What is adoration?

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chinamoon

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What is adoration ? I was sitting in a meeting tonight and they where talking about a suitable time but I dont know what it it??
 
Assuming you don’t mean “adoration” in the general sense of “worship” or “praise”, you’re talking about the Catholic devotion of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. At its very core, this is simply prayer specifically done in the presence of the Eucharist, and usually centered around Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
 
Hmm, that used to be something that we were taught early on when I was a child.

Basically the host is placed in a sacramental called a monstrance. It is usually made of gold which is a fitting setting for our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. There is a little glass case in the middle in which the host is placed, surrounded by a wide surrounding of gold, often constructed in the appearance of rays. Sometimes the consecrated host placed in the middle is the larger on the priest uses at Mass.

With suitable ceremony, often a Benediction ceremony, the monstrance is placed on the altar and people come to pray for the duration of the Adoration. When I was a child we regularly had a 40 hour adoration. Now it is more often 12 hours or so. Yes, people really did come at night. I always like the wee hours of the morning myself since there are fewer distractions.

These used to be in the church in front of the tabernacle, now it is more often in the chapel where the consecrated hosts are reposed.

When entering the presence, it is typical if possible, to kneel on both knees and bow, rather than simply genuflect.

People sign up for a period of time to remain in adoration, typically for an hour or more. It is important to not leave Jesus unattended. People need to be in continual adoration. Others come in during that time also, it is just some take responsibility to see that the Presence is always attended.

People can pray in any way they choose, meditation, comtemplation, rosary, or just talking to our Lord and letting him know our love for Him.

For me, the atmosphere always seems dense (only way I can describe it) with the Presence and extremely peaceful.

Hope this helps to explain Adoration a bit more.
 
Ohana explained it beautifully. I remember 40 hours also.

My time is on Tuesdays 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM and I love it!

Sometimes I say the rosary, read spiritual books and sometimes just sit and breathe in the presence of Jesus and listen.

Try it, you’ll love it!
 
we also have Perpetual Adoration in our town, a small parish that has had it going for over 20 years! Jesus is present in the Eucharist and the host is in a monstrance on a small alter. the chapel where adoration is held is open 24/7 and volunteers sit with Jesus for an hour at a time. we ‘change shifts’ every 60 minutes. visitors, pilgrims, come to pray and talk with Jesus.

it is a wonderful and holy experience. my husband and I have been regular volunteers for about 10 years and we devote an hour a week. with two small kids it can be tricky, so we generally trade off every other week- one week i go, the next week he goes- it’s a wonderful peaceful time for ME to sit with Jesus and share my heart with Him. other times i love to read, take all those periodicals that i get from different religious orders that i can’t otherwise get to read!

i LOVE adoration. some weeks we are unable to get to mass so i at least feel like I’ve been with Jesus that week, until i can attend mass mid-week at a different parish nearby.
 
A chapel at a local nursing home in my town has had perpetual adoration since 1994! I go every Friday morning from 6 to 7 before work. It is a great way to spend some quality time with the Lord and I always leave with a much better perspective on my life and what God is calling me to be. I highly recommend it!
 
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