what to do at Adoration

[Monica4316]

Hi!

I was thinking that we could have a discussion about Eucharistic Adoration. Both for people who are just starting out and those who are really experienced.

I’m pretty new to it myself. (so I’m sure I have lots to learn here! )

I’ve really grown to love Adoration over the months. The first time I went, I could only stay for around 15 minutes because I couldn’t concentrate. I didn’t understand how people could like it and spend hours there at a time. But, for some reason I kept coming back… something just drew me back. (now I know what ) I believed in the Real Presence but it was more of an intellectual belief.

God really helped me to love Adoration. My parish has a full day of Adoration once a month, and sometimes I go to pray before the Tabernacle as well. I like how it’s in a little chapel, with candles and flowers, you can kneel right near the front and it’s so much more intimate than praying in a big church building. It also smells like incense and there’s a statue of Mary and the Divine Mercy image at the end of the day, we have Benediction.

Well during this time, God has been teaching me more about how to love others, especially my family, and how to be more patient. But more than anything He’s been showing me that He really is present in the Blessed Sacrament. Mere bread can’t change people like that. The Eucharist really is ALIVE… it’s not an object, it’s a Person

But there’s one thing that I think I need some help/advice on. And it’s what to DO at Adoration to make it meaningful.
I’ll try to describe what usually happens…

I know that feelings don’t matter all that much and I’ve gone through more ‘dark nights’ these past few months than ever in my life. God has been teaching me more about how to ignore my own feelings and submit to His will (which I am not perfect at, not at all…). There are times when I go to Mass or Adoration and I experience spiritual dryness and have to force myself to pray anyway. Sometimes God has even given me the grace to rejoice in this, because it’s more selfless, just* giving *to God and not getting any consolations in return. freely loving Him. It’s beautiful in a way. St Therese once said… “my heaven is to smile at this God I adore when He is hiding and testing my love”.

But other times God in His mercy saw it necessary to encourage me and grant me consolations. I don’t know why, probably because I’m very weak and need to be encouraged, or I give up too easily so this is probably a sign of my weak faith.
But I’m thankful. And I know I don’t deserve this at all, but - sometimes I’d come to Adoration and right when I kneel down before the Blessed Sacrament, I’d feel His presence there so powerfully. (I don’t seek this in any way… I try not to seek any experiences cause I know that can lead to delusion) Often when I say the Spiritual Communion prayer I then feel Him in me, as if I had actually received the Eucharist. Because of this, when I go to the monthly Adoration at my parish, I usually stay there for many hours. lol. I’m not saying this to brag, at all. Cause if God wasn’t helping me in this way, I’d find it difficult to stay even 1 hour.

So first I just say some of my favourite prayers… Spiritual Communion, the Sacred Heart prayers, I read from St Liguori’s “Visits to the Blessed Sacrament”… sometimes I pray the DM chaplet… all these prayers are so wonderful and they just say everything that needs to be said in perfect words!

But eventually I start praying in my own way and just talk to Jesus about everything. And after a while, I don’t have much more to say, and I just spend time with Him in silence.

(to be continued)

 

[Monica4316]

Well recently I had this idea of doing something really meaningful like making a Holy Hour. I mean - spending an hour just meditating on His Passion and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. I’ve read about the Saints doing this and it seems like such a beautiful thing. But I’ve ran into some difficulties. One, I have NO IDEA how to make a holy hour or how to meditate on Christ’s suffering correctly. I’ve done this at times and it REALLY helped me spiritually, but God lead me into it and I don’t know how to go through it myself lol. I really wish I had a spiritual director sometimes so I could ask for advice but I’m not even Catholic yet LOL. (I will be soon, God willing )

I also don’t know how to relate the Holy Hour to the Eucharist. This is probably the main problem. Sometimes I feel that Jesus is sad to be in the Tabernacle all alone and He longs for people to visit Him and to receive Him with love in Communion. But when I think of the Garden of Gethsemane or the Passion, - that’s something in the past is it not? So how does it relate to Jesus in the Eucharist? I read somewhere the Holy Hour is based on Jesus asking the disciples if they couldn’t spend an hour with Him…so we do this at Adoration…is that the whole idea?

if so, it reminds me of reparation…

I love reparation prayers. It’s a great idea to offer your Adoration time as reparation for sin and all the ways the Eucharist is dishonoured. But when we do the Holy Hour, is that a form of reparation, or is it more meditation like the Rosary?

If anyone could give me any advice or information on this, I’d really appreciate it

but I don’t want this thread to just be about myself… I was thinking we could talk about Adoration in general, and what it means to us, and share prayers or devotions… even if you’ve never been to Adoration, or been only once, feel free to ask any questions or for any advice! I may not know the answer but someone else here probably does. Maybe we could talk about what we each DO at Adoration…because that’s always the question on my mind when I go - how do I make this time meaningful? I know that even from just sitting there you’d still receive grace, because His grace flows from the Sacrament into every soul that approaches the Sacrament… but it’s great to go there for Him, just to spend some time with Jesus

(wow sorry I didn’t realize this post got so long! haha)

God bless!

 

[tobinatorstark]

At adoration normally people kneel or sit and pray. Some read, some do the Rosary in silent and some even take notes. . Just a few suggestions for you

 

[Nanny_PK]

I cannot just sit with my hands doing nothing. I start thinking about the shopping list, what’s going on tomorrow, et cetera; so I crochet/knit. I’m part of a prayer shawl group that makes shawls for people who are on a prayer list. While I’m crocheting/knitting, I’m praying for the person who will ultimately receive it. If I’m not working on a current project, I’ll bring a long my bible study. I live in a college town, and there’s usually kids in there doing their homework.

 

[Monica4316]

Nanny, that is so interesting that you would say this, because a while ago I had this idea to knit warm scarves hats etc for ministries that serve the poor, and pray for the people who will wear them while knitting. wow! I usually don’t tell people this idea but it’s just very interesting that you brought this up.

I think it’s a great idea to make something for another and pray for them while you’re making it… I think things like that please God. And our prayers are always so effective when we pray with faith before the Blessed Sacrament.

Tobinatorstark, I sometimes take my journal with me and write out my prayers… lol! Cause sometimes I have a real trouble concentrating. That is a good idea too.

thanks!

God bless!

 

[MarieVeronica]

I usually say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy… for people suffering in hospitals… and for those who will die, that day.

Then… I try to sit quietly… in case there is anything Jesus wants to say to me. Sometimes I fix my gaze on Him. Other times, I close my eyes… and just bask in His Presence.

Many of the people around us… also bring prayer books. Or other spiritual reading… lives of the saints, etc.

Hope this helps. God bless.

 

[Monica4316]

I like the idea of praying for people who will die that day.

I think it’s also a good idea to pray for those who are really suffering at the moment (God knows who they are) or for souls in Purgatory.

cool, thanks!

 

[Monica4316]

I found something about Holy Hour!
stgemmagalgani.com/2009/01/holy-hour-practised-by-st-gemma-galgani.html

 

[AveSantaMaria]

Thank you for this thread. I hope to learn more about devoting onself to the Eucharist by reading it.

Here is a work that enabled me to undertand in more depth the reasons why we have adoration in the first place. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus en.wikisource.org/wiki/Devotion_to_the_Sacred_Heart_of_Jesus#FIRST_POINT._.E2.80.94_The_ardent_desire_Jesus_Christ_feels_to_be_with_us.. It was created when her Confessor composed of a collection of revelations/apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

 

[dcrowmik]

But eventually I start praying in my own way and just talk to Jesus about everything. And after a while, I don’t have much more to say, and I just spend time with Him in silence.

That can be the most beneficial thing to do. Remember that when you are there, so is He. Therefore, converse with Him just as you would with others. That means talking to Him then listening and so on.

Spending time with Him in silence is a time when your soul is listening to Him talk to you. It’s also a time just like when you are togehter with someone you love and just sitting together saying nothing.

Praying is a good thing but there are times when you do want to be silent and listen. Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

 

[SacredHeartFan]

My church is pre-VII so we do not havea BS Chapel (I wish we did) so I sometimes go sit in front of the tabernacle and do schoolwork because I know He is helping me!

When I do get to actual adoration, I like to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It is a great thing to pray in Adoration because adortion is the fruit of His mercy. Also, I like to read spiritual books about Christ. What better way to learn about him than by sitting next to him so you can ask questions?

Hope this helps!

 

[LeroyCRHP]

I love our adoration chapel. I have not committed to an hour yet, but find it a great place to study for upcoming bible study.

Sometimes I just read the Bible or another book there.

Sometimes I just think and pray…

 

[Holly3278]

I like to pray the rosary during adoration or pray the divine mercy chaplet. I prefer the divine mercy chaplet because it’s shorter and I can focus my attention more easily. Also, I feel weird looking directly at Jesus while praying to Mary. I mean, it’s like looking at John when you’re talking to Michael. I made up those names just for the sake of example. Does anyone know how to get over this awkwardness?

 

[dcrowmik]

Also, I feel weird looking directly at Jesus while praying to Mary. I mean, it’s like looking at John when you’re talking to Michael. I made up those names just for the sake of example. Does anyone know how to get over this awkwardness?

When you are praying the Rosary you are actually meditating on those divine mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious). So think of it as you AND Mary, in partnership together, talking to Jesus.

 

[Holly3278]

When you are praying the Rosary you are actually meditating on those divine mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious). So think of it as you AND Mary, in partnership together, talking to Jesus.

Oh ok. That always works. I never though of it like that! Thanks so much!

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

I found something about Holy Hour!
stgemmagalgani.com/2009/01/holy-hour-practised-by-st-gemma-galgani.html

Thank you very much for this link. I’ll use it. I’ve been meaning to get back to making the holy hour for a while. For years now it’s been only occasionally. I used to go to my parish at night by myself every night even if it was late and make a visit for 30 mins or 1 to 1 1/2 hrs for yrs. Only rarely was it easy. I forced myself to do it and just prayed petitions, did meditation, talked to our Lord or just gazed at him. Usually a combination of all. I sang hymns mentally sometimes and it was hard but it was a powerful source of grace. I considered myself keeping our Lord company whilst so many don’t. don’t know or love him. I guess I wanted to make a bit of reparation too. I was obsessed with wanting to become a saint. My intentions weren’t always perfect but I was doing the right thing and on the right track. our Lord did seem to appreciate it and did make it known to me providentially in many ways. These links have provided what I need to start again, especially St Gemma’s advice, and I’ve been wanting to and I’m goin g to do it. Thanks so much for this thread and links. God bless.

 

[Monica4316]

thanks so much for the responses!

God bless!

 

[xAlisonx]

m o n i c a.
i think that this is a great idea—i find Eucharistic Adoration to be such a beautiful experience, and think that it would be a great topic to discuss.

i’m relatively new to Adoration, so i have a lot to learn, try out and experience as well. over the past year, i’ve gone to a few incredible worship nights where i’ve spent an hour and a half in peaceful Adoration, and all of my experiences with it have been absolutely amazing. i always am filled to overflowing with such an incredible sense of peace, love and strength, and even if i don’t hear Jesus’ Voice directly, i always experience His loving Presence in amazing, real ways, which is definitely good enough for me. i have had some absolutely mind-blowing experiences during Adoration, though. on may 18, 2008, during one of these worship nights, i was kneeling down before the altar with my head bowed, just caught up in loving Jesus, when i heard very clearly, deep within my heart: “I love you, alison.” it literally reduced me to tears. at the end of that night, i was so filled with the Spirit that i couldn’t stop smiling, and could barely walk. but the most incredible experience i’ve ever had with Adoration took place on august 21, 2008, during another worship night, when we heard from God very clearly. first He spoke through a woman, who told us that He had a message for all of the girls in the room. the message was simply that He thought each of us was beautiful, but it was still amazing to hear. the most incredible part of the night was when a woman walked up to the altar and told all of us that for the past half hour, she had literally seen Jesus walking around the room(!), touching every single person on the shoulder and looking at each person with so much Love that it warmed her heart. i have never forgotten that night, and doubt that i will ever experience anything nearly as amazing.

i am definitely deeply in love with Eucharistic Adoration. even though i don’t always hear from Jesus, just to spend time with Him and pour out my love is enough for me. just to experience that peace, that warmth, that feeling of intense safety and acceptance is enough for me. i always find myself strengthened and encouraged after Adoration, and if i’m in need of healing, i always receive it. i don’t remember the first time that i went to Adoration, but i do remember that over time, it’s become so precious and beautiful to me. just spending that time in such close intimacy with Jesus—i can think of nothing more amazing that we could ever experience here on earth. it’s very hard for me to silence my mind and to become still before God, but even if i don’t hear Jesus speak to me directly, i always feel His Love very close to me and experience so much hope and strength within me. it’s hard for me to concentrate as well, but just to enjoy His Presence is enough, and i wish that i had the opportunity to spend hours before Him. when i grow older, i plan to attend Adoration daily, for at least an hour each day. it is definitely God that drew you to return to Adoration, and i’m so glad beyond words, monica, that you’ve grown to enjoy it so much. i definitely know what you mean when you say that you believed in the Real Presence in your mind but not in your heart. that’s how it’s been for me believing that God loves me for so long, although i’m slowly but surely learning to believe in the deepest parts of my being that i am loved by God. i’m so glad that you’ve been able to experience the Real Presence for yourself, for it truly is incredible, and i can think of no other way to be so intimate with Jesus, and experience His Love so fully and beautifully.

 

[xAlisonx]

your Adoration experience sounds absolutely beautiful. at my church, it’s simply a group gathering, but of course it’s still a great experience. i’m so glad that you have the opportunity to enjoy Adoration so beautifully and so fully. i’m also so glad beyond words that God has been teaching you and reaching out to you in Love during your experiences. it’s so amazing to realize that God truly is present not only within us, but physically among us, in the pure beauty and Love of the Blessed Sacrament. i have also been taught by God during Adoration, to experience His Love and share it with others, and also to realize that i don’t always have to be serving Him and doing thngs with Him, but that it’s also okay to just rest with Him and soak in His Presence and let myself love Him, and allow Him to love me. i can think of nothing more peaceful, nothing closer to Heaven, than experiencing the depth and beauty of that intense Love during Adoration. the Eucharist truly is alive, and i can’t believe that there are people who don’t believe this. i definitely plan to keep them all in my prayers, that they will soon experience the miracle and beauty of the Real Presence. even when i was a nondenominational evangelical Christian, something kept me believing in the Real Presence, and something drew me back to Catholicism to be able to appreciate it fully once more. i have no doubt that it was God who brought me back to the Truth completely.

because Adoration is such an intensely personal experience, i don’t think that there’s one thing you need to do every time you go to Adoration. for me, it’s meaningful even if i don’t hear His Voice, simply resting in His Presence and letting His Love fill me to overflowing—and i have a feeling that’s what He wants me to experience, that it’s okay just to enjoy Him and let Him be close to me. so if you’d like to just rest with Jesus and allow Him to fill you with His Love, without having to strive to hear His Voice or to speak with Him, that’s perfectly fine. that’s what i do a lot of the time, and it’s extremely fulfilling, filling me with so much overflowing hope, strength and peace. there are also so many other ways to make Adoration meaningful. in my opinion, it all depends on what Jesus leads you to do, and what He impresses upon your heart. i also feel that it would be best if you bring a Rosary and Bible with you to Adoration each time, just in case He asks you to read and remember something, or to pray in a certain way. during my future Adorations, i definitely plan to do this, so that i can experience Jesus more fully by obeying Him completely.

you’re right that feelings don’t matter all that much, and the fact that you’ve been going through a lot of dark nights recently shows that God is definitely working in your life—through suffering—to sanctify your soul, bring you to holiness and draw you very close to Himself in Love. during the past, when God would withdraw from me and grow silent, i would completely fall apart—i have a feeling that He allowed me to fail so that i would rely completely on His grace and no longer on my own efforts. more recently, there have been times when i have felt His Presence extremely strongly in beautiful, intense ways, and other times when i’ve wondered why He abandoned me to suffer so deeply. i realize now that He is teaching me how to love Him without experiencing the consolation of His Presence, and i love Him so much for it. i have grown so much more during these past couple of months since i’ve returned to Catholicism than i ever did when i was a nondenominational evangelical Christian. i’ve been given so many more crosses (what gifts and blessings crosses are, and what signs of God’s deep and incredible Love! ) and learned and grown so much more. i know that God drew me back to the Truth completely, and has been bringing me closer to Himself, and allowing me to suffer so deeply so that He can bring beauty and goodness from pain, and i completely trust that He is doing the same for you. even during our darkest nights, God never truly abandons us—He simply withdraws the consolation of His Presence so that we can learn to love Him and trust Him more purely without expecting anything in return, which is truly a sign of how deeply He loves and trusts us, and wants to bring us closer to Himself. even if you’re not absolutely perfect at ignoring your own feelings and submitting to His will, please know that you are far from alone in all that you go through, and that i am far from perfect as well. but God has been teaching me and helping me to grow and become stronger, and i know that He is doing the same for you in your own life, in His Own time and way. it will take time to learn how to completely submit to His Will, but please know that over the past year, i have grown so much and learned how to submit to Him much more completely and love Him much more passionately, so please give yourself time, and be sure not to grow disappointed or discouraged. God is incredibly patient with us—in the end, what He truly wants is our hearts and our love. everything else—obedience, trust, etc.—is a result of that love. so even though you’re not perfect at submitting to God’s will, know that i am not, either, but i am much further along than i am a year ago, which just shows how God is working in my life and in yours. please don’t give up—i know that you have the beauty and purity of heart, courage, strength, hope, devotion, commitment and bravery to persevere, and to truly become all that God wants, needs and calls you to be.

 

[xAlisonx]

i absolutely adore that beautiful quote by St. Therese—it’s so true! i definitely feel the same way. i love God more now that He’s begun to test me than i ever did when i was a month-old believer and all i experienced was His constant comfort and the Love of His Presence. i definitely know the feeling of spiritual dryness, only for me it’s a struggle to force myself to pray despite the lack of feeling involved. that’s something i have to work on, though i trust that God will help me. the fact that you force yourself to pray despite your occasional spiritual dryness truly shows how deeply you love God and how devoted you are to Him, and i just know that He is incredibly pleased with you for it. i love the way God tests us—it may be painful while it is going on, but in the end, it’s so true that all things work for the good of those who love Him. even the darkest, most painful nights will become glorious and beautiful in the end, completely transformed by His Love.

i don’t feel that you have a weak faith at all! the fact that you care so deeply about your sins (as i read in your other post), and that you force yourself to pray even through spiritual dryness, and that you persevere even through the dark nights of the soul that you experience, are testaments to your extremely strong faith, beautiful heart and soul and pure love for God! you definitely do not have a weak faith, monica—you are truly beautiful, and such a wonderful, inspiring person. i know exactly what you mean when you speak of feeling His Presence extremely powerfully. i have felt this as well, and it’s the most beautiful thing i’ve ever experienced. for a few months after the night that Jesus literally walked among us and touched us so powerfully, i sought experience more than i sought Jesus Himself, and found myself disappointed when nothing ‘exciting’ happened, i’m ashamed to say. thankfully, i’ve completely recovered from that shamefulness, and now i go to Adoration just to spend time with Jesus and love Him, and finally i’ve learned how to let Him love me in return, and just hold me. one of the prayers that i say every night during my few hours with Him is the Spiritual Communion prayer, and many times i have truly felt Him within me as well, and it’s just so beautiful. i definitely don’t feel that you’re bragging in any way when you talk about staying at Adoration for many hours. if only my parents would allow me! but in a year and a half, i’ll be at St. Francis College (hopefully), and will be able to attend daily Adoration. i completely trust that God is helping you, and i’m so glad beyond words that He is helping you to experience Adoration so deeply and beautifully and powerfully, because monica, you definitely do deserve it.

i think that the way you are experiencing Adoration right now is not only perfectly fine, but absolutely beautiful, and i just know that Jesus loves so much to spend this time with you. i would definitely suggest a mixture of formulaic prayers, the Rosary, chaplets and your own prayers and intercession if you want to make Adoration especially powerful and meaningful. but again, definitely come prepared to go wherever Jesus leads you. whatever He impresses upon your heart, do it—He has so many loving plans for you that will lead you to experience His Love even more fully. the way that you are spending Adoration sounds perfect to me, especially when you simply spend time with Our Lord in a silence that can be even more profound and beautiful than mental or vocal prayer.