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Nourish Your Spirit Online
Come pray with the sisters. |
Eucharistic Adoration While God is present at all times in all places, Catholics believe that Jesus Christ is especially present, body and blood, soul and divinity, in the Eucharist. A very old Catholic tradition, Adoration provides a sacred ritual space outside of mass time in which one can reverence Jesus in this form. Usually exposition follows this basic format: The consecrated host is placed into a monstrance or ciborium on the altar. The congregation sings a hymn of praise while the priest incenses the Blessed Sacrament. A period of prayer and adoration then follows, which may or may not include formal communal prayer. Benediction concludes exposition. The priest again incenses the Blessed Sacrament while the congregation sings a hymn of praise. He then blesses everyone with the Blessed Sacrament, raising it in the sign of the cross before returning the consecrated bread to the tabernacle. Most Catholics have had at least some experience of Adoration. Every Holy Thursday, in churches around the world, the evening liturgy is followed by Eucharistic Adoration as the sacrament is reserved until Easter. Forty Hours devotions used to be popular, and today many parishes organize perpetual adoration, with each person taking one “holy hour” per week or month. |
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© 2009 Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana |