Perpetual Adoration

[06convert]

06convert;6068714:

Jesus Christ himself is there in the flesh. .

If you believe this, then you totally misunderstand what the Church teaches.

St. Augustine

Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying: ‘This is My Body.’ No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it.

St. Ignatius of Antioch

hunger for the bread of God, the flesh of Jesus Christ …; I long to drink of his blood, the gift of unending love.

St. Peter Chrysologus (400-450)

He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful.

Pope John Paul II

“I Am the Living Bread” (Jn 6:51). The message of John’s Gospel completes the liturgical picture of this great Eucharistic mystery that we are celebrating today… The words of John’s Gospel are the great proclamation of The Eucharist, after the miraculous multiplication of bread near Capernaum. Anticipating as it were the time even before the Eucharist was instituted, Christ revealed what it was. He spoke thus: “I Am the Living Bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and the Bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My Flesh” (Jn 6:51). And when these words brought protests from many who were listening Jesus added: “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My Flesh is food indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in me, and I in him.” (Jn 6:53-56).

 

[Brooklyn]

Perpetual Adoration sounds wonderful!!! I soooo wish I could go. My church has adoration once a week and I usually can’t go. When I do get the opportunity to go, I end up staying home cuz I really don’t feel like going (what a lame excuse, huh?). Unfortunately my willpower is a big fat 0.

My willpower is always a “big fat 0” as well. But you know, if you really force yourself to go, going against your own feelings, you will be even more blessed. My biggest sin is basically selfishness and laziness. Far too many times I give in as well, But I guarantee that if just one time you can force yourself to go, that will be all you will need, you will be on your way. Try making a promise to someone that you will do it. You will be forced to follow through on the promise. And always, remember to ask Our Blessed Mother to just take you by the hand and lead you - she always comes through!

 

[MarysGirls]

My willpower is always a “big fat 0” as well. But you know, if you really force yourself to go, going against your own feelings, you will be even more blessed. My biggest sin is basically selfishness and laziness. Far too many times I give in as well, But I guarantee that if just one time you can force yourself to go, that will be all you will need, you will be on your way. Try making a promise to someone that you will do it. You will be forced to follow through on the promise. And always, remember to ask Our Blessed Mother to just take you by the hand and lead you - she always comes through!

Thanks, I will definitely talk to Our Lady about it. I’m always a little nervous about making promises, but I might try that. Thank you for the encouragement.

 

[tinalewis]

Going to adoration while in RCIA is wonderful and if I were to teach an RCIA class I’d strongly recommend it (as close to “require” as I could get away with.)

I prayed a weekly Holy Hour at a nearby perpetual adoration chapel for 2 years before I joined RCIA, so I can tell you from my experience how powerful frequent adoration can be. I usually went 2 or 3 times a week, for maybe 15 - 30 minutes each time in addition to my scheduled hour. I believe that the prayers of our Blessed Mother and my time spent in adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament are what led me to become
Catholic. Now that I’m a Catholic, I typically go only once in addition to my scheduled hour, which is by far the fastest hour in my week.

Blessings to you! Keep up the Holy Hours!

 

[tinalewis]

Here is a good example of perpetual adoration at a church near me. I have been several times myself. Click on “Our Adoration Chapel” for some good pictures. God bless!

ourladyoffatima.org/Adoration/INDEX.HTML

I would love to volunteer to take one of the available hours!! In fact you have a 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays open and my regular hour at my chapel is 5:00 p.m.!

Thank you for sharing this . . .

 

[malphono]

Personally, I find the entire concept of “perpetual adoration” a bit strange. Being a “cradle Oriental” myself, I don’t quite see the point: the Real Presence is the Real Presence. The ostensorium (aka monstance) is (to me at least) totally extraneous.

At the same time, though, I was educated (pre-Vatican II) in a Roman Rite parish school, and I well remember the Forty Hours Devotion. I had no objection to it then, and still have none now. Of course it was not “perpetual” and it was governed by rather strict rules. It began with a Solemn Mass and ended with a Solemn Mass. Then came the late 1960’s and the 1970s when such things became taboo. And then came the '80s and early '90s and, rather than revive the “old” practice of the Forty Hours, there came “perpetual adoration.” The “old” practice had a certain logic which, IMHO, the new one does not, and I’d rather that the “old” one be revived.

Perhaps I’m mistaken (and while I expect to be slammed for saying this, be it known that I have no interest in engaging in a debate and will not do so), but it seems to me that the interest in “perpetual adaoration” on the part of the faithful derives from the need of a littlle “quiet time” to contemplate the great mystery of the Real Presence. That “quiet time” is something that is severely lacking in the vast majority of OF services but which, of course, is part of the EF.

Just my :twocents: and while it’s likely not worth half of that, it may perhaps be something to think about.

 

[cecilia97]

Personally, I find the entire concept of “perpetual adoration” a bit strange. Being a “cradle Oriental” myself, I don’t quite see the point: the Real Presence is the Real Presence. The ostensorium (aka monstance) is (to me at least) totally extraneous.

At the same time, though, I was educated (pre-Vatican II) in a Roman Rite parish school, and I well remember the Forty Hours Devotion. I had no objection to it then, and still have none now. Of course it was not “perpetual” and it was governed by rather strict rules. It began with a Solemn Mass and ended with a Solemn Mass. Then came the late 1960’s and the 1970s when such things became taboo. And then came the '80s and early '90s and, rather than revive the “old” practice of the Forty Hours, there came “perpetual adoration.” The “old” practice had a certain logic which, IMHO, the new one does not, and I’d rather that the “old” one be revived.

Perhaps I’m mistaken (and while I expect to be slammed for saying this, be it known that I have no interest in engaging in a debate and will not do so), but it seems to me that the interest in “perpetual adaoration” on the part of the faithful derives from the need of a littlle “quiet time” to contemplate the great mystery of the Real Presence. That “quiet time” is something that is severely lacking in the vast majority of OF services but which, of course, is part of the EF.

Just my :twocents: and while it’s likely not worth half of that, it may perhaps be something to think about.

Adoration and Benediction are very old practices and have been the favorites of many saints, who surely had plenty of quiet time. Teresa of Avila was a fan. among others, long before Vatican II or the Ordinary Form.

While I certainly respect your opinion, I don’t think your reasoning is strong. If we don’t need reminders of the divine or the Real Presence, we could just throw out all the icons, crucifixes, beautiful church buildings, and uplifting music. They’re surely just as extraneous as the use of a monstrance. We all know God exists, so why bother with the trappings?

There’s lots of great quiet time during the OF at my parish, especially after Communion while Father cleanses the vessels. I find it quieter than my visits to the local divine liturgy, where people shake hands, hug, and greet one another after reception.

It’s just what you’re used to.