Start & Pray Holy Hours

Encounter Jesus at Adoration – US Conference of Bishops

Pope John Paul II said “I hope that this form of Adoration, with permanent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, will continue into the future.  Specifically, I hope that the fruit of this Congress results in the establishment of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in all parishes and Christian communities throughout the world.”

We encourage pastors, parishes, Catholic schools, university and college campus chaplaincies, seniors residences, prisons, religious communities and congregations, and prayer groups to begin or increase hours of Eucharistic Adoration.  Everyone – children, teens, youth, young adults, adults and seniors are invited to make regular Holy Hours of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

Learn:   How to Start and Make Holy Hours

Photocopy and insert this flyer into your parish bulletin: How to Make a Holy Hour flyer

Guidelines that can be put in adoration chapels to form adorers. These could be laminated:

Adoration Song Playlists – traditional, contemporary or Catholic youth and young adult

Order copies of a laminated guideline for  “How to Make a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration” or how to pray “An Hour of Adoration with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament”

Recollections Opus Dei 2018

Have and attend recollections before the Blessed Sacrament.

How should we pray during Eucharistic adoration?

In summary, there are many ways to pray. We may meditate silently by gazing on Jesus in the sacred Host. We may silently speak to Jesus with our mind and heart.  St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta recommended spending half the time in adoration in SILENCE. Cardinal Robert Sarah also extols silence.

During your holy hour of adoration, ACTS are recommended – this is an acronym for simply spending:

15 minutes of in a spirit of Adoration, 15 minutes of Contrition, 15 minutes of Thanksgiving and 15 minutes of Supplication or intercessory prayer.

Some may feel moved or prefer to approach and recognize the Real Presence of Christ by starting with an Act of or Contrition as they initially become humbled and aware of His holiness and almighty Real Presence and their own shortcomings and sins, and then move into Adoration, Petition, and Thanksgiving…

To recall these four types of prayer, some also use the acrynom PART:  Petition, Adoration, Reparation, and Thanksgiving or Adoro Te Rex Gloriae – Adoration, Thanksgiving, Reparation, Give something to God – Love (for example, a resolution).

Entering into deeper prayer and contemplation can bring one into total silence and a calming of the senses. The great mystic and doctor of the Church, St. Theresa of Avila spoke of the “prayer of the quiet”. You may want to read her writings in “The Way of Perfection” and “The Interior Castle”.  Another St. Theresa referred to as the “Little Flower”, practised complete trust and confidence in the mercy of God and did little things with great Love.

Many saints grew stronger in virtue and in their prayer life as they persevered in prayer through consolations and periods of dryness or of desolation. Love is a decision, not a feeling. Jesus is 100% divine and 100% man – He consoles us and sometimes He asks or needs us to comfort Him. He has a human heart and a divine heart. We see a crown of thorns around His Sacred Heart burning with Love, as He revealed Himself to St. Margaret Mary.  He thirsts for love and souls.

Pray the salvation and sanctification of souls!

We may rely on devotions and prayers from Catholic tradition, such as the reading of Scripture, recitation of the rosary, litanies or other Catholic spiritual reading materials.

We encourage you to invite your friends, family members and others to discover the Presence of Christ in Eucharistic Adoration!

Pray the Divine Office

The Sisters of Life organize a Eucharistic Holy Hour

The Bishop Fulton Sheen Mission Society promotes Holy Hours and the sacramental life

Cardinal Sarah on the Power of SILENCE – How to cultivate silence in our hearts, how important it is. Only in silence do we begin to discover who we are and do we encounter the Lord:

Knightline – News for Knights of Columbus Leaders – introduced FAITH IN ACTION –   to revitalize you, your parish, your K of C council and your community.  The first recommendation is Eucharistic Adoration

The Knight of Columbus website now states:

“A Higher Purpose    Encourage deep personal encounter with God. Knights of Columbus councils work with their pastors to organize a regular Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration. Prepared for the men of the parish, this Holy Hour could include a reflection, communal rosary, prayers for intercession by St. Joseph or Knights of Columbus founder, Venerable Michael McGivney, and various other aspects as decided by the council.

“Overview    The chivalric character of the Knights of Columbus and the Church’s long tradition of spiritual combat resonate with men today – especially as threats from the world and the devil are so keenly felt. Eucharistic adoration in the form of a regularly scheduled Holy Hour is a simple, direct, and meaningful way to address these needs. It is familiar to many, easy to organize, and something everyone can participate in together regardless of age, vocation, stage of life or membership status. Councils can organize their Holy Hours in a variety of ways and incorporate aspects such as: perpetual adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation, prayer for particular intentions and more.”

C2P5_0LUoAAPTTk