Why are there no lines of people entering the Adoration Chapel?

[Dorothy]

This will sound silly to ask this at this point - but what is the Adoration Chapel? I’ve seen a regular sanctuary with the altar/pulpit in front, and in one parish I saw a small room for kneeling with a statue of Mary. After reading through this thread I can see the value in this, but where is this chapel, and is it in every parish?

Sorry about that.

An Adoration Chapel is a small room that seats about 25 (I’m going by the one I know), and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, there are times when it is not used, such as when Mass is being celebrated in the Church, and on Holy Saturday. If that is not correct, I hope someone will explain.

There is only one parish near me that has that kind of adoration, and it took about seven years for them to plan it and pray for it, in order to have it begin, and work properly. The overnight hours are the most difficult to have adorers, and usually it is retirees that do that. If a person cannot take their usual weekly hour due to illness or an emergency, he/she calls a sub. There is a list of subs of those who are willing to take someone else’s place.

Parishes who don’t have that particular set-up (and most don’t), do have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at particular times during the month. My parish has it every first Friday beginning after the 8:30 A.M. Mass and lasting till 4:00 PM when Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament takes place before it is reposed in the tabernacle. Other parishes have it once a week for several hours.

Due to problems that have occurred with the 24/7 Adoration Chapel with someone coming in who isn’t there to adore, but to harass, special locks have been installed with a code that only the adorers know about.

It is a wonderful way to worship the Lord and receive abundant blessings!

 

[JakeWI]

Mongol… I actually have been reading a book about one of the saints right now every week for about half of my hour, with the rest of the time reflecting on my week with God, and maybe 10-15 minutes praying on my knees to God to finish my time. It has become almost a routine of mine. My wife prays the rosary. I have seen others reading the bible, or other religious books. It really is a good time to reflect on and learn things about the Church, I find.

In response to Jupiter2, our adoration chapel is actually quite small… maybe enough seats for 13-14 people and a couple extra kneelers without chairs for those who may just want to stop to pray quick, then leave right away. The monstrance is always on display for us to see, outside of this upcoming Thursday evening through Saturday when the chapel is closed. Our Archdiocese only has a couple 24 hour adoration chapels/times, with another few that are more limited to a few days a week or during the weekdays, and some are actually in the church itself. I have attended a Parish that has an hour of adoration and confession once a week, which is a nice calming period to confess then pray in front of God. Quite a beautiful and wonderful feeling.

 

[Cat]

I’m very pleased to hear that. Remember that that is your time with God, you can kneel, sit, or a combination of both. You can stay for an hour or more, or you can simply pop in for 10 minutes. You can read scripture, pray silently, say a rosary, or just simply be in the presence of God.

There is nothing prescriptive other than to maintain a respectful silence. And you should genuflect on both knees before entering your pew, and then again when leaving.

I tend to do a mixture of listen, pray, say the rosary, read scripture, then meditate on the Blessed Sacrament. There is no prescribed thing to do, each person can do what suits them or stay as long as suits them.

This is your time with God on a purely personal and intimate basis. The more you go, the more you will want to keep going.

As for drinking coffee, there are others present and it would be quite selfish for them to have to smell your coffee or listen as you drink it as they sit there in silent prayer. In adoration you could literally hear a pin drop. I’m sure God Himself wouldn’t be personally bothered about you drinking coffee, but we need to respect those around us. Behaving in a self-centred way that impinges on others is not what it is about.

You aren’t required to kneel or genuflect on both knees. If this were a rule, then many of us would never be able to participate in Adoration.

Our Adoration chapel recently got rid of the carpet (hard to clean), and now we have stone floors. I can’t even genuflect on one knee anymore.

Our parish has a nursing home, and many of the residents are brought over in wheel chairs to spend time in adoration. They don’t kneel.

If you can, do so, but if you can’t, don’t fret.

 

[Brendan_64]

You aren’t required to kneel or genuflect on both knees. If this were a rule, then many of us would never be able to participate in Adoration.

Our Adoration chapel recently got rid of the carpet (hard to clean), and now we have stone floors. I can’t even genuflect on one knee anymore.

Our parish has a nursing home, and many of the residents are brought over in wheel chairs to spend time in adoration. They don’t kneel.

If you can, do so, but if you can’t, don’t fret.

You are correct, of course if a person isn’t physically able to do so, or if by doing so it causes them pain, then they are not required to do so. But those of us who are able to, ought to double genuflect, after all this is Our Lord in front of us.

 

[Lormar]

Something that always troubled me too.

The first class relic of St. Therese, when it began making the rounds of churches in the USA many years ago - people stood on line for hours just to venerate the bones of another human being no different from the rest of us. I had read stories of people getting up in the middle of the night and driving hours to the church where her bones were in order to get a place in line for when the church opened.

But - here in every Catholic Church - in every tabernacle throughout the entire world - is Our Lord - truly present in His Entirety. And our Adoration Chapels are empty for the most part.

 

[Brendan_64]

But - here in every Catholic Church - in every tabernacle throughout the entire world - is Our Lord - truly present in His Entirety. And our Adoration Chapels are empty for the most part.

It is troubling. Is it a case of ‘familiarity breeds contempt’, or worse, do people actually believe? Are our churches in general places where people come primarily to gather socially and pray, or are they places where people come to witness the Holy Sacrifice and adore Christ present in the Eucharist?

I know parishes where the clergy don’t come to adore the Eucharist, ever.

 

[Magdalen2013]

Something that always troubled me too.

But - here in every Catholic Church - in every tabernacle throughout the entire world - is Our Lord - truly present in His Entirety. And our Adoration Chapels are empty for the most part.

Actually, you can’t have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel unless you have the volunteers willing to staff it. Which means having at least 336 people – 2 for every hour the chapel is open.

 

[commenter]

This will sound silly to ask this at this point - but what is the Adoration Chapel? I’ve seen a regular sanctuary with the altar/pulpit in front, and in one parish I saw a small room for kneeling with a statue of Mary. After reading through this thread I can see the value in this, but where is this chapel, and is it in every parish?

Sorry about that.

I think you see from the posts that an adoration chapel is a specific place set aside for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The consecrated Host is set in a Monstrance, specifically designed for adoration. Normally there are no other activities scheduled in the chapel besides this. Normally there needs to be at least one person present in the chapel adoring any time the Host is exposed. This is partly for the dignity of Our Lord, but also sadly for security sake. We do honor Mary! That honor does not include Adoration, though of course there can (and should) be a statue of her in an Adoration Chapel; and there can be a room set aside without Adoration devoted to her and the saints.

One reason for setting aside a small or tiny space is security; also because it may feel more comfortable than a big church.

But Adoration can take place in other contexts too. A Jesuit parish in my city holds Adoration from morning till 5 PM daily in the Church itself, except when Mass is going on. I like that, because they also have daily confession and I can go to confession when people are adoring, and adore when my brothers and sisters are in the confessional.

But even when the Blessed Sacrament is not exposed, you can still pray to Our Lord present in the Tabernacle. This was the most common form of adoration years ago, before and after Mass. This requires that the church be a reasonably quiet place at that time. Before Vatican II parishes used to hold “40 hours devotion”, adoration usually in the Church for that period of time, maybe once a year. Another time of adoration is Benediction services, still held in most parishes (I hope). As we get closer to June and the feast of Corpus Christi, you may find processions with the Blessed Sacrament; bringing adoration out into the street!

I looked up and found this site:
www.acfp2000.com/Chapels/northamerica.htm

I don’t know how reliable or up to date it is. If you find a local resource, better phone ahead to confirm the times are still the same. An alternative is to contact your local diocese. They can direct you to churches that have some kind of Adoration ministry.

Try it out! Just 20 minutes or so to start, bring something to read if you want, rosary, etc. They also probably have spiritual reading material. But just relax! It’s my time where Jesus gives me total attention! You can pray set prayers, read spiritual materials, meditate, contemplation, or just wait on the Lord. The idea of making a “holy hour” is based on the gospel, that question “could you not wait one hour?”. Our answer now is yes we can but it doesn’t have to be an hour.

 

[Magdalen2013]

IIRC – the traditional “forty hours” of Adoration is associated with the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is not a random event scheduled whenever* a parish wanted to do it.

*NB: Some parishes do have a specific day or days for Adoration if they don’t have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

The chapel we use for adoration at our parish used to be the chapel for the convent of nuns which is next to the church. It’s now a day care center. So, the chapel is in a separate building, and it is locked – you have to be let in by one of the adorers.

 

[Lormar]

Actually, you can’t have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel unless you have the volunteers willing to staff it. Which means having at least 336 people – 2 for every hour the chapel is open.

In the “old days” that so many deride, we didn’t have “Perpetual Adoration Chapels”. Our Churches were open 24/7. Hard to believe, but it is true.

If someone belongs to a parish where they never see an ounce of reverence for or respect given to Our Lord, then - no, you won’t get even a dozen to spend an hour in front of Our Lord.

 

[Lormar]

It is troubling. Is it a case of ‘familiarity breeds contempt’, or worse, do people actually believe? Are our churches in general places where people come primarily to gather socially and pray, or are they places where people come to witness the Holy Sacrifice and adore Christ present in the Eucharist?

I know parishes where the clergy don’t come to adore the Eucharist, ever.

Yes, I do think it is a case of “familiarity breeds contempt.” Jesus is on our level now. No need to raise ourselves up to Him.

 

[bobballen_18]

Actually, you can’t have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel unless you have the volunteers willing to staff it. Which means having at least 336 people – 2 for every hour the chapel is open.

Not saying you’re wrong, but just wondering - is that an actual requirement? Under pain of sin or something? I have heard of requiring 2 for each hour, but my former parish has (almost) Perpetual Adoration Monday evenings through Friday nights, and we have never had more than one signed up for any given hour. Or maybe this rule of requiring two per hour only applies to fully Perpetual Adoration chapels? Because my current parish has a period once per month when there are 47 hours filled, and with only one person.

 

[commenter]

Not saying you’re wrong, but just wondering - is that an actual requirement? Under pain of sin or something? I have heard of requiring 2 for each hour, but my former parish has (almost) Perpetual Adoration Monday evenings through Friday nights, and we have never had more than one signed up for any given hour. Or maybe this rule of requiring two per hour only applies to fully Perpetual Adoration chapels? Because my current parish has a period once per month when there are 47 hours filled, and with only one person.

A pastor can set any requirement that seems prudent to them, given their circumstances. For instance, some are in areas that are high crime, esp at night. Others may have a history of some people no showing, so at least one person would be present. Or other kinds of difficulties. So it’s not a universal requirement, but a prudential measure. A pastor might make other requirements, in addition to limiting hours, etc. Adoration chapels are still fairly recent for laity, so parishes are still developing experience with them. Chapels are in different kinds of settings - room in a convent; or directly attached to the main church; in the same building as the church but separate entrance; etc. So yes, rules are necessary, but there should also be a strong encouragement.

As I write this it is morning on USA East Coast, for Holy Thursday. In almost every parish there is a period of adoration after Mass tonight, usually after a procession with the Blessed Sacrament. Let’s lift up the needs of all those on CAF during this prayer time.

 

[LiturgyGuy]

This thought came to me this morning while in Adoration.
What do you think?

Probably because too many Catholics unfortunately do not believe in transubatantiation, neither do they practice much of the faith.

Even if they did, if there is perpetual adoration, there are many times in the week for people to come.

 

[Brendan_64]

Probably because too many Catholics unfortunately do not believe in transubatantiation

And this then begs the question, what is the point of being a Catholic if people don’t believe in transubstantiation? Without the belief in transubstantiation, everything else in our faith is pointless.

 

[LiturgyGuy]

And this then begs the question, what is the point of being a Catholic if people don’t believe in transubstantiation? Without the belief in transubstantiation, everything else in our faith is pointless.

Yes, and that is where evangelization needs to come in, especially with Priests, but no less the laity.

 

[ProVobis]

Adoration chapels are still fairly recent for laity, so parishes are still developing experience with them.

Good point. It used to be that Catholics would stop and pray in front of the tabernacle or communion rail whenever they wanted just to stop in. I’ve done this many a time and have seen others do so. Of course, many churches close their doors early these days.

 

[Magdalen2013]

Not saying you’re wrong, but just wondering - is that an actual requirement? Under pain of sin or something? I have heard of requiring 2 for each hour, but my former parish has (almost) Perpetual Adoration Monday evenings through Friday nights, and we have never had more than one signed up for any given hour. Or maybe this rule of requiring two per hour only applies to fully Perpetual Adoration chapels? Because my current parish has a period once per month when there are 47 hours filled, and with only one person.

Yes – you have to have the “staff” (adorers) before the diocese will approve the chapel. Now, some of our adorers cover more than one hour, they may be doing several different ones a week, and we have a list that you can sign up to take an hour for someone on vacation/doctor’s appointment. Since we aren’t allowed to leave our Lord alone, and since the door is locked one adorer has to let anyone visiting in, there’s always 2 adorers.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the rules are more flexible for those parishes that are doing Adoration for shorter time periods.

 

[Brendan_64]

Good point. It used to be that Catholics would stop and pray in front of the tabernacle or communion rail whenever they wanted just to stop in. I’ve done this many a time and have seen others do so. Of course, many churches close their doors early these days.

The big issue is that so many seem to just walk by the tabernacle with little regard for who is in the tabernacle. The whole of our faith is built around who is in the tabernacle, yet how often is this preached from the pulpit, how often do priests earnestly try to cultivate a reverence that highlights this?

 

[Jeanne_S]

The big issue is that so many seem to just walk by the tabernacle with little regard for who is in the tabernacle. The whole of our faith is built around who is in the tabernacle, yet how often is this preached from the pulpit, how often do priests earnestly try to cultivate a reverence that highlights this?

This has a lot to do with poor catechesis and the failure of instruction on proper decorum while in the presence of Christ in the Tabernacle. I read an article that stated this is due largely to the placement of the tabernacle since Vatican II. I belong to a huge parish and while some will bow towards the alter before entering a pew,hardly anyone bothers to genuflect at all much less in the direction of the tabernacle.
Also,there is constant chatter before Mass.It seems most have completely forgotten where they are and in whose presence they are.
I fault our pastor for not addressing this either in the bulletin or from the pulpit.