The Top Five Reasons Why We Should Spend Time in Eucharistic Adoration

Adoration can be an often overlooked activity for most Millennials today. At St. Stephens adoration is offered every weekday at certain times (listed here  http://ststephenslife.com/liturgyandprayerschedule.html) and every first Friday of the month sign up sheets are available in the Narthex to help keep Jesus company all through the night (committing to an hour per person) and into Saturday. Why do we put so much effort into sitting quietly with the Eucharist? Here are my top five reasons why we should spend time in Eucharistic Adoration:

1.       Jesus Desires it

In an Apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Jesus spoke these words, “I have a burning thirst to be honored by all in the Blessed Sacrament.” Does anything else really need to be said? I could end my article right here! Jesus desires that we spend time with Him in Adoration, to love and Honor Him.

"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you - for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart...don't listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love..”

~Therese of Liseux

2.       Adoration is the Way to a Truly Personal Relationship with Christ

When we think of building relationships we think of our friends and our spouses or potential spouses. With think of special time devoted to being with the people we love. By devoting an hour a week (or however much we can) to Adoration we make a “date” with Jesus. It is a real opportunity to connect and hear His voice in the stillness.

"My heart feels as if it were being drawn by a superior force each morning just before uniting with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. I have such a thirst and hunger before receiving Him that it's a wonder I don't die of anxiety. I was hardly able to reach the Divine Prisoner in order to celebrate Mass. When Mass ended I remained with Jesus to render Him thanks. My thirst and hunger do not diminish after I have received Him in the Blessed Sacrament, but rather, increase steadily. Oh, how sweet was the conversation I held with Paradise this morning. The Heart of Jesus and my own, if you will pardon my expression, fused. They were no longer two hearts beating but only one. My heart disappeared as if it were a drop in the ocean."

~ St. Pio of Pietrelcina

3.       Jesus Gives us Graces!

The Church teaches that in Eucharistic Adoration “grace is poured upon us as from a fountain” (Sacrosanctum Concilium). While the Polish nun, Blessed Faustina Kowalska was praying before the Blessed Sacrament, our Lord revealed Himself to her. There were pink and white rays of divine light emanating from His Sacred Heat, radiating through the entire chapel. Whenever someone came into the chapel for a visit, these divine rays would go forth from Jesus and encircle the whole world. Jesus explained that each person coming before Him in the Blessed Sacrament represented all of humanity and that every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth experiences a new effect of His goodness, grace, love, and mercy for each Holy hour made in His divine presence.  

"Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has His hands full of graces, and He is ready to bestow them on anyone who asks for them."

~ St. Peter of Alcantara

4.       In Adoration We can Imitate the Apostles

Jesus’ call to Adoration is the modern day version of Jesus asking His Apostles in faith to go out again and cast their nets on the starboard side. They did not see how it would help, but they did it and pulled in more blessings than their nets could hold. If we are to believe what Jesus told Faustina, and the whole world is blessed by every hour one of us spends in adoration, then we must consider it a priority to be present to Him in the Eucharist as often as we can. It is the simplest way to make a difference in the world as the Apostles did.

(…) In His Eucharistic presence He remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under the signs that express and communicate this love: The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits in the sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go meet Him in Adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our Adoration never cease. (CCC 1380)

5.       Adoration Gives us Peace

In Eucharistic Adoration, Jesus Christ our Lord, Our companion, our Divine Physician, our Good Shepherd is made available for anyone to come to Him and praise Him, to pour out our hearts to Him, to be consoled in affliction, to ask for guidance, for favors, for forgiveness. Jesus is physically present to heal us and comfort us. “The Holy Eucharist is the continuation of the incarnation of the Word on earth. It is the literal fulfillment of His words “Behold I am with you all days, even to the end of the world.” It is the fulfillment of His name ‘Emmanuel,’ God is with us. Eucharistic adoration is an affirmation of our faith, appreciation of the gift of the Living Presence of Christ among us, and acknowledgement of our total dependency on Him who says “ I am the vine and you are the branches; whoever remains in union with me will bear much fruit, for without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) It is an expression of our love for Him Who loves us so much that He never wants to leave us and so stays with us Day and night in the Blessed Sacrament. St. John the Baptist cried out “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” By inviting people to Eucharistic Adoration, the pastor of souls, like John, is proclaiming to the people” Behold the Lamb of God, who is worthy to receive unceasing honor, glory, and praise. (Rev 5:12-13)”

Let us pray for the desire to commit to spending time with our Lord in Adoration. By so doing, we will increase our Faith, our love, our Joy, and peace for the whole world.