Adoration

To a non-Catholic, Adoration must seem so very foreign and maybe even a little strange.  But, to a Catholic, it's the most beautiful, wonderful hour you could imagine.  It's an hour of peace and quiet, just you & Jesus.  During Adoration, I've cried, laughed, and even slept.  After the sleeping incident (this was when the boys were little), I talked to my mom about feeling guilty that I fell asleep.  Her response:  Jesus knew that I needed that and He gave me the peace to get some rest.  I was more than a little embarrassed when I went to the car and looked in the mirror: I had a big red spot on my forehead where I had rested my head on my hand.   I just kept thinking about the verse:  "Could you not watch one hour with me?" (Mt. 26:40)  Oh, the Catholic guilt.

There was one time when I came into the chapel out of the cold rain.  When I knelt down, it literally felt like someone put a warm heavy blanket over my shoulders.  It was the most amazing feeling in the world.  There were times when I felt my guardian angels kneeling beside me.  I can't even begin to tell you what that is like.

For Adoration, the consecrated host is housed in a monstrance.  Webster's defines "monstrance" as:
"a vessel in which the consecrated Host is exposed for the adoration of the faithful".  The monstrance is then placed in the "little house"...that's what I call it.  I'm sure there's a proper name for it, I just don't know what it is.
While the host is exposed, Jesus can not be left alone.  The goal is for the host to be exposed 24/7, with someone constantly in Adoration until the next coming of Christ.  When you are in the chapel for Adoration, you aren't suppose to leave until the next person comes in.  However, if you do have to leave for some reason, you are allowed to cover up the monstrance (or, in the case at this parish, close the doors).  When I've done Adoration in the past (in SC),  I only remember covering up the monstrance one time.  When I had to do that, I felt like I was letting Jesus down, like I thought there was something else more important than Him.  I realize that Jesus knew I had a family to take care of, but there still was a twinge of guilt.

Anyway, I had glanced over the Adoration openings in the bulletin for a while, but there weren't any times that I felt like I could commit to.  Then, a few weeks ago, a time that was perfect for me opened up.  Did I sign right up?  Uh, no.  I waited a couple of weeks to see if someone would take it.  No one did, so I figured I'd better start listening.  And, here's the kicker:  It's the same time I had when I started doing Adoration in SC.  Think He was telling me something?

I remember that our Parish had Adoration during Holy Week once when I was in high school.  This was before parishes were devoting a part of the church to Adoration; before Adoration was "big".  Daddy announced that he had signed the family up for an hour.  I was NOT happy.  Seriously.  I did not want to sit there for an hour with nothing to do.  But, honestly, after that hour was over, I felt incredible.  It was sooo worth it.  The worst part was that I had to admit my daddy knew what he was doing.

There is complete quiet in the Adoration Chapel.  Total and complete quiet.  During my hour, anyway.  It's comforting, calm, and peaceful.   It helps me get myself together for the rest of the work week.  It's the best way to spend an hour that I know.

11 comments:

  1. That was a beautiful post and all so very true..I don't think there is a Catholic on this planet without guilt. Falling asleep is not wrong, you are just resting in the Lord. You are right God was trying to tell you something in giving you same holy hour...awesome!!

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  2. Love this post. A parish in town has Adoration every morning from 7:30 until 8:30 and then daily Mass. I need to quit giving in to temptation to sleep and get myself there. I can't think of a more beautiful way to start my day.

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  3. I'm not catholic, I'm protestant, but it sounds like a wonderful hour to spend with the Lord. I don't think he would want you to feel guilty when you need to leave. After all, the great thing about having Jesus in your heart is that he goes with you everywhere! No condemnation in Christ, remember! Thanks so much for sharing this Mary!

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  4. We aren't Catholic but I was raised with Catholics. Good post.

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  5. Great post! Does seem like God was sending you an invitation. I am amazed at the number of people who have been Catholic all of their lives and who either do not know what Adoration is or have never been.

    My SIL introduced me to the Adoration Chapel about 3 or 4 years ago, and it is just such a wonderful, quiet place.

    PS - I know you're gonna make it! And I pray it will be wonderful when you do!

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  6. neat! thanks for explaining this; I grew up Catholic and I think I remember my mom talking about Adoration. I think it is a wonderful way to spend time with Jesus, but like Stephani said, I don't think he would want you to feel guilty if you had to leave.

    betty

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  7. I'm not Catholic, but I can attest that any time spent solely in contemplation of the Lord is motivating, inspiring, lifting, comforting, etc.

    I did know someone who had become Catholic who told me that what I was experiencing in my relationship with Jesus wasn't real though because it wasn't done with a Priest in charge of it. She was so mean about it it made me afraid of Catholics for a long time! But God is so gracious, he brought me some sisters in Christ in my Bible Study who also happen to worship in the Roman Catholic tradition and healed my apprehension!

    I'm so glad you explain and share without judging. It's why I keep coming back here, Mary!

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  8. I loved this! I myself have never gone to Adoration. I've always wanted to...

    and perhaps the "house" is the tabernacle? I don't know though. I've heard that word float around before, haha.

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  9. Mary, I felt the most at peace while expecting miss Mabel. Each week I spent an hour with Christ, adoring him right there. It was the easiest preganancy. It was when I had started attending Adoration regularly.

    I also received our "call" that Stan was waiting for our pick up while sitting in Adoration. David had come in to tell me the news. Needless to say, I interrupted my rosary, gave a quick genuflect to our Lord, and high tailed it out of there to call the airlines :)

    Dear Mary, thank you for all of your prayers. They are so appreciated..beyond words.

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  10. This was a beautifully written post, Mary. I absolutely love what your Mom told you about falling asleep and I agree with her. I believe it says in Romans that "therefore there is no condemnation to those which art in Christ Jesus..." Be free :)

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  11. This is a really good post. I think we should have at least one hour of Adoration every week in every parish in the world. Can you imagine what that would do? Of course, 24/7 Adoration is the ideal, but it isn't possible everywhere.

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