Question:
What is Eucharistic Adoration? Why is it important?
Answer:
Eucharistic adoration is when we spend time worshipping, adoring, and/or praying to our Lord as He is present in the Eucharist.
During the Mass, we have the opportunity to worship our Lord, veiled as it were, under the species of bread and wine. You may have noticed that, after the priest consecrates the bread, transforming it into Christ, he elevates it, raising it up for all to see. He does the same thing with the chalice, after consecrating the wine within it. He does this so that you can worship your Eucharistic Lord, who has just been made present by the power of the Holy Spirit and the words of consecration. This is a great high point in the Mass that we should all appreciate. At that moment, Jesus Christ is now among us, truly and substantially!! Worship and adore Him!!
While the Mass certainly affords a wonderful opportunity to adore our Lord in the Eucharist, the phrase “Eucharistic Adoration” usually refers to what takes place outside of Mass, when the Eucharistic bread alone is adored. It is either hidden in the tabernacle, or exposed in what is called a monstrance. Most monstrances look like a sunburst on a golden stand. Inside the sunburst is a glass container (called a “luna” or a “lunette”) that contains the Eucharistic bread. Being in a glass container, it can be seen by the people and thus more easily adored.
Why is Eucharistic adoration important? Essentially, Jesus awaits us in this sacrament. He longs to commune with us there. Wherever the Eucharist is, there is a place to be with our Lord and Savior. We can speak to Him there, and listen to what He longs to say to us. What wisdom can be found in the presence of our Lord!
We can fight battles there too. Eucharistic Adoration is a powerful way to atone for the evils in the world, things like abortion, murder, rape, the breakdown of the traditional family unit, and mankind’s various sexual sins. The grace and merit that comes from adoring our Eucharistic Lord is enough to overcome whatever the devil can throw at us. Atheists who say there is no God, angry people who take the Lord’s name in vain, anti-Catholics who disparage the Church are no match for one hour of heartfelt adoration of the Eucharist.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, shortly before the guards took Him away, Jesus asked the apostles to pray with Him, but they all fell asleep. His response? “Could you not but spend one hour with me?” (Mt 26:40; cf. Mk 14:37). Jesus poses the same question to you. Here at Blessed Mother Church, we have Eucharistic adoration every Friday, from 7 AM to 5 PM. I hope you will take that opportunity to come and spend some time with Jesus. You may be surprised by what awaits you there.
Peace of Christ to you,
Nicholas Hardesty,
WIMM Board Member
Director of Religious Education, Blessed Mother Catholic Church
Feel free to email your questions to nicholashardesty@gmail.com