“The Eucharist is a priceless:; treasure; by not only celebratir it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enablec to make contact with the very wellspring of grace.” — Pope John Paul II OSV file photo “We have come to do him homage.” Those words, spoken by the Magi from the East as they searched for the infant Jesus, resound through the centuries to be echoed in the heart of every person who makes a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. The presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is as real today as the infant Jesus was to the Wise Men who sought Him by following a star rising in the East. As Pope John Paul 11 affirms in his encyclical on the relationship of the Eucharist to the Church, “ . . . the gaze of the Church is constantly turned to her Lord, present in the Sacrament of the Altar, in which she discov- ers the full manifestation of his boundless love.” (The Church and the Eucharist, 1 ) What Is Eucharistic Adoration? Eucharistic adoration is the act of worshiping God as He is present in the 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 taberna- cle 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 adora- tion. “Of all devotions, that of ador- ing Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.” — St. Alphonsus Liguori MONSTRANCE Sacred vessel used for the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 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 for 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 for the pur- pose of greeting the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle. Benediction— After a period of exposition and ado- ration, the Blessed Sacrament is used to bless the con- gregation. Eucharistic hymns, most often O Salutaris Hostia and Tantum Ergo, 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. History of Perpetual Adoration Although the Real Presence has been recognized since the time of the apostles, evidence shows perpetual ado- ration may have begun in the sixth century in the Cathedral of Lugo, Spain. By the twelfth century, St. Thomas a Becket is known to have prayed for King Henry II before the “majesty of the Body of Christ,” and by the sixteenth century the devotion known as forty hours had developed. In nineteenth-century France, perpetual adoration developed in communities of con- templative nuns. The devotion eventually spread to parishes throughout the world. COPE Ornate, cloak-like vestment worn over a white alb and a stole by clergy at Benediction and processions. HUMERAL VEIL Scarf-like liturgical gar- ment about eight or nine feet long and two or three feet wide, worn over the shoulders. The minister covers his hands with the ends of the veil so that it, not his hands, touches the monstrance at Benediction or during procession of the Blessed Sacrament. Things to Do During Eucharistic Adoration Fr. Benedict Groeschel points out in In the Presence of Our Lord: The History, Theology, and Psychology of Eucharistic Devotion that there are “four kinds of prayer most appropriate in the presence of the Eucharist, namely adoration and praise, thanksgiving, repentance, and trusting intercession.” Here are suggestions for what to do during private Eucharistic adoration. 1. Pray the Psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours Whether you are praising, giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, or seeking an answer, you’ll find an appro- priate psalm. The ancient prayer of the Church called the Liturgy of the Hours presents an excellent way to pray through the Book of Psalms throughout the year. 2. Recite the “Jesus Prayer” Say “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner,” repeated- ly as you quiet your heart and mind. 3. Meditate using Scripture Choose a passage from the Bible. Read the words and ask Cod to let the passage speak to you. Pay special attention to anything that strikes you and ask Cod what He wishes for you to draw from that passage. 4. Read the life ofa saint and pray with him or her Most holy men and women have had a great devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist. Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Siena, Lrancis of Assisi, Aquinas, Peter Julian Eymard, Dorothy Day, INCENSE Granulated or powdered aromatic resin that, when sprinkled on glowing coals in a censer (thuri- ble), becomes a fragrant cloud of smoke to symbolize prayer rising to God. Incense is used whenever there is Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and during processions with the Blessed Sacrament. Pope John Paul II on Eucharistic Devotion "Adoration ot^theiBlessed Sacrament is ... an important daily practice and becomes an inexhaustible source of holiness ... It is pleasant to spend time with (Christ), to lie close to his breast like the Beloved Disciple^and to feel the infinite love present in his heart.” — Pope John Paul II in The Church and the Eucharist Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and Baroness Catherine de Hueck are just a few. Read about them and pray their prayers before the Blessed Sacrament. 5. Pour out your heart to Christ and adore Him Speak to Jesus, aware that you are in His presence, and tell Him all that comes to your mind. Listen for His response. Pray the prayer that St. Francis instructed his brothers to pray whenever they were before the Blessed Sacrament: “I adore you, O Christ, present here and in all the churches of the world, for by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” 6. Ask forforgiveness and intercedefor others Think of those who have hurt you and request a spe- cial blessing for them. Ask God to forgive you for all the times you have neglected or hurt someone else. Bring before the Blessed Sacrament all those who have asked you to pray for them. Ask the Lord to address their concerns. 7. Pray the Rosary Pope John Paul II reminds us, “. . . is not the enraptured gaze of Mary as she contemplated the face of the new- born Christ and cradled him in her arms that unparal- leled model of love which should inspire us every time we receive Eucharistic communion?” {The Church and the Eucharist, 55) Ask Mary to join you as you gaze on Christ in the Eucharist and as you pray the Rosary. 8. Sit quietly andjust “be” in the presence ofGod Think of a visit to the Blessed Sacrament as coming to see your best friend. Sit quietly and enjoy being in each other’s company. Instead of talking to the Lord, try lis- tening to what He wants to tell you. Where to Go for More Information The Church and the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II, 2003 encyclical In the Presence ofOur Lord: The History, Theology, and Psychology ofEucharistic Devotion, by Father Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., and James Monti Praying in the Presence ofOur Lord, by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel Praying in the Presence ofOur Lord with the Saints, by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, G.F.R., and James Monti Praying in the Presence ofOur Lord with St. Thomas Aquinas, by Mike Aquilina Praying in the Presence ofOur Lord with Lulton }. Sheen, by Michael Dubruiel Praying in the Presence ofOur Lord for the Holy Souls, by Susan Tassone Praying in the Presence ofOur Lord with Dorothy Day, by David Scott The How-To Book of the Mass, by Michael Dubruiel Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Nos. 1322 K To find a site for adoration near you, go to: www.therealpresence.org Please see www.osv.com for additional resources or to order bulk copies of this pamphlet. OllrSunday^^itor 200 Noll Plaza • Huntington, IN 46750 1-800-348-2440 • Fax; 1-800-498-6709 • www.osv.com Inventory Number: P64 • Copyright © 2003 by Our Sunday Visitor, Inc. Product Number: 160P01