It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Eucharistic Adoration. I greatly look forward to the time that I spend before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. When I’m with Him, I feel at peace and the time seems to fly. That wasn’t always the case with me, however. I used to be very confused about the idea of praying before the Blessed Sacrament. I had trouble understanding the point. Isn’t Jesus everywhere? Why do I need to go to the adoration chapel to speak with Him?
Fortunately for me, I was influenced by some very holy people, including my late Mother-In-Law, Betty. She would faithfully pay visits to the chapel to spend time with Jesus. After listening to her speak about the experience, I decided that I needed to give it a try. Although I’d been to adoration in the past and found it to be rather dry , I thought that things would now be different. I heard Betty speak about how great it is to spend time with Jesus, so I was all ready to experience the same thing. I signed up for a regular holy hour and when I got to the chapel, I sat down and thought to myself, “Now what”? I’ve got an hour…do I pray? Do I talk? Do I listen? Do I just sit here? I was completely frozen!
It took me a long time and a lot of research to answer those questions and, to be honest, I still wonder about these things sometimes. That’s why I was so pleased when I was asked to host the initial stop on Vinny Flynn’s blog tour for his new book, 21 Ways To Worship (A Guide To Eucharistic Adoration). I was even more pleased as I read the book and discovered that he answered ALL of my questions – past and present!
In an easy to read and entertaining way, Vinny Flynn gives us 21 different suggestions for what to do while we’re adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. More importantly, he makes a strong case for WHY we should adore Our Lord in this manner. I know it’s a well used cliche, but this is one book “you won’t be able to put down”! Once I started reading, I kept saying, “I’ll read one more chapter” and, before you know it, I was finished the book. I’m also looking forward to my next visit with Jesus so I can put some of these suggestions into practice.
Whether you’re struggling to understand why to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament or simply looking for suggestions on how to worship Him once you’re there, this book will satisfy your needs in a BIG way. I highly recommend it and urge you to not only buy a copy, but to move it to the top of your “reading stack” as soon as you do!
Want to win a free copy of 21 Ways To Worship? Just comment on this post and I’ll randomly select one winner, who will receive a copy. The contest closes at 12 Midnight (Eastern Time) on Saturday, May 25, 2013.
Vinny – I have received many graces from the reading of 21 Ways to Worship. Strange as this may sound, but every time I turn back and pick up 21 Ways to Worship it seems that the page I open to first is ?Get a Tan!? It just so happens that for me, confession is a secret that needs to be revealed to world. So true and eloquently expressed is ?Sin doesn?t change God. It changes you.? Just as Gary has expressed in this post so do I, ?It has been the reading of 21 Ways to Worship that enhanced my relationship with Jesus in a very special way through the Blessed Sacrament.?
I am a new convert (1 year now) and never seem to know what to do. I pray,sometimes say the rosary and I listen, but I always feel awkward. Maybe, If I listen more, it will come to me : ) Have a blessed day
I’ve been trying to find a piece I read online about a Protestant, I think at a college, stumbling across a group of people at Adoration, and being blown away by the experience. Any idea what this article was?
Evelyn it might have been this one? http://gungormusic.com/2013/03/catholicism/ A really powerful post from Michael Gungor.
This sounds like such a useful book. About eight years ago when I was homeschooling my children, I ran into another mom who was dropping her children off at the Y for swimming and said she had just enough time to stop at church and go to adoration. I am a life long Catholic and I had no idea what she was talking about. I slowly began to investigate and attend adoration and now find it to be a valuable use of my time. It is the only place I am able to shut down and focus on the presence of Jesus. Praise God!
I like your column. http://www.ssfpa.org
Gary, what a wonderful book review! I would love to read it! When I am at Adoration, first I pray in thanksgiving and also with prayer requests then I focus in silence and open my ‘spiritual ears’ to our Lord. These ears should always be open to Him!
Ritaestelle
I would love to read this book!!
I would love some hints as to how to block out the external and internal noise while at adoration. I find when I go, I only stay for a few minutes, say a decade or something, & leave…just wish I could feel more comfortable & at peace, like I belong there. I signed up recently to stay with the Blessed Sacrament for one hour during an all-night adoration. Hope I can focus 😉
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I’ve been going to adoration every Friday for the last couple of years, and I can completely identify with those feelings. I always leave the church feeling like I could have spent my time there in a more enriching way. Though I have no doubts, that I have received many, many blessings from God for spending that hour or so every Friday with him. I will definitely read your book in hopes of learning how to make my time more fruitful. Thank you!
I am so excited to see this! I often find myself in Adoration not knowing exactly what I should be doing there. Thank you for all you do to share and teach our Catholic faith.
I converted from Baptist to Catholic 30 years ago. While I raised my kids in the faith i didn’t spend a lot of time learning more. Now I’m realizing many of the traditions and why we do them. I have come to pray to the saints and am now praying the Rosary and the Devine Mercy Chaplet. The one thing I haven’t done that I really want to is to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration but my fear of the unknown and what to do keep me from it. This book will be a great start for me!!
I’d love to read this book!!
I started Eucharistic Adoration about 6 months ago. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to participate in it, but still struggle at times with the things you mentioned. I would love to have this book as a wonderful tool to grow in my faith through Eucharistic Adoration. 🙂
Please let me be successful in my case against the enemy. Also an upcoming meeting wgich is causing me a lot of anxiety and worry. Eliminate worry and anxiety and depression deom my life please .amen. thankful in advance