What To Do At Adoration

[Seamus_L]

Normally, I say the rosary, spend time in quiet meditation, or read something of a spiritual nature, but one thing I’ve been wondering about lately is the Stations of the Cross. I’ve actually done them several times during adoration, but I have read a few negative comments online regarding that. Personally, I believe you can’t do the Stations enough and it really saddens me when people think they are a strictly a Lenten devotion.

 

[ElizabethPH]

We have a 24hr Adoration Chapel in another parish and they have the Stations. I have seen people doing them on occasion; they pray them silently though as not to disturb others. I agree with you nothing wrong with it; and should be done more often outside of Lent.

 

[Matt_CL]

Indeed, there is absolutely nothing wrong with meditating upon the events of Our Lord’s Passion in the Stations of The Cross during Eucharistic Adoration. This is a delight to our Saviour and His Mother. This is entering deeply into the mysteries of our redemption and consoling the heart of Jesus.

“Could you not watch one hour with me?” - Mt 26:40

 

[Scoobyshme]

One of the hardest things to do when praying is to listen. Quieten your mind and soul and listen. Let God talk to you, rather than you to God.

 

[Th0t]

And it’s in a way contradictory on their part (the persons telling you that it’s wrong) because the Rosary is like Stations of the Cross. We accompany our Mother Mary through Jesus life. So why wouldn’t we be able to do it outside of Lent? Ask them to provide you with Church documents saying it’s prohibited to do it.

 

[corsair]

I’ll often say the Little Office of the BVM and/or the Rosary. Then sometimes I do Stations of the Cross or just sit and try to let my mind just go quiet.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think some of the blessings attached to doing the Stations require that one move from station to station. [In larger groups it suffices if the leader does the moving.] This does not appear feasible when one is in Adoration.

On the other hand meditating on the stations is praise worthy at any time. I would go ahead and let God sort out the benefits.

 

[reggieM]

It’s an interesting question because of the moving from station-to-station (I’m not sure if that’s ever done formally during Exposition). I don’t know if it’s really a problem either.
One good solution would be to have a booklet of the stations with the images and prayers and just pray that while in the correct posture (facing the monstrance) for Adoration.
As prayers, the Stations are just about perfect for time in Adoration.

 

[Matthew_E]

I wouldn’t worry about what other people do at adoration, or what other people think you should do. Adoration is a time to contemplate the mysteries of Christ. How you do that is up to you.

lifeinchrist-newsletter.com

 

[Palomas]

You could also do the Divine Mercy chaplet. In my Pieta Prayer Book, on page 75 it says, “…the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, by a personally signed parchment, imparted a Special Apostolic Blessing ‘to all the faithful, who during Adoration of Our Most Merciful Savior in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar will be praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the sick and for those throughout the world who will be dying in that hour.’ The Apostolic Blessing extends indefinitely for all who participate.” I love praying the chaplet while seeing our Lord face to face (of course, any prayers in His presence are great, too!).

 

[cyberwolf001]

Personally when I was Catholic I did… Nothing.

I sat here looked at the Eucharist and listened.

 

[reggieM]

Another point on the OP - the Stations are definitely not just a Lenten devotion. In Eucharistic Adoration, we can contemplate the sufferings of Our Lord - as well as the glory of His Resurrection. In other words, He walked the path of the Stations in order to be present with us in Adoration. It all fits together.

 

[Brooklyn]

I go to an all night vigil once a month, which includes all-night adoration, and we always do the stations of the cross. We do them while in the pews, not going from station to station. I think that getting up and walking around while Christ is in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar would be disrespectful, but doing the stations while in the pew would be a very good thing to do.

 

[Seamus_L]

Disrespectful ? Whenever I do the Stations on my own in church, I do them silently, but I do walk around the church and kneel and genuflect. By following the stations in the church I’m much better able to focus on our Lord’s Passion, than if I were to stay seated.

 

[reggieM]

Disrespectful ? Whenever I do the Stations on my own in church, I do them silently, but I do walk around the church and kneel and genuflect. By following the stations in the church I’m much better able to focus on our Lord’s Passion, than if I were to stay seated.

The key point here is “during Exposition and Adoration” …

When the Monstrance is on the altar with the Blessed Sacrament exposed, the ordinary posture and focus should be entirely on Our Lord. There are exceptions to this (I think, but I’m not absolutely sure), but normally our respect and reverence in these special moments will not make it possible to walk the Stations.

This is not true of other times in the church – it’s perfectly respectful and, in fact, encouraged for the faithful to walk station-to-station.

 

[ElizabethPH]

Disrespectful ? Whenever I do the Stations on my own in church, I do them silently, but I do walk around the church and kneel and genuflect. By following the stations in the church I’m much better able to focus on our Lord’s Passion, than if I were to stay seated.

There is nothing disrespectful about silently going around the Stations during Adoration.

 

[reggieM]

In terms of the traditional Roman Rite, liturgically-speaking, one’s posture should be oriented to the Blessed Sacrament when exposed. So, it depends on whether one is talking about a more-traditional view or not.

Follow-up: Exposition During Way of the Cross [03-15-2005]

With respect to our comments regarding the inappropriateness of making the Way of the Cross before the Blessed Sacrament exposed (see March 1), a Franciscan friar “begged to differ” and described his order’s practice.

“In some of our friary churches,” he writes, “we have perpetual adoration and for almost 15 years now we have had the Stations while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. We have been following the rubrics which, [by] my understanding, is approved by the Church. When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed the priest remains stationary, standing in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and only the cross and candle bearers, if any, move from station to station. The people remain in their places and genuflect at their places. They may watch the cross bearer as he goes from station to station, but most people focus on the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. At the end there is no blessing given and the priest and acolytes exit in silence.”
Exposition During Way of the Cross

 

[crazzeto]

Normally, I say the rosary, spend time in quiet meditation, or read something of a spiritual nature, but one thing I’ve been wondering about lately is the Stations of the Cross. I’ve actually done them several times during adoration, but I have read a few negative comments online regarding that. Personally, I believe you can’t do the Stations enough and it really saddens me when people think they are a strictly a Lenten devotion.

Typically I like reading scriptures, or praying the rosary. I see nothing wrong with doing the stations of the cross, I’d ask for some sort of documentation supporting any assertion that it’s a lentan only practice.

 

[ElizabethPH]

In terms of the traditional Roman Rite, liturgically-speaking, one’s posture should be oriented to the Blessed Sacrament when exposed. So, it depends on whether one is talking about a more-traditional view or not.

Follow-up: Exposition During Way of the Cross [03-15-2005]

With respect to our comments regarding the inappropriateness of making the Way of the Cross before the Blessed Sacrament exposed (see March 1), a Franciscan friar “begged to differ” and described his order’s practice.

“In some of our friary churches,” he writes, “we have perpetual adoration and for almost 15 years now we have had the Stations while the Blessed Sacrament is exposed. We have been following the rubrics which, [by] my understanding, is approved by the Church. When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed the priest remains stationary, standing in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and only the cross and candle bearers, if any, move from station to station. The people remain in their places and genuflect at their places. They may watch the cross bearer as he goes from station to station, but most people focus on the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. At the end there is no blessing given and the priest and acolytes exit in silence.”
Exposition During Way of the Cross

I was not talking in terms of a group service, but rather on an individual basis. I understand our focus being on the exposed Blessed Sacrament on the altar; and our posture as well especially upon entering and leaving the Chapel. Perhaps by standing by each station one could face the altar. I have prayed the Holy Rosary in meditation of the life of Jesus which I focus on but in no way takes away from Adoration. As well I will pray the Divine Intimacy and the LOTH they in no way disrepect or take the focus off of our Lord Jesus exposed in the Blessed Sacrament.

 

[reggieM]

Perhaps by standing by each station one could face the altar.

That could be a very good solution. In the EF Mass, if there is Benediction afterwards, the priest only turns part-way to the people so he doesn’t turn his back entirely on Our Lord in the monstrance. So, perhaps when doing the stations, the genuflections could be done towards the altar, or a posture which always acknowledges Our Lord’s presence would be very good.

I think the key is not to act like it’s just the usual situation in church. So, we would give some special acts of reverence and adoration. Also, if it’s a small chapel to make sure we’re not distracting people by moving around too much.

And yes you’re right – there’s no way that the Rosary or litanies of the saints take away from Adoration. In fact, they are encouraged and highly indulgenced.

I wish we had this problem in my diocese where Adoration is very hard to find, if we ever can.