While there’s no doubt that we can pray anywhere, there are special graces that can be received by praying before the Blessed Sacrament.? If you’re skeptical (as I once was), I encourage you to try it for yourself.? Try spending some time each week with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and see what happens.? If you can do it for an hour, that would be ideal.? If you can only spend 15 minutes, you will still receive many graces.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen made a holy hour every day of his life and wrote his homilies in Our Lord’s presence.? Numerous Saints and popes throughout the ages spoke of the importance of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.? The time I spend in adoration is my refuge from the craziness of my daily life and a tremendous source of blessing.? Why not try it and see what happens in your own life?
Archbishop Timothy Dolan recently wrote an excellent piece about the relationship between Eucharistic adoration and parish vibrancy.? I’d highly recommend that you read it and think about how the power of the Eucharist can transform your life.?
If you have any stories about how Eucharistic adoration has affected your life, I’d love to hear them!
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Today as I was leaving adoration after Mass, the last people in the pews about one hour in were six older women. I thought of the various holy women who followed our Lord throughout his travels and especially during the passion. May the Magdalen pray for all those good women who turn to him and watch him with great love from a distance, and from up close. May our Lord reward them and have mercy upon them.
Nice thought, Brad…Thanks for sharing it!
Peace,
Gary
M+ O Divine Jesus! lonelly tonight in so many Teberbnacles, without visiror or worshiper…I offer Thee my poor heart. May its every throb be an act of love for Thee? Thou art always watching beneath the Scramental Veils in Thy Love Thou dost never sleep and Thou art never weary of Thy vigil for sinners. O lonely Jesus! May the flame of my heart burn and beam always in company with Thee.
O Sacrament most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and thanksgiving be every moment Thine.
Fr. Chuck – That’s a beautiful prayer. Thank you for sharing it!
Peace,
Gary
Oh that lovely prayer Fr Chuck – I have it in my “Fr Steadman’s ‘My Sunday Missal’ ” – that ancient book prayed in my family for eons (since the 1940s!)! this particular prayer I pray every time before leaving a church/chapel.
I always pray that these prayers will not “die out” as I never see these prayers in newer prayer books – which is such a shame! Seeing this prayer here sent goosebumps all over ! haha – Thank you Fr Chuck for this reminder that God will work wonders regardless !
Felix – I agree with you about the old missals. I’m always on the lookout for old prayer books and missals (or reprints). I have discovered many wonderful meditations and prayers in these books. I’ve recently been a prayer book once belonging to my wife’s late grandmother and mother. I’ve been taking it to daily Mass with me and using it for meditations before and after Mass.
God Bless,
Gary
I am glad to have found this – the exact reproduction of Fr Stedman’s sunday missal – so these prayers will not die out after all – now that the Extraordinary Form has been approved and is more widely available, this will be very useful indeed – http://www.neumannpress.com/mysundaymissal.html
Thanks for the link, Felix. I think I’ll buy a new copy because I have an orignal copy that is old and is starting to fall apart. I have a question for you…I have Fr. Stedman’s Sunday Missal, but I can’t find that prayer mentioned by Fr. Chuck. In which section does it appear?
Thanks and God Bless,
Gary
the prayer appears on page 383 in mine – under the section “blessed sacrament”, subjection “To Jesus Abandoned in Tabernacles”. hope you find it in yours !
Felix, Thanks for the info. My Father Stedman Missal only has 350 pages and does not contain a section on the Blessed Sacrament. There must be different versions of the missal. Therefore, I just ordered a copy of the reprint from Neumann Press. Thanks for sharing that link! I’ve ordered several books from Neumann Press and I highly recommend them…Great service and top notch material!
God Bless,
Gary
I love the old prayers too. I am going to ad that prayer to my site.
What I am concerned about is the beautiful hymns. They do not sing them any more and you cannot find them in music books. Remember “To Jesus Heart all Burning.” “Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all.”
Check out: http://truthhimself.blogspot.com/
for a daily Eucharistic reflection.
@ Mr. Zimak: You said, “(as I once was)”. You were right for being skeptical. John 6 is no more of a picture of accepting His death on the cross than matzo is of:
1.) He was bruised for our inequities
2.) by His stripes we are healed
3.) He was pierced for our transgressions
Interesting how John 6 was around the Feast of Unleavened Bread and matzo is eaten at the time of Unleavened Bread, no? Heck, maybe we’re suppose to have this symbolic bread at the time of the symbolic Lord’s Supper. (It would do one thing and one thing only: make sense.)
Anyways, if the host is the literal body, blood, soul, and divinity, then His bones would be broken every time during the celebration of the eucharist when your teeth crush the host and it passes through the digestive system. Yet, it is written: “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”
Addison – Thanks for the comments. Unfortunately, your argument about crushing the bones of Christ doesn’t apply since we are consuming His glorified Body. As Catholics, we follow the practice of the early Chistians and believe that Christ was indeed speaking literally when He spoke of eating His Body in John 6. If he was just speaking figuratively in John 6, why would it be a “hard saying” (John 6:60) and cause many of His disciples to “walk away”? (John 6: 66). It was difficult because they knew EXACTLY what the Lord was saying…that in order to have eternal life, they must eat His Body. They couldn’t understand how this was possible, but at the Last Supper it was made clear!
God Bless,
Gary
from Bill Foley
Saint Josemaria Escriva has commented that Jesus Christ has been a prisoner in the tabernacle for almost 2000 years. What humility!
Addison’s comment reveals complete ignorance of the theology and the reality and the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.
No longer am I just a Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation Mass attendee. I always admired those who attend daily Mass. I didn’t think I could do it. Months ago I decided to attend morning Mass on a feast day to have candles blessed. After the Mass I stayed for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and morning prayers (psalms) by the priests and a few members of the parish. I knew about the parish’s afternoon Exposition and Benediction but couldn’t attend because it was during work hours. I decided then to start going to daily Mass and morning prayers before going to work. I always got up early in the morning anyway and did nothing important before going to work. Still I told myself only Monday to Fridays…Saturdays I will sleep in late. I might have the temptation not to go sometimes but come sixty am (even if I only have 10 minutes to get dressed) I am out the door for Mass. Now it is hard for me to stay away. I find I must start my day receiving Jesus and adoring Him and thanking Him for all the blessings He has given me and my family..even on Saturdays! I believe it is by God’s grace I am able to do this. I always ask Jesus to make my heart like His and give me all the graces to do His will and avoid offending Him as I leave the Church to live the rest of my day. I am at peace.
I thank God for our parish run by priests of the Blessed Sacrament for having The Blessed Sacrament available for us to adore and worship, twice a day.
Thank you also Fr. Chuck for the prayer…I will start using it.
May God’s blessing and peace be upon you.
Aloha, Mari
Mari – That was one of the most moving posts that I’ve ever read. Thanks so much for sharing it! I couldn’t agree more about the value of daily Mass. Until one starts practicing this devotion, it’s impossible to describe the benefits that are received. Daily Mass has changed my life and I always recommend it to everyone if their schedule permits. Sadly, many Catholics will only get up early to go to the gym or to get in some extra time at the office. However, a heartfelt witness like yours is bound to change a few hearts. Thank you again for taking the time to share!
God Bless,
Gary
Oops…I meant six thirty am.
Mari
I too love the OLD books and prayers. I will ad Fr. Chuck’s prayer to my site.
The other thing that I love about OLD is the hymns that we sang. Anyone remember: “To Jesus Heart All Burning,” or “Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All,” There are many songs that we cannot find in current books. I would love to see and hear them sung again in church.
Adoration is such a powerful spiritual experience that truly defines how Jesus walks with us everywhere we go. I attend adoration every thursday at my church and 45 minutes into reflection, tears will come down my face with the sight of Jesus and the sounds of the choir praising his glory. I cherish Adoration because I am able to speak to Jesus the Savior, our brother, the son of the most Divine Father. I am able to speak to Jesus as he reassures me that his everlasting love is powerful and that he and God the Father are always watching over me and will get me through the tough times.
“The Lord God and his Son Jesus Christ light the way to our destiny. Trust this light and you will forever live life in peaceful happiness.”
God Bless.
I needed this!!
I felt so empty this morning. wondering what i should do, no energy to pray or anything. i game a cross a book i had kept for so long in my house and the first statement i read was, “spend time in adoration of the sacrament” i didnt know what it meant so i went on line to read about it, the guidance i got online has lifted my soul up. I would trade anything to feel like i am right now!!!
Praise God, Jalia! The Lord is great at coming through when we really need Him. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
God Bless,
Gary
I received an internal call to commit to one hour of Eucharistic Adoration approximately 8 years ago. I was working out of state…one night I received a message…I am certain….from my beautiful Guardian Angel. The message was simple…while working out of town why not make it part of my daily routine to spend one hour in Adoration Monday – Friday….I accepted the call and did this religiously for five years.
I prayed for this company that I was assigned to assist…a turnaround situation. I cannot describe the graces received…cannot describe the graces received in helping me with the courage, conviction and “guidance” received while turning around this company…with incredible results. One employee once remarked ” you “have such a glow about you”.
Eucharistic Adoration is part of my daily life. I trust in God that I will continue to receive the Graces necessary to see this “calling” thru for my entire life and thank my Mother Mary for the graces bestowed on me regarding Eucharistic Adoration, and the call coming from my Guardian Angel in behalf of Mother Mary and formation to accept the call by the Holy Spirit.
Dave Wood