What is Eucharistic Adoration?

Eucharistic Adoration is simply discovering that Our Lord Jesus Christ is pleased to reside in the humble appearance of bread and wine with all His being and divinity. It is the love which stems from being loved, accepted, and valued, just like the lost sheep which Jesus the Good Shepherd seeks out boldly. St. John says in his first letter to the Church “We love because He first loved us.” The truth of this statement can be better understood through a devotion to the Heart of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

When Jesus is transformed on the summit of Mount Tabor, it is interesting how Moses and Elijah are present to witness the glory of God manifested in the person Jesus Christ. They finally see Him face to face, whereas before, they were obliged to cover their eyes or turn away. Though it may not be accompanied by such theophanies, we have the privilege of meeting Jesus face-to-face when we adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Although Jesus is veiled under the species of bread and wine, He nevertheless is present in body, blood, soul, and divinity.

While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:29-31)

Making a Holy Hour

The devotion known as the Holy Hour began with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun of the seventeenth century, who is most commonly associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart. She received a vision of Jesus during prayer in which she was invited to participate in the agony He underwent on the night before His death. He asked her to pray for an Hour before the tabernacle on Thursday nights and during that time she tasted the cup of suffering which Jesus drank in preparing for his Passion. Over time this devotion grew and spread to what Catholics experience today in churches and chapels around the world.

To celebrate a Holy Hour, It is customary for a priest or deacon to place the Eucharist in a stand called a “monstrance” on the altar. This time of prayer is less structured than a normal liturgy but nevertheless includes the singing of hymns, solemn prayers, and incensing of the altar. Reach out to your local parishes to discover if they offer a Holy Hour during the week. If you have trouble making it to a Holy Hour, however, take some time after the celebration of the Mass to adore Jesus in the tabernacle, or stop into the local church on your way home from work.

In response to the troubling statistics regarding Catholic belief in the true Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, many efforts have been introduced to foster greater faith in this dogma of the Church. Below are several links which provide more information and devotional material for adoring our Eucharistic Lord Jesus. Bl. Carlo Acutis’ website in which he catalogs all the Eucharistic Miracles is valuable to help develop a deeper faith in the True Presence.

[Carlo Acutis Eucharistic Miracles Website]

[How to make a Holy Hour Resources]