s my personal opinion, why does it agitate you?

When you state something that is your personal opinion as if it were dogma, it confuses people. Next time, you could instead make it clear when you are stating what is your opinion.

 

[Horton]

I bring my coffee mug in with me every Tuesday morning for my Holy Hour. I don’t do it to stay awake or out of a lack of respect. The way I see it is, this is a time for me to spend in conversation with Jesus. I do my morning meditation with Him there, and then go to whatever I need to ponder or resolve in the presence of our Lord. Most of the time I am the only one present in our beautiful adoration chapel so drinking my coffee is not offending anyone.

 

[Emeraldlady]

You can accuse me of dwelling within a hostile Adoration environment all you want, but at the end of the day I keep my focus in there 100% on Jesus.

(FYI, Bluebright was clearly referencing the OP in his situation in Saudi Arabia which severely limits Christian practices.)

One of the most profound fruits of Eucharistic Adoration is the grace to do reparation for the sins of others. Perhaps this thread is calling you to turn yourself away from condemnations and open your soul to praying for others?

 

[dochawk]

I am not sure I agree with the absolute nature of this advice.

That, and the highly unusual circumstances of location weigh strongly for accommodating what needs to be.

If one can step outside, great. If the choice is between leaving the Eucharist exposed and risking falling asleep, thus needing to cancel . . .

The RCC went so far as to ordain married bishops for the underground church under soviet domination of Eastern Europe (a single man would have drawn attention and investigation).

Lets put it this way, a cursory search of a dozen parishes online

And how many of those parishes are somewhere where one runs risk of arrest for attending? (I’d also ask how many are places where the restrictions on Christianity are so tight that publishing the fact that adoration would take place would be a crime, but . . . )

This All-Night Vigil is not normally celebrated in our church outside of monasteries;

And in those where it is, it is (at least modernly) common for people to come, go, and return.

Or go outside and smoke.

 

[Pattylt]

The way I see it is, this is a time for me to spend in conversation with Jesus.

I’m not catholic so I really don’t have an opinion on this other than I love coffee and think sharing a cuppa with Jesus sounds really nice…

Eating meals and making messes is beyond bad manners, however.

 

[po18guy]

Yeah, I was going to blab away, but that would only reveal what I actually am!

 

[Brendan_64]

I’ve likely nodded off at Adoration a couple of times in my life and I’ve definitely seen some others do it.

Indeed. I’ve quite often done it in the past if I’ve had a tiring day at work (I’m semi-retired now, so I am not as often tired as I was when I was working full time). There were several other people present, so I don’t really see it as a problem (unless we all did it at the same time). I’ve found it gives a beautiful sense of peace.

I could be wrong but I think I remember reading somewhere that Mother Teresa also did this.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Archbishop Sheen, who went to Adoration for an hour every day, also dozed off once. I remember him spaking about it. He did say that he made the effort not to do it again. But I don’t think any of us goes in there planning on doing that.
If I am feeling sleepy I will try to get a coffee first and chug some coffee in the parking lot to wake me back up, then I leave the coffee in the car when I go in.

 

[JulianN]

. But I take umbrage with people who can’t even go thirty minutes in there without having to eat or drink something (diabetics aside).

Just out of curiosity, how do you know which ones are the diabetics and which ones you should take umbrage with?

I’ve found, in my personal experience, that sometimes my umbrage can be misdirected. Perhaps best to leave it out in the car with your coffee next time you go to Adoration?

 

[JMMJ]

Just out of curiosity, how do you know which ones are the diabetics and which ones you should take umbrage with?

I’ve found, in my personal experience, that sometimes my umbrage can be misdirected. Perhaps best to leave it out in the car with your coffee next time you go to Adoration?

Also want to add…my relative goes to adoration weekly, on a schedule set by her parish. She takes about 18 medications in a 24 hour period…at many different times. Drink and, often, food is required on a schedule as a result. She will bring some crackers and juice with her when needed.

Diabetics aren’t the only ones who may need to bring food or drink with them.

I agree…it is a bad idea to assume you know what someone else is dealing with.