Louisa &Anthony

Extracted from: http://www.therealpresence.org/ and other sources

On February 24, 1980, Pope John Paul II issued the encyclical letter Dominicae Cenae (On the Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist). In that document he says of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration: “May our adoration never cease.”

On December 2, 1981, Pope John Paul II began Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. In his opening prayer, “Stay with us, Lord,” he urged all parishes to begin Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Many Bishops, throughout the United States and world, have both begun and promulgated Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition in their dioceses. By the same token, many priests in our country and across the globe have also established Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition in their Churches.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, continues to teach Perpetual Adoration, “In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering.” “With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church’s pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community” Pope Benedict XVI, February 22, 2007, Sacramentum Caritatis, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.

What will convert America and save the world?

“Perpetual Adoration with exposition needs a great push. People ask me: ‘What will convert America and save the world?’ My answer is prayer. What we need is for every Parish to come before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Hours of prayer,” Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition:

In the most simplistic sense, the reason for having Exposition of Jesus as opposed to visiting Him in the tabernacle is because it is much more Personal. If you talk to your Mother or friend you would talk to them face to face, not through a closed door.

It is much easier to spend time with Our Eucharistic Lord and to increase our belief in Him, by gazing at His Presence, and adoring Him "Face to face." One can more efficaciously be drawn into contemplation when they can gaze upon Our Eucharistic Lord.

Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up, will draw all men to myself." Through Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration with Exposition He is lifted up and will draw all unto Him, through His Eucharistic Heart.

Personal Without coming before Jesus, Our Savior, in the Blessed Sacrament in quiet moments of prayer, then we diminish our faith in His Real Presence. It’s by taking time out to be with Him in the Blessed Sacrament that this relationship with Our Lord begins to increase, and grow and blossom. If a husband and wife do not take time out to speak, to bond, to be together, that relationship is going to diminish. If they do take time out to be together it’s a sign that they value each other’s company, it’s a sign that their relationship, their friendship, their bond means so much to them. Jesus takes time out.

It is we who have the authentic answer for a personal relationship with Jesus, our Savior, because in going before Him in the Blessed Sacrament we go before Him Who is with us in person. The richer our personal relationship with Jesus our Savior is, then the more capacity we have to love each other and to be merciful and compassionate. It’s in going before the Blessed Sacrament that we take on His attributes, His qualities, whereby in seeing ourselves so much loved by Him, it gives us the capacity to love each other.

Fruitful

Bishop Sheen made a Holy Hour once a day, Pope John Paul II makes two Holy Hours every day, and Mother Teresa made three Holy Hours in the Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, every single day. And we see the fruitfulness of their lives. And that serves as a model, as an example, that our lives will be fruitful also, when we unite ourselves to the vine, Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

Community

The Lord calls us to build community and a civilization of love. But the very basic requirement of that is a healthy, happy, loving relationship with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, who said “I am the vine and you are the branches.” There is the personal relationship. “Remain in union with Me,” He’s calling us to a personal relationship. “Remain in union with Me and I will remain in union with you, for whoever remains in union with Me will bear much fruit.” And part of that fruit is the capacity to love as He loves.

Perpetual Adoration builds community. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of unity, Jesus unifying His people. Today a growing number of people feel alienated from the Church. They feel lost among the multitudes. Perpetual Adoration helps those people feel more personally involved with Christ, His Church and the People of God. Through the intimacy of quiet prayer with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, one experiences the personal love of the Savior. Through this personal love, one is more able to grasp the reality that they are one with the whole Body of Christ.

Powerful

We are beyond human solution. We need a Divine intervention. And that Divine intervention will come through the power of the Blessed Sacrament. There was a woman in the Gospel who said, “All I have to do is touch but the end of His garment and I will be healed.” And Jesus turned around and said, “Who touched Me, because I felt power coming from Me.” Those who go before the Blessed Sacrament touch the Heart of Jesus with their faith and release His power, His healing Love, His graces and blessings upon the whole world. The power, the Pope said, is this, that “anyone who goes before our Savior in the Blessed Sacrament draws the world and everybody in the world closer to Christ and lifts the whole world up to God the Father for His blessing.” That in touching the Heart of Jesus, with that act of faith you touch the heart of all humanity and every man, woman and child experiences a new effect of God’s goodness, of God’s grace, of God’s love.

Love

Perpetual Adoration lasts as long as Our Lord’s love for us in the Blessed Sacrament lasts. As long as Jesus loves us enough to want to be with us day and night, then we want to love Him enough to be with Him day and night.

Where to start at MSHJ?

Let us pray that we can spend an hour a week in silent and personal adoration. Meanwhile, it is suggested to begin with a modest start of only one hour per month, on the first Saturday of each month, of personal adoration in the chapel. Please sign up for an hour.