What Is Eucharistic Adoration?
Eucharistic adoration is the act of worshiping God as He is present in th e consecrated Eucharist. Since the Last Supper, when Jesus broke the bread and distributed the wine, saying, “This is my Body” and “This is my Blood;’ Catholics have believed that the bread and wine are no longer merely baked wheat and fermented grape juice, but the actual living presence of the Second Person of the Trinity. Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, in prayer and devotion, is exactly the same as spending time before the living God. Adoration occurs whenever someone kneels in front of a tabernacle that contains the Blessed Sacrament, genuflects toward a tabernacle, bows before receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, or, in a more focused way, when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
The devotion begins with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. A priest or deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it on the altar for adoration. The purpose of adoration is to highlight the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. When a consecrated host is placed in the monstrance, it is said to be a solemn exposition. Adoration ceremonies traditionally include Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, and time for silent adoration.
Ways to Celebrate Eucharistic Adoration
Mass – The congregation kneels as the priest lifts the Sacrament, declaring: “This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” At Communion, each individual bows in front of the Blessed Sacrament before receiving Our Lord under the appearance of bread and wine.
Exposition – In some parishes, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration one day a week. People sign up for a specific hour or simply drop by whenever convenient fo r personal prayer before
the Blessed Sacrament.
Forty Hours Devotion – Forty semi-continuous hours of adoration of the Eucharist, held annually in some parishes.
Perpetual Adoration – Continuous exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the purpose of uninterrupted adoration, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Church Visit – A short visit to a church fo r the purpose of greeting the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.
Benediction – After a period of exposition and adoration, the Blessed Sacrament is used to bless the congregation. Eucharistic hymns, most often O Salutaris Hostia and Tantum E1’go, are traditionally sung.
Procession – A sacred parade in which clergy and faithful walk from one place to another, giving praise, thanks, and worship to God, especially by adoring the Blessed Sacrament.
Come, adore our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a peaceful time to be with Him and let Him be with us. He quietly waits for us. Jesus asks in the gospels, “Will you not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26-40). You can sign-up to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament one hour each week. Eucharistic Adoration begins each Friday after the 8:15 a.m. Mass and closes at 9 p.m. (7 p.m. on First Friday). Drop-ins are welcome too.