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7_Sorrows
Guest
i take my magnificat with me to adoration. do you think i am wrong to read that or to read any other Catholic material when i am at adoration?
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jmcrae
Guest
The Magnificat contains prayers and Scripture readings; of course it’s not inappropriate to bring it with you. Other holy reading would also be appropriate, as well - a Bible, a book of writings of the Saints, etc. - for making a good Holy Hour. The point of a Holy Hour is to let Jesus speak to you.
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LilyM
Guest
And what exactly do you think it is that an Archbishop like Fulton Sheen would study in his office in this way? I’d take a large bet that it would’ve been something directly pertinent to the faith - theology, scripture, Church history or something of the kind, something that lifted his mind to God.
And that he would never have taken the Blessed Sacrament so far for granted as to study, say, algebra, the racing form, economics or anything else so utterly distracting in His eucharistic presence.
As for writing the nullity petition - again, that is directly to do with the faith (being about a Church investigation of the sacrament of marriage). I certainly wouldn’t write a shopping list or do Sudoku in Church, nor anything else that didn’t lift my mind to God.
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cecilia97
Guest
Haven’t lost the awe yet, thanks be to God! I think the point is that I’m very aware of that fact, too, and I would certainly change my ways if that started to happen. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament saved my life…I’m not about to forget that.
Being a frequent sub for our chapel, there are times when I could NOT go to sit with our Lord if I didn’t take my reading along. I would have to say no, and then the regular guardian would be left still looking for a sub. Or the person who needed to leave because of an emergency would end up making 15 more phone calls. So I take my books and I make sure Our Lord is safe until the next person comes.
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cecilia97
Guest
I think the answer to this is not quite so clear cut. Yes, I go out of my way to spend time talking and listening to my best friend. But we are completely at ease (not disrespectful!) in each others’ company. Indeed, there are times when my best friend will come over and sit with her child while I do the dishes. And sometimes I even go over to her house for what we call “study group” where she works on her church ministry documents and I study at her kitchen table. There are long stretches where we’re not even in the same room! But we are supporting each other and helping each other to meet common goals, not actively ignoring each other.
When I study in the chapel, I’m not ignoring Christ. I frequently look up to thank Him for some insight or to contemplate the Blessed Sacrament for a moment. And even when I’m not looking at Him, I’m aware of His Holy Presence.
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cecilia97
Guest
I don’t disagree with anything you’ve said here, but I have to ask: Can Jesus not also speak to us through a textbook on brain chemistry? I believe that He can if He wants. And I believe He HAS in my case… “For I am fearfully, wonderfully made” always comes to mind.
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
Then, as this is your understanding, I would say it is not wrong for you to do so.
For others it might be.
This is a question that would have been better for you to take to a spiritual director than to bring to an anonymous internet forum.
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cecilia97
Guest
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7_Sorrows
Guest
in regards to your last paragraph, i do the same. i also frequently look up and take a few moments to give thanks or reflect after reading something that has touched me in some way. i feel his Holy Presence when i am reading or studying.
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thomas_jd
Guest
Matt: 26 :40 “Could you not watch one hour with me?”
Matt: 26: 41 “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
The first verse asks us to keep Him company. I have a friend that comes over and brings a movie for us to watch together. We try to spend time with those we love. At Adoration friday nite I spent time talking to our Lord about many, many different subjects. I talked as I would to a friend. There was more than prayers offered and I hope and pray received.
That was personal time with Jesus.
The second verse tells us to pray to keep from sin. I first and foremost pray at Adoration. Sometimes the prayer takes the form of petition, other times Adoration, etc.
I think Jesus finds the time we set aside for Him to be very, very, special.
Only you know what is in your heart, but to answer your question, no I don’t think doing something besides praying is sacrilegious.
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cecilia97
Guest
…and you have a devotion to our Mother of Sorrows! Can’t go wrong there.
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jwashu
Guest
We have 24/7 Adoration at the Chapel connected to our Church. You can go in any time to spend time with Christ. Many come in to pray or read scripture but some come to read other books, work puzzles, just sit and think etc…
I believe the point is to be in the physical presence of our Lord’s risen body in the Blessed Sacrament. There are times when all one can do is pray and there are times we might want to do something else. However just being there, make everything we do while in His presence better.
As long as it’s not something that is sacrilegious in nature anyway, I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to do it in His presence.
Joe
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John_of_Woking
Guest
I agree with the thrust of your argument… but a puzzle in front of the Blessed Sacrament?
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7_Sorrows
Guest
yes, thank you. i have a great devotion to our Mother’s 7 Sorrows.
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LilyM
Guest
Exactly. Jesus is not your buddy or your great-aunt, and you do NOT visit the Blessed Sacrament merely to ‘hang out’ in the same fashion as you would with your buddy or great-aunt. What’s next, pizza-and-movie nights in the Adoration Chapel?I agree with the thrust of your argument… but a puzzle in front of the Blessed Sacrament?
Jesus TOLD His Apostles in Gethsemane how He wanted them to spend their time with Him - ‘watch and pray’. Not ‘watch and study algebra/do puzzles/do crosswords’.
And when they did NOT do so, and fell asleep instead, He chided them for NOT spending even an hour with Him (after all, they WERE in His presence the whole time, just asleep for part of it!)
A final thought occurs to me. Do any of you go to plays, movies, music concerts? Do any of you bring along puzzles, crosswords or study to do? No? Then you are saying that those plays/movies/music concerts are more important and more worthy of your complete and undivided attention than Our Lord in the Eucharist.
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PattiDay
Guest
Jesus knows what’s in your heart. If you are a student who must find time to study, but want so much to be with Him, wouldn’t He understand?
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LilyM
Guest
The OP indicates that he or she has plenty of time to both study and go to the Adoration Chapel - indeed that he or she has done so up until now - without having to combine the two.
Personally I don’t think it’s either fair to Our Lord or conducive to proper study to attempt to ‘multitask’ in this way, any more than it would be to take your schoolbooks along to Mass.
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