What is Eucharistic Adoration?

Adorers before the Blessed Sacrament at Pentecost

“Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Mt 26:40) 

What is the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is the Real Presence of Christ.

God is really, truly, and substantially present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Thus, the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Church’s life and mission” (Lumen Gentium, 11). At the Last Supper, our Lord Jesus instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 47).

He took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them, saying “This IS My Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me” and likewise the chalice, saying, “This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My Blood.”

– Luke 22:19-20

At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, a validly ordained Catholic priest’s words of consecration—by the Holy Spirit—transubstantiate (permanently change) bread and wine into Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1333, 1373-76, 1406, 1410, 1412-1413).

Jesus said:

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever … Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My Flesh is true food, and My Blood is true drink.

– John 6:51, 54-55

The Church explains that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11). In his very first encyclical, St. John Paul II reminds us that through the Eucharist, “each Christian receives the saving power of redemption” (Redemptor Hominis, 20).

What is Eucharistic Adoration?

Eucharistic adoration is the practice of adoring God in the most Holy Eucharist.

Jesus’ Real Presence remains permanently in hosts in the tabernacle.

During exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a Host is taken out of the locked tabernacle, placed in a sacred vessel called a Monstrance, and at least one person must be present at all times. (CCC 1377, 1379)

Eucharistic adoration is the worship of latria (adoration due to God alone) given to Jesus Christ truly present—body, blood, soul, and divinity—in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle or exposed in a monstrance. “Because Christ himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, He is to be honored with the worship of adoration.” It includes silent prayer, Scripture reading, hymns, and the Rosary, always oriented to Christ.

This devotion is fully supported by the Church’s Magisterium and encouraged for parishes.

“Adoration is the acknowledgement of God as God, creator and saviour, the Lord and Master of everything that exists as infinite and merciful love” (CCC 2096).

“Adoration is homage of the spirit to the King of glory, respectful silence in the presence of the ever greater God” (CCC 2628).

The Concise Dictionary of Theology defines Adoration as “the highest reverence to be offered only to God, our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier who alone should be worshiped and glorified.” “Adoration is the word used to express those acts of divine worship which are directed to God only, and of which the characteristics are recognition of His perfection and omnipotence and our own complete dependence upon Him” (A Catholic Dictionary, Tan, 1997).

“Adoration. This is a word from heaven. It seems to me that it could be defined as an ecstasy of love. It is love overwhelmed by the beauty, the strength, the immense grandeur of the Beloved. It falls into sort of a swoon, into a full deep silence, the silence that David spoke of when he cried out ‘silence is Thy praise’. And it is the most beautiful of all praise that is sung eternally in the bosom of the unchanging Trinity, and it is also the last effort of the soul as it overflows and can say no more.”

– Attrib. St. Elizabeth of Hungary (traditional sources)

 

“Because Christ Himself is present in the sacrament of the altar, He is to be honoured with the worship of adoration. To visit the Blessed Sacrament is…a proof of gratitude, an expression of love, and a duty of adoration toward Christ our Lord.”

Catechism of the Catholic Church 1418

 

Why is it tremendously important to adore the Eucharist outside of Mass?

Adoration outside Mass prolongs and intensifies the Eucharistic celebration, allowing personal encounter with Christ. “The act of adoration outside Mass prolongs and intensifies all that takes place during the liturgical celebration itself.” It matures reception of Communion and combats spiritual walls between individuals. Popes like St. John Paul II call it “of inestimable value,” linking it to sacrifice and Communion.

We are all called by God to become Saints. Prayer and adoration help towards the salvation and sanctification of souls which Jesus longs for.

Eucharistic adoration is an expression of our love for Jesus, who loves us so much that He never wants to leave us and stays with us day and night in the Blessed Sacrament. He says:

“Behold, I am with you always” (Mt 28:20), for “I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in My affection for you” (Jer 31:3).

Eucharistic adoration is the respect and worship we give to Jesus, who is truly present to us under the appearance of bread and wine. The Eucharist is a priceless treasure; by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace.

As St. Alphonsus Liguori noted, “Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.”

– CCC 1418

What is the relationship of Eucharistic adoration to the Mass?

The celebration of the Mass is the origin and purpose of the worship shown to the Eucharist outside the Mass. Eucharistic adoration extends Holy Communion in a lasting way even as it prepares the faithful to participate more fully in the celebration of the Mass. It leads us to acknowledge Christ’s marvelous presence in the sacrament and invites us to deeper spiritual union with him in the reception of Holy Communion.

“Our communal worship at Mass must go hand in hand with our personal worship of Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration in order that our love may be complete.”

– St. John Paul II

 

What is exposition of the Blessed Sacrament?

The Eucharist is Jesus’ complete and personal gift of Himself to us under the appearances of bread and wine.  Jesus is present in this sacrament permanently. His Real Presence is abiding, and does not vanish after Mass. The hosts remaining after Communion are kept in a special place of honour called the tabernacle (CCC 1377, 1379).

Exposition is the placement of the sacred host outside the tabernacle for public adoration. This can take many forms. One form is the removal of the sacred vessels from the tabernacle for a more prominent and visible placement. The Church also permits a “full” exposition, when the sacred host is clearly visible in a sacred vessel called a “monstrance.”

There are three purposes of Eucharistic exposition: (1) to acknowledge Christ’s marvelous presence in the sacrament; (2) to lead us to a fuller participation in the celebration of the Eucharist, culminating in Holy Communion; and (3) to foster the worship which is due to Christ in spirit and in truth.

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration: Why and Fruits

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is our response to Jesus’ love for us, whereby each of us is willing to spend a quiet “holy hour” of prayer in His Eucharistic Presence once a week on a regular basis, so that we may have extended exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  Jesus is never left alone, and the chapel is open for anyone to visit Him.  It is encouraged by popes and parishes organize it with the local bishop’s oversight.

Perpetual adoration is the continuous, day-and-night adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, often organized by parishes, religious communities, or lay associations. Strictly perpetual may involved brief interruptions, as in the Forty Hours Devotion or dedicated chapels. This practice developed organically from reservation of the Eucharist, spreading widely since the 13th century and encouraged by popes.

Jesus wants it! He loves you infinitely. You bring joy to His Sacred Heart when you spend time with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary that He has a burning love to be honoured in the Blessed Sacrament. He gives us graces through adoration! He refreshes us in mind, heart and spirit by lavishing on us those graces that encourage, console, strengthen, guide and inspire us to place all or trust in Him, so that the power of His Love may cast our every worry, fear, doubt, and anxiety that we have. Popes and the Church have repeatedly asked for perpetual adoration. Everyone can participate. It leads to a truly personal relationship with Jesus. It builds community. It brings peace!

People who observe Eucharistic adoration experience a deeper devotion to Jesus, and this manifests itself in countless ways. The primary fruits are repentance and conversion, which lead to increased charity – that is, the love of Christ alive in his people. The adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist also leads to greater reverence at Mass, a deeper desire for personal holiness, and a stronger sense of union with the parish and the whole Church. More recently, the practice has lead to an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Benefits of Eucharistic Adoration include  increased vocations and charity.

How should we pray during Eucharistic adoration?

There are many ways to pray. We may meditate silently by gazing on the sacred host. We may silently speak to Jesus with our mind and heart. We may rely on devotions and prayers from Catholic tradition, such as the reading of Scripture, recitation of the rosary, or the litanies. ACTS: during our holy hour of prayer, we may want to spend 15 minutes for each type of prayer – Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving (Praise) and Supplication (intercession/petition).  Pray the salvation and sanctification of souls!

Conclusion: Call to Action

 

  1. Please do what you can to help to implement St. John Paul II’s great desire that Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration be established in every parish and Christian community: Plan or schedule your Adoration Sign-Up Weekend/Campaign/Organization.
  2. Promote Eucharistic adoration by doing it! Make frequent visits to Jesus at the tabernacle and in the Monstrance. Invite your spouse, children, neighbours, friends, co-workers and others to join you.

O Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament,

we adore You with profound reverence.

Grant us the grace to love You more deeply.

Amen.

 

Further Reading our website

Sources: St. John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia; Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed., 1997; USCCB, 31 Questions on the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 2004; Excerpts courtesy of Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Questions and Answers on the Eucharist, 2000