Here at MBVM we offer

Eucharistic Adoration

in the church

Every Thursday 

3:00-6:00 pm

Eucharistic Adoration is the act of simply being in the midst of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist – the real body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

The actual act of adoration of Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist, and giving of thanks and honor to Him through prayer is the ultimate goal of this time we spend in His presence. One of the extraordinary benefits of this posture is its invitation to gratitude and humility – an invitation to find perspective in our busy lives and open ourselves up for the possibility of peace and calm.

Although Adoration had been in practice for centuries, during the 16th century, the Council of Trent provided great clarity with this declaration:  "The only begotten Son of God is to be adored in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.  The Sacrament is to be publicly exposed for the people's adoration."

Pope John Paul II reemphasized the importance of the practice often during his papacy: "The Eucharist, in the Mass and outside of the Mass, is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, and is therefore deserving of the worship that is given to the living God, and to Him alone." Eucharistic Adoration is a beautiful, devotional practice that has endured through the ages!

Eucharistic Adoration is usually a personal, not a group, experience. During Adoration you have the opportunity to relax, pray, listen, reflect, read, to just breath – and find calm, peace and tranquility.

Some people take this time to reflect and pray about challenging situations or to simply thank God for their many blessings; others use the time to read books they’ve been meaning to get to, such as the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or other reading that enriches the "inner life." Some pray the rosary. Many do all of the above! There is no one right way to have a positive experience during Eucharistic Adoration.

The only requirement is that an attitude of reverence and humility is adopted in recognition of the Real Presence. Before seating or kneeling in a pew, genuflect to recognize Christ in your midst. What you chose to do after that – pray, read, reflect –is your personal decision and between you and our Lord!

Ideas of what you can do at Adoration

1. Slowly read Sacred Scripture until something hits you. Then listen.
2. Say the Holy Rosary.
3. If you can’t say 15 decades, say five decades.
4. If you can’t say five decades, say one decade (something like what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has mentioned)..
5. If you can’t say one decade, say one Hail Mary very slowly.
6. If you can’t say one Hail Mary, say “Holy Mary”, like a little child saying “Momma”.
7. Pray as you can, not as you can’t.
8. Look at the Good God, and let Him look at you.
9. Consider that the Sacred Body of Jesus came from Holy Mary. Thank her.
10. Tell Jesus something that made you happy. Then listen.
11. Tell Him what you are afraid of. Then listen.
12. Tell Him what angers you. Then listen.
13. Speak about your loved ones.
14. Pray for an enemy.
15. Talk with Him about work.
16. Pray to St. Joseph for a happy death.
17. Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
18. Sing a song for Him in your heart.
19. Promise to trust Him.
20. See the Blessed Virgin kneeling next to you, adoring her Son and praying with you.
21. Realise that your Holy Guardian Angel is with you. Ask him to coach you in holiness.
22. Renew your loyalty to His Church.
23. Ask your patron saint to pray for you to know and do God’s Will.
24. Lean on Him. Tell Him you love Him.
25. Thank Him for the Sacraments.
26. For a time, don’t DO anything. Be with Him, as a friend, while He works.
27. Ask Him if that is perhaps what he wants you to “do” more often.
28. Tell Him your failures. Ask for help. Then listen.
29. Slowly recite the Beatitudes.
30. Say one Our Father slowly.
31. Say the Creed slowly.
32. Slowly recite a favorite psalm. Perhaps Psalm 50 (51), the Miserere, one or two lines at a time.
33. Pray for a great love of the Cross.
34. See Our Lord in His Passion…stand there, with Him, as Our Lady does.
35. Lean into the hurricane of graces coming from the monstrance.
36. Consider the blinding Uncreated Light shining out from Him.
37. Be aware that He is sending out graces to the world right then through you.
38. Pray the ‘Jesus Prayer’: Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
39. Pray Jesus, mercy… and listen. Pray Mercy, Jesus… and listen.
40. Tell Him: Jesus, I trust in You…strengthen my trust.
41. Ask Him: Lord, what do you what me to do? And how do you want me to do it?
42. Ask Him to show you the next step.
43. Talk to Him heart to Heart.
44. Pray for the Holy Father.
45. Pray for vocations.
46. Look at yourself. Count your gifts. Then thank Him.
47. Pray for the world.
48. Enjoy just being in His Presence.