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Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of

“In the sacred Host, He is present, the true treasure, always waiting for us. Only by adoring this Presence do we learn how to receive Him properly.”

The Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a Monstrance

What is Eucharistic Adoration?

1 Understood simply, Eucharistic Christ instituted this Holy Adoration is adoring or honouring Sacrament of the Eucharist in order the Eucharistic Presence of Christ. to remain with mankind until the In a deeper sense, it involves "the end of time (Jn. 14:18). contemplation of the Mystery of Christ truly present before us". The ( reserved ) Blessed Sacrament serves as a focal point of devotion.

During Eucharistic Adoration, we Because, as Catholics, we believe "watch and wait", we remain that Christ is truly and "silent" in His Presence and open substantially present in the ourselves to His Graces which Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament is from the Eucharist ... By given the same adoration and worshiping the Eucharistic Jesus, devotion that is accorded to Christ. we become what God wants us to be! Like a magnet, The Lord draws At the beginning of the exposition us to Himself and gently of the Blessed Sacrament, a priest transforms us. or deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it in In its fullest essence ... Eucharistic the Monstrance on the Altar for Adoration is "God and Man adoration by the faithful. reaching out for each other, at the "Monstrance" is the vessel used in same time!" the Church to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host, The Eucharist is: Jesus truly during Eucharistic adoration or present - Body, Blood, Soul, and benediction. The word monstrance Divinity! comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning "to At the moment of Consecration, expose". It is known in Latin as during the Mass, the "gifts" of an Ostensorium. When a bread and wine are transformed consecrated host is placed in the (transubstantiated) into the actual monstrance, It is said to be a Body and Blood of Christ, at the solemn exposition. Altar. This means that they are not only spiritually transformed, but When the Monstrance contains the rather are actually (substantially) Sacred Host, the priest does not transformed into the Body and touch it with his bare hands, but Blood of Christ. The elements instead, holds it with a humeral retain the appearance of bread and veil, a wide band of cloth that wine, but are indeed the actual covers his shoulders (humera) and Body and Blood of Christ. This is has pleats on the inside in which he what is meant by Real Presence: places his hands. the actual, physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. At all other times, the reserved Sacrament is kept locked in the

2 Tabernacle, so that the faithful may Jesus waits for us in the Blessed pray in the presence of the Sacrament. He waits for our little Sacrament. Acts of , adoration, love, thanksgiving, repentance, "PERPETUAL ADORATION" IS reparation and charity that we can EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ROUND offer Him as we contemplate -- His THE CLOCK (THAT IS, TWENTY-FOUR Divine Majesty -- in the Blessed HOURS A DAY). A "HOLY HOUR" IS Sacrament. "EUCHARISTIC ADORATION OF REPARATION" WHICH LASTS FOR St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote: “Of ABOUT AN HOUR. all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the Adoration ceremonies traditionally greatest after the Sacraments, the include Scripture readings, hymns, one dearest to God and the one prayers and time for silent most helpful to us”. The Eucharist adoration. is a priceless treasure: By not only celebrating the Eucharist, but also Eucharistic exposition and by praying before It outside of benediction is a complete Mass, we are enabled to make liturgical service. contact with the very wellsprings of Grace ..." Eucharistic exposition and benediction is a complete liturgical Pope John Paul II in one of his service in its own right and is to be homilies said, “It is pleasant to celebrated as such. Eucharistic spend time with Him, to lie close exposition and benediction are no to His breast like the Beloved longer considered devotions, but Disciple (cf. Jn 13:25) and to feel rather are a part of the Church's the infinite love present in His official liturgy. heart ... If, in our time Christians must be distinguished by the “art This liturgy is designed to of prayer”, how can we not feel a "acknowledge Christ's marvelous renewed need to spend time in presence in the Sacrament and spiritual conversation, in silent invites us to the spiritual union adoration, in heartfelt love before with Him that culminates in Christ present in the Most Holy sacramental communion." (Order Sacrament?” for Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, number 7). In the past, "The Lord is faithful to all His benediction was sometimes added promises and loving toward all on to the end of another service or He has made." (Ps 145:13) devotion, this is no longer done. Day and night Jesus dwells in the "Could you not watch one hour Blessed Sacrament because of His with Me?" Infinite love for us!

3 Jesus gives us His body (to eat) so and testify to His Real Presence in that He can nourish us, strengthen the Blessed Sacrament... us and give us His own life ..... and lest we be blinded by His glory, He Let us love being with the Lord! humbles Himself to come to us in There we can speak with Him the humble species of bread... about everything. We can offer "Behold I will be with you always Him our petitions, our concerns, even to the end of the world," our troubles, our joys, our because "I have loved you with an , our , our everlasting love, and constant is needs and our aspirations. Above My for you." (Mt 28:20; all we can remember to pray: 'Lord Jer 31:3) send laborers into Your harvest! Help me to be a good worker in How must we respond? ....Through Your vineyard!' our worship and recognition of Him in the Eucharist! He is calling When asked, "What would save the us to faith, that we many come to world?" ... Mother Teresa replied: Him in humility. "My answer is prayer. What we need is for every parish to come "Come to Me, all who labour and before Jesus in the Blessed are heavy laden, and I will give Sacrament in holy hours of prayer." you rest." "Remain in Me, as I remain in Are you tired because of the you." burden of your duties, because of due to unsuccessful We grow spiritually with each projects, because many moment we spend with Jesus! misunderstand you? Are you heavy Through our Adoration, Jesus calls laden with from past sins? us to a personal relationship (to Are you trying to find and become His friends and disciples), meaning in life? Do not lose heart! to "remain in Him" (Divine Abandon yourself to Jesus in this Intimacy), to "remain in His love" "Sacrament of Love": He will (Keep His commandments). He refresh you! promises that all those who remain tightly bonded to Him, will bear The more time you spend with much fruit and "their will be Jesus, the more you will come complete". For without Him, we away renewed and healed. can do nothing. Miracles of conversion, peace, discovery of vocations, answers to Through this "friendship", we are prayers, physical healings, and inspired and strengthened to take many other wonderful things on life's challenges, to carry our happen where and when the Lord daily cross with a new attitude, to Jesus is adored in the Blessed become a "new creation" (more and Sacrament. They are the "gifts" more like Jesus). that point to the Almighty Giver

4 Through Eucharistic Adoration - The Monstrance is surmounted by a we proclaim Jesus to the World. Cross ... what does this tell us?

Eucharistic Adoration is an Let us look at Jesus in the affirmation of our faith. Through Monstrance, Who humbles Himself this vigil of prayer, we give to come before us as a piece of witness to our belief that God is bread. Let us reflect on our own truly dwelling with His people. life's situations that call us to humility. Are we humble, as God "Love one another as I have wants us to be, to bear our Crosses loved you." daily? Other virtues such as Eucharistic Adoration helps patience, temperance, self-control build a community of love. and piety will soon follow.

The Eucharist is the Sacrament of A Taste of Heaven awaits us in unity, Jesus unifying His people. Eucharistic Adoration! Through the personal love, that one shares with the Saviour, one is Indeed, Earth is joined to Heaven more able to grasp the reality that each time we are united with the we are the whole Body of Christ. Saints and Angels in extolling God, Who, in worship we see, if not with Prayers as a community, especially the sight of eyes, then with the intercessory prayers for the needs eyes of faith. of the community and the World - help to build a "civilization of We are called to abide in the love" - to "transform the World". Eucharistic Presence of our Lord, The prayers that we say can draw like the Saints and Angels do in the World and everybody in the Heaven, as they behold the glory of World closer to Christ and to God God and sing His praise! The the Father for His blessing. Saints and Angels wait upon the Lord and do His Will in all things. A Vision for Visions... Their presence magnifies the Lord. They also intercede (for us) before Let us take a closer look at the the Lord. sacred vessel, the Monstrance, that houses the Body, Soul and Divinity When we look upon the Sacred of Our Lord. The Monstrance Host, we look at Jesus, the Son of draws all eyes to the Sacred Host God. Do we see Him in all His that is seemingly surrounded by glory and majesty? Do our lips rays, like the sun. proclaim His praise? Do our souls magnify the Lord - making Him Similarly, we each are called to be clearer, more in focus, and larger a "Living Monstrance", radiating to others around us? Do we place the presence of the Lord Who the needs of others before Him? dwells in us. Are we open to the Will of God and strive for perfection in our

5 spiritual lives so that we, too, may And yet, we should not feel one day join the company of Saints discouraged if we cannot love Him in Heaven? fully because Jesus assures us that He will always love us with a love It is at this moment when we are that surpasses all. most intimately in communion with God that we experience a taste of "O God, You are my God -- for Heaven, a foreshadowing of what it You I long!" will be like, when, by God's grace, we enter into everlasting life. In Psalm 63, the Psalmist longs for "Indeed, this is the will of My divine life, which is based on a Father, that everyone who looks close relationship with God. The upon the Son and believes in Him Psalm most beautifully expresses shall have eternal life. Him I will the intimate relationship between raise up on the last day." (Jn 6:40) God and the one who worships Him in His holy Temple. We Grow in Love for Jesus with Every Encounter. Such must be OUR love and total self-giving to Jesus, exposed on the In John 21:16, Jesus asks Peter the Altar, for our sake! question that will determine his whole life: "Simon, son of John, do "O God, You are my God -- for you love me?" Jesus is asking each You I long! For You my body of us the same question: do you yearns; for You my soul thirsts, love me? Those of us who have an like a land parched, lifeless, and experience of love, know, that true without water. So I look to You in love sets no conditions; it simply the Sanctuary to see Your power and yet it must be nurtured and glory. For Your love is better and nourished by intimacy, than life; my lips offer You closeness or regular contact. worship! I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, It is the same with time spent in calling on Your name. My soul divine intimacy with Jesus in the shall savor the rich banquet of Blessed Sacrament. How can our praise, with joyous lips my mouth encounters with the Lord not cause shall honor You!" us to fall more and more in love with Him? As we yield to such Jesus asks for so little.... Yet, He love, it will prompt hunger for gives so much! Scripture and the Sacraments as we seek to know and experience Him "This - The Eucharist - the whole on a deeper level. It will make us Christ" is His gift to all. Whether remember Him throughout the day, we are young or old, sick or inspire us to do little things "just healthy, poor or rich, only by for Him" and try and make regularly partaking in the sacrifice ourselves more attractive to Him of the Holy Mass and Eucharistic by lives of purity and holiness. Adoration, can we reap immense

6 spiritual and temporal blessings in our lives!

The Blessed Sacrament is the LIVING FOUNTAIN OF LIFE where we drink in the love of Christ Who alone quenches our thirst.

Thus, our time spent with our Beloved Saviour in Adoration, can become the most profound, meaningful, joyful, peaceful and healing experience we could ever encounter!

May our adoration never cease

O, SACRAMENT MOST HOLY! O, SACRAMENT DIVINE! ALL PRAISE AND ALL THANKSGIVING BE EVERY MOMENT THINE!

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