What is Eucharistic Adoration?
Eucharist is placed in a monstrance and set on the altar for people to visit and adore. In Eucharistic Adoration, Jesus comes and sits with us. It is a chance for one-on-one, face-to-face prayer with God. For the Eucharist to be exposed continually, there must be at least one person present. That is why each hour is assigned to a specific person.
Why should you go?
Adoration is quiet prayer with Jesus who is visible, exposed and truly present. It is a statement of your faith in His true presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration is prayer. It is a very personal prayer of thanks, worship, petition. And silence. It is being with Him and listening to Him. It is an act of love for Him.
Are there any general behavioral guidelines?
Do not use electronic devices for entertainment. Limit texting to quick, necessary communication. Please keep electronic devices set to “silent”. If you are using them as prayer or focus aides, please use earbuds for listening. No food or beverages allowed in the Adoration Chapel; water is permitted, if required. Dress appropriately (i.e. modest and respectful).
When I enter and leave the chapel and the Eucharist is exposed, should I bow or genuflect?
There are many ways to be reverent and the proper etiquette for the occasion is to genuflect on one knee as you enter or leave the presence of the Holy Eucharist, just as you would when you come to Church for Mass.
What is a Guardian of the Blessed Sacrament?
A Guardian of the Blessed Sacrament is a volunteer who prays before the Blessed Sacrament for a set amount of time (usually an hour) each week. The goal is to ensure that Jesus is never left alone.
Here are some responsibilities of a Guardian of the Blessed Sacrament:
- Schedule a time: Choose a time to pray each week.
- Arrive and sign in: When it’s time, arrive at the Adoration Chapel, sign in, and stay until the next Guardian arrives.
- Communicate with other Guardians: If you can’t attend your scheduled time, ask for a substitute through the AdorationPro software.
Use the button below to link to our sign-up software and the clink the “Weekly Commitment” button OR visit our website under the Sacraments/Adoration pulldown menu OR email ciner@stjamesapostle.com
What are the chapel times?
The Sacred Heart Adoration Chapel at this stage is open Monday – Thursday 9am-4pm. You may choose to drop-in when you are able; just know you are welcome any time during open hours even if you are not scheduled to be a guardian.
Can I bring children?
Yes, children accompanied by an adult are welcome, but it’s a good idea to talk to them about the reverent environment before they come.
What should I do during Adoration?
Your Adoration time is special to you, and can be done in a variety of ways. No matter how you choose to adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, everyone should spend time focusing on Him in the Eucharist in the monstrance. Some people choose to pray the Rosary, some read and reflect on Scripture, some will sit in silence for their entire visit and let Jesus speak to them in their heart, others bring a journal and spend time in reflection. Each time you come to sit with the Lord is a unique and special time between you and Him.
Like Mass, Adoration isn’t necessarily about what we will get out of it. True, the graces dispensed by God help us grow in holiness, but the primary purpose of Adoration is right there in the name of the act: to adore the One present to us in the Eucharist.
Remember that you don’t actually have to do anything. The Catholic faith recognizes that the greatest gift God gives us is himself, and Adoration is another way for us to recognize that gift outside of receiving the Eucharist at Mass. So, don’t overthink it. Just receive the gift.
The Saints Encourage Us to Go to Adoration
“Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, ‘Lord, I am here. Tell me what you would have me to do’ . . . And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply.” – St. Catherine Labouré
“The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about an everlasting peace on earth.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta
“Know also that you will probably gain more by praying fifteen minutes before the Blessed Sacrament than by all the other spiritual exercises of the day. True, Our Lord hears our prayers anywhere, for He has made the promise, ‘Ask, and you shall receive,’ but He has revealed to His servants that those who visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament will obtain a more abundant measure of grace.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori