1

CONTENTS
Introduction by Bishop Anthony Fisher 1. WYD08 Eucharistic Adoration Campaign 1.1 Eucharistic Adoration and World Youth Day 1.2 Goal a weekly Holy Hour of Power 1.3 For Pastors and the leaders of young people 1.4 Before and after WYD08 P.04 P.08 5. The Ceremonies and Rituals associated with Eucharistic Adoration 5.1 Exposition of the Eucharist 5.2 Adoration of the Eucharist 5.3 Benediction of the Eucharist 5.4 Decoration of the Altar 5.5 The Practice Testimonies 6.1 Little miracles started to happen the amazing story of a parish! 6.2 A Eucharistic Chapel? An opportunity too good to refuse! 6.3 Secondary students reecting on their experience of Eucharistic Adoration 6.4 I grabbed my jacket and car keys a theologians testimony. Scripture Readings Collection of Prayers Music P.23

Publisher: WYD 2008 Copyright WYD 2008 ACN 118 060 987 as the Trustee for The World Youth Day 2008 Trust ABN 73 422 698 032, September 2007. All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described under the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Editor: WYD2008 Communications Division

2.

Why Eucharistic Adoration? P.13 2.1 The WYD08 theme 2.2 Adoration and the Sunday liturgy 2.3 Eucharistic Adoration, Christian Life and Mission 2.4 Eucharistic Adoration and Spirituality 2.5 Other forms of prayer Ten practical steps to establish a Holy Hour of P.16 Eucharistic Adoration the Holy Hour of Power 3.1 Decide to do it 3.2 Speak to others 3.3 Receive agreement 3.4 Establish a time 3.5 Create, develop or nurture a core team 3.6 Promote the opportunity 3.7 Give Catechesis on Eucharistic Adoration 3.8 Be present 3.9 Follow a format 3.10 Tell others For your Parish or community: P.20 A suggested schedule for the Holy Hour of Power

6.

P.26

3.

7. 8. 9.

P.30 P.34 P.40 P.42

Graphic Design: Catholic Communications and rebeccamdesign.com Printer: Photography: Superne Printing Co Pty Ltd WYD2008, Hamilton Lund Photography, WYD Sydney Observation Team to Cologne 2005, istockphoto.com, Brendan Read and Harvest Youth Tours

10. Want to learn more? 10.1 Websites 10.2 Utube clips 10.3 References Appendix 1 Benedict XVI On Eucharistic Adoration Appendix 2 Weekly parish inserts for Bulletins

4.

World Youth Day 2008 has made every effort to ensure the information in this publication is correct at the time of printing.

P.44 P.46

INTRODUCTION BY BISHOP ANTHONY FISHER OP COORDINATOR, WORLD YOUTH DAY 2008

I was recently in Germany to brief their bishops, youth leaders and young people about our World Youth Day plans for Sydney 2008. I was also interested to see, nearly two years on, what impact WYD05 had had on the host nation. Early days yet people said to me many seeds have been planted that will not yield fruit for a long time yet. But there are already some early signs. And they are very positive. I was taken to see one of those signs rst hand. It was called Saturday Night Fever. Once a month, in the central church in Bonn, young people gather for a night of Eucharistic Adoration and Confession with animation and street evangelisation. The animators ensure a modern style of adoration: a central monstrance sits on an altar with bolts of cloth owing from it. A spotlight focuses all eyes on the Blessed Sacrament within. There are thousands of candles all around the altar, the sanctuary steps and the pews in an otherwise darkened church. The young people sing Taize chants and other contemporary music. There are short readings from Scripture and short spontaneous prayers. All the attendees are given votive candles. Some keep them in their place; others bring their votive candles up, close to the altar, and place them there. Some drop in for just a few minutes, leave a candle and go. Others stay on until Benediction at midnight. Some receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance for the rst time in years. Others are now regulars. The Street Evangelists go around the by-ways, bars and discos nearby, inviting young people to drop in for a quick prayer or confession some time during the evening. Amazingly, many actually come! It would never have worked before World Youth Day, the enthusiastic young woman who started this movement, Katrina Fassler, told me. And its catching on. Saturday Night Fever now takes place in most big cities in Germany. Eucharistic Adoration has been one of the unexpected but enduring graces of World Youth Day since its beginnings over 20 years ago. Most of the new ecclesial movements were already enthusiasts for this devotion, but many battle-weary pastors and youth chaplains doubted it would ever catch on amongst mainstream 4 5

youth. In fact Eucharistic Adoration begun at or around World Youth Days, has helped renew young peoples enthusiasm for the celebration of Mass, its preparation through Confession and its continuation in Adoration and a Eucharistic life lived in justice and charity in the world. Their parents generation had largely given up these practices: it surprised them to nd a new generation interested, devout but doing it their own way. I remember as a pilgrim group leader and an ofcial observer at WYD05 in Cologne how struck we were by the power of young people encountering Christ in the Eucharist, praying together or alone and perhaps seeking out a confessor along the way, to draw us oldies with them. On World Youth Day 2007 we had the Franciscan rapper, Fr Stan Fortuna, perform for more than 3,000 young people on Palm Sunday in Sydney. Yet again thousands made their Confession. And yet again ordinary passers-by of an older generation were drawn into contact with Christ through them. Theres a new realism in the air: Im not perfect, it says. It does matter what I do, what Ive already done. Im OK, youre OK isnt enough anymore. I know I can hurt others, mess myself up, break up with God. But theres something I can do about it. Theres a new idealism in the air too: people can change, I can change. Gods mercy is there for me. And relief, joy, a new start. Like the Father of the Prodigal Son, God is waiting for me with arms wide open. And when God gives me a fresh start I want to thank him. I want to be with him. Sit quiet with him for a while. Kneel in adoration. Sing for joy. The candlelight, the music, the company: they tell me something of the new romance of Eucharistic Adoration. Parish priests and pastoral associates, ethnic and tertiary chaplains, youth leaders and parish councils, school teachers and others are invited to take up the challenge of our WYD08 Eucharistic Adoration Campaign and the material offered in this Kit. My thanks to those who prepared this material: I know it will do great good for some of our young people. Special thanks to those of you who will use this Kit to help bring our young people closer to God: you have here a real opportunity not only to share the grace of World Youth Day with them but to be a channel of that grace. You have an opportunity to be a living monstrance, presenting our Eucharistic Lord to the next generation!

1. WYD08 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CAMPAIGN

1.1 Eucharistic Adoration and World Youth Day
Eucharistic Adoration is one of the many ways young people have engaged with the Catholic tradition during the World Youth Days. Since the phenomenon of WYDs took off in the mid 1980s Eucharistic Adoration has become an increasingly important dimension of them and has been surprisingly well received by young people. The WYDs in Paris (1997) and Rome (2000) saw thousands stream into little and large churches and tiny chapels throughout the city to pray and sit in contemplation. Toronto (2002) established Eucharistic Adoration centres in the major exhibition place and the surrounding area where young pilgrims ocked to in the midst of the WYD hustle and bustle. The Cologne 2005 theme directly called for it with Come let us worship Him (Mt 2:2). Nearly one million people spent a period of the candlelight vigil in silence before the Blessed Sacrament in what was an incredible and unforgettable moment. Churches around the city open up for adoration in settings with beautiful music, silence and welcome. Saturday Night Fever has been a spectacular fruit of WYD05 in Cologne: Eucharistic Adoration has been one of the unexpected but enduring graces of World Youth Day since its beginnings over 20 years ago. Most of the new ecclesial movements were already enthusiasts for this devotion, but many battle-weary pastors and youth chaplains doubted it would ever catch on amongst mainstream youth. In fact Eucharistic Adoration begun at or around World Youth Days, has helped renew young peoples enthusiasm for the celebration of Mass, its preparation through Confession and its continuation in Adoration and a Eucharistic life lived in justice and charity in the world. Their parents generation had largely given up these practices: it surprised them to nd a new generation interested, devout but doing it their own way. Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, WYD08 Coordinator

1.2 Goal a Weekly Holy Hour of Power

I invite priests to encourage youth groups in this... Pope Benedict XVI, Corpus Christi 2007 Specically, the goal of the WYD08 Eucharistic Adoration campaign is to establish a minimum of one hour per week of Eucharistic Adoration in every parish, school, tertiary and ethnic chaplaincy by the time World Youth Day takes place on 15-20 July 2008. Where it already exists the goal seeks to build the intensity of the time spent in prayer, making Christ our constant focus. This Holy Hour of Power is considered a lynchpin in the preparation for WYD08 and, by establishing habits of prayer for searching young people, one of its principal legacies. Pope Benedict XVI said at Corpus Christi 2007, I would like to take the opportunity that todays solemnity offers me to strongly recommend to pastors and all the faithful, the practice of Eucharistic Adoration. I am happy to testify that many young people are discovering the beauty of adoration, whether personal or in community. I invite priests to encourage youth groups in this, but also to accompany them to ensure that the forms of adoration are appropriate and dignied, with sufcient times for silence and listening to the word of God. In life today, which is often noisy and scattered, it is more important than ever to recover the capacity for interior silence and recollection.

By proposing Eucharistic Adoration as a key way of preparing spiritually for WYD08, the WYD 2008 ofce encourages pastors to invite the youthful energies of enthusiastic representatives to do the bulk of the organisation. With the promotion and organisation taken care of, the pastors can focus on the task of the spiritual leadership of the young people in prayer, with them and for them. Users of this kit may refer also to WYD08 School Curriculum Module 3, which focuses upon Eucharistic Adoration and Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation on the WYD08 website (www.wyd2008.org) in the Australian Parishes and Schools section.

1.4 Before and after WYD08

Being introduced to the experience of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or Benediction will assist young Australian pilgrims in being able to enter more readily into the encounter with Christ, into prayer, and into contemplative silence. Eucharistic Adoration leading up to and following WYD08 will help the young people to enter more fully in the experience of the WYD08 event, and to maximise the fruitfulness of the follow up by assuming the call to be witnesses in the power of Gods Spirit. The weekly Holy Hour of Power will instigate many little miracles in the communities that respond to this call, as it is already proving in the lives of young people who are discovering it for themselves!

1.3 For Pastors and the leaders of young people

The Eucharistic Adoration campaign, and this kit, is geared principally towards priests and pastoral associates in parishes, but also youth leaders, parish councils, tertiary and ethnic chaplains and teachers in schools. In short, it is for all who have responsibility as shepherds of young people. Its purpose is to encourage the practice of Eucharistic Adoration in the parishes and other contexts, so that young people as well as their leaders may benet from this marvellous form of prayer. 10

11

2. WHY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION?

2.1 The WYD08 theme
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8) lends itself to adoration, for it is Christ present in the Eucharist who pours out the Holy Spirit into the heart of the believer. The Holy Spirit gives power to witness to Him through action in the world in daily life. Time with Christ is always time well spent. Eucharistic Adoration has been one of the unexpected but enduring graces of World Youth Day since its beginnings over 20 years ago. Most of the new ecclesial movements were already enthusiasts for this devotion, but many battle-weary pastors and youth chaplains doubted it would ever catch on amongst mainstream youth. In fact Eucharistic Adoration begun at or around World Youth Days, has helped renew young peoples enthusiasm for the celebration of Mass, its preparation through Confession and its continuation in Adoration and a Eucharistic life lived in justice and charity in the world. Their parents generation had largely given up these practices: it surprised them to nd a new generation interested, devout but doing it their own way. Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, WYD08 Coordinator

2.2 Adoration and the Sunday liturgy

The Sunday Eucharistic liturgy is the high point of the Christian week. Eucharistic adoration leads into and ows out from the Sunday Mass, helping to unite all that the Christian lives into one great act of worship. Even after the celebration of the Divine mysteries, the Lord Jesus remains living in the tabernacle, because of this he is praised, especially by Eucharistic Adoration. There is an intrinsic connection between celebration and adoration. The holy Mass, in fact, is itself the Churchs greatest act of adoration. Adoration outside of Holy Mass prolongs and intensies what happened in the liturgical celebration and renders a true and profound reception of Christ possible. Pope Benedict XVI on Corpus Christi 2007.

12

13

2.3 Eucharistic Adoration, Christian Life and Mission

Eucharistic Adoration is time spent in the presence of Jesus, the Divine Physician who heals, the Light who enlightens, the Vine who gives life to the branches. Time spent with Him transforms us so that our hearts become like His. We approach Him in response to His call, and he equips us and sends us out to others, in and through our work, in our families, amongst our friends and communities. The Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus to the Christian and it helps the Christian to be really present to others, providing material and human help for those in need. A genuinely adoring heart necessarily is transformed into a compassionate heart, which acts with a concrete expression of Christs love for the neighbour, especially the poor. The deepest need of every human heart is to know the good news of the mercy of God. Eucharistic Adoration enames the Christian to go out and to give witness to the hope that faith brings, it leads and pushes the Christian to evangelise. It stirs up the grace inherent of baptism to take up the missionary call to Christianise the world. It is in Eucharistic Adoration that the Christian can live the WYD08 theme, for it is there that the Eucharistic Christ pours out the Spirit of Power to make witnesses and saints for the third millennium. The experience and value of adoration should lead to a renewed life of mission and witness to Christ. Fr Peter Williams, Director of Liturgy, WYD 2008.

Many of the mystics in the tradition of the Church spent substantial regular time in Eucharistic Adoration. All of the mystical visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus given to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century took place while she was in the presence of the exposed Blessed Sacrament. Short visits to the tabernacle also play an important role. Jesus instructed St Faustina, the recipient of the Divine Mercy revelation of the rst half of the 20th Century, to step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of Mercy. Immersion in the Word of God, the teaching of the Church and the lives of saints is a crucial dimension of nourishing the spiritual life in an authentic manner by guiding the contemplative prayer of Christians. It is necessary to keep in mind when helping young people to grow in prayer that, as St Therese of Lisieux said, There is a unique way of holiness for each person. Blessed Mother Teresa said The Cross reminds me of how much Jesus loved me; the Blessed Sacrament reminds me how much Jesus loves me. Other examples of mystics who immersed themselves in Eucharistic adoration include people such as Thomas Aquinas, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales, Padre Pio, Dorothy Day, Teresa of Calcutta and Oscar Romero.

2.5 Other forms of prayer

All prayer is good as it brings communion with God and helps the Christian to grow in holiness. Reading and meditating on the Word of God, Stations of the Cross, Rosary, Divine Ofce, singing praise, prayers of supplication or thanks, praying in the Spirit, Divine Mercy Chaplet, sitting in silence and spiritual journal writing are all examples of forms of prayer.

2.4 Eucharistic Adoration and Spirituality

What has been very clear from numerous independent studies conducted over the past two decades is the fact that young people are searching for spirituality, even if they often dont see that religion has a place in their lives. Eucharistic Adoration provides for the Church, along with the Divine Liturgy, a central means in which young people can enter into the mystical life for which they are created by God.

14

15

3. TEN PRACTICAL STEPS TO ESTABLISHING A HOLY HOUR

3.1 Decide to do it 3.2 Speak to others
If you are a priest, consult and communicate your decision to other key members of the parish (e.g. Parish Council, Pastoral Associate) or of the chaplaincy. If you are a teacher, you will need to speak to the school chaplain and the school leadership (e.g. Principal, Faith Development Co-ordinator), as well as the parish priest. If you are a parishioner, young or old, you will need to go to your priest or pastoral associate.

3.3 Receive Agreement

The bishop, priest or deacon is the Ordinary Minister of the Eucharist and must authorise Eucharistic Adoration, even if circumstances require an Acolyte or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion to expose and/or repose the Blessed Sacrament.

3.4 Establish a time

Determine an hour in the week that can be regularly attended by your group of young people and at which you can be present. Evenings during the week for parishes are less likely to be bumped by weekend activities, e.g. Thursday night from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Lunch period is good for schools and universities, as is late afternoon for the universities. Where possible and appropriate, determine this time in discussion with young people.

16

17

3.5 Create, develop or nurture a core team

If no core team exists, enlist a few enthusiastic people into a team to plan, promote and participate in the Eucharistic Adoration, whether in a parish, school or in other settings. If a group does exist, develop and nurture it for this purpose. Articulating the reasons why adoration is worth doing is a vital component in convincing people. The person who already spends time in adoration will generally speak with more conviction than the one who doesnt. A willingness to try is not a bad starting point.

3.8 Be present
If you are a priest or deacon, acolyte or Extraordinary Minister, expose the Blessed Sacrament and spend the time in prayer with the young people. If you are a teacher or youth leader, also spend the time. Priests can make themselves available for counsel or the Sacrament of Penance.

3.9 Follow a format

It is good to use a few meditative songs which focus those present on Christ, at least at the beginning and end (refer to section 8 for examples). A few well chosen scripture readings will help those present to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christs presence and love (refer to section 7). Periods of silence are essential for contemplation. Set prayers such as those in sections 4 and 8 may be used or spontaneous intercessions which are Christ centred will help the young people to focus their attention.

3.6 Promote the opportunity

Make known to all the key players in your parish or school or organisation that such an opportunity of prayer exists. Send email blasts, create posters, send yers. Use the weekly parish inserts (see Appendix 2) in your various communications to help people understand the value of adoration. Speaking to people one on one is the best form of promotion. Nothing can substitute a personal invitation.

3.10 Tell others

Eucharistic Adoration is always a graced experience, even if the person doesnt always feel it. Invite others to come. Trust that God will bring the increase. Believe that it is not wasted time but is actually a Holy Hour of Power.

3.7 Give Catechesis on Eucharistic Adoration

Give a teaching or reection about the content and value of Eucharistic Adoration from experience, scripture, church teaching, and the lives of saints. Use the quotes of the weekly parish inserts to provide ongoing formation through the parish or school or group bulletin. Where possible, link the catechesis with the adoration time. Obtain capable and reliable speakers if a homily or meditation is on your program.

18

19

4. FOR YOUR PARISH OR COMMUNITY: A SUGGESTED SCHEDULE FOR THE HOLY HOUR OF POWER
Exposition and Incense (5 minutes)
Scripture John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my esh for the life of the world. Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal Son of God made man, you come to us now from God our Father so humbly in the form of bread. You are truly present. You remain with us in this sacrament so that we can be lifted to heaven. Living Bread, nourish us for this life and all its daily needs, and may our Sunday communion with you extend your mission in the world. Lord Jesus we love you. Song Watch and Pray (Taize) Silence (10 minutes) Song Ubi Caritas (Taize) Silence (10 minutes)

Theme: Spirit (5 minutes)

Scripture John 7:37-38 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the Scripture has said, From his heart shall ow rivers of living water. Prayer Lord Jesus, you allowed your heart to be pierced on the cross to reveal the innite love of the Father, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Send us your Spirit that we might be your witnesses in the world today. Come Holy Spirit. Song Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taize) Silence (10 minutes) Benediction (10mins) Cope and humeral veil (special vestments worn by the priest or deacon) Collect for Corpus Christi Divine Praises The priest or deacon in silence makes the sign of the cross with the monstrance over the people Song Laudate Dominum (Taize) If there is no priest or deacon, the Acolyte or Extraordinary Minister returns the host to the place of reservation. 21

Theme: Love (5 minutes)

Scripture John 13:6-9 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus answered, You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand. Peter said to him, You will never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, you have no share with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head! Prayer Lord Jesus, you came to us not to be served but to serve. In your presence we are being washed by your love. We desire to receive your healing, mercy and strength. We open our hearts to you and all that needs washing. 20

5. THE CEREMONIES AND RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

5.1 Exposition of the Eucharist
The ceremony or action in which a priest or deacon, acolyte or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (authorised lay person) removes the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle and places it on the altar for adoration exposed in a monstrance (a special container or vessel for displaying the Sacrament) or the pyx or ciborium (the containers in which the Sacrament is normally stored).

5.2 Adoration of the Eucharist

Worship, praise and honour given to Christ present in the Eucharist outside the time of Mass; it can vary in the amount of time and the way the time of prayer is organised (ie use of music, lighting, hymns, scripture readings, psalms and other prayers, acts of adoration).

There are a range of forms that Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament may take:
A simple visit to the Blessed Sacrament Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament exposed for a period of time Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour Eucharistic Vigil

5.3 Benediction of the Eucharist

This term comes from the Latin benedictio meaning blessing. During Benediction the priest or deacon silently makes a solemn blessing of the people with the consecrated host contained in the monstrance. Until recent times, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was a regular Sunday evening rite in many Catholic churches in Australia. Eucharistic Adoration is enjoying something of a comeback at present around Australia and elsewhere, though often in new forms and expressions. 22 23

5.4 Decoration of the Altar

Use the colour of the liturgical season or a special gold or white cloth to decorate the area where the ciborium or monstrance is to be placed. Use an altar on which to place the ciborium and monstrance. Set up a series of shelves on which to place the Blessed Sacrament, incense container, candles, owers and icon. Always remember the focus is the Blessed Sacrament. Use candles, soft lighting and a spotlight on the monstrance. Ensure an atmosphere of prayer and reverence at all times.

5.5 The Practice

As the Eucharist is so closely associated with his ofce, it is essential to consult the parish priest or chaplain before exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Adoration. The Host should be consecrated in the Mass which precedes Exposition (see Eucharistic Worship Outside Mass in The Rites of the Catholic Church Volume 1, n 94) or is brought by the cleric or extraordinary minister, perhaps accompanied by servers, from the place of reservation (see Eucharistic Worship Outside Mass in The Rites of the Catholic Church Volume 1, n 93). When a priest or deacon is not available, an acolyte, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or another person appointed by the local Ordinary may publicly expose and later repose the Eucharist for the Adoration of the faithful (see Eucharistic Worship Outside Mass in The Rites of the Catholic Church Volume 1, n 91). All honour the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament by a doublegenuection, going down on both knees and bowing. Parishioners may need to be introduced to the practice of genuection in advance. All begin by kneeling, and then may sit. Continue to play sacred music. Ensure substantial time is given to silence.

24

25

6. TESTIMONIES
6.1 Little miracles started to happen The amazing story of a parish!
The idea of Adoration at St Thomas Beckett Catholic Church began through the inspiration of a Catholic Church in the suburb of Duluch in South Australia. It was started by retired lay people and a wonderful parish priest, Monsignor Atkin. We had Adoration going all Friday night. Through our adoration many young people come back to their faith! On 4th August 2001 we began by having adoration all night on Fridays. Many people who signed up didnt have a prayer life or even know what adoration was! People would come in off the street just to sit in the church. Little miracles started to happen. One lady used to do the early hours and she asked her husband to join her; he only went to keep her safe. He was not into the Catholic Church and their daughter had left the church to go to Hillsong, Whilst sitting in adoration his faith started to come to life. His wife convinced him to go on a pilgrimage and now he is full on in his faith and they have started up adoration in another church. After adoration started at our parish we started getting young people come to help out with parish initiatives. People were turning up from all over the place! Our Wednesday prayer group grew and people began being formed in their faith. A youth group was started and young people who were never in the parish were appearing. They started wanting to sit with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Through the gift of adoration the Immaculata Community began to develop. Our aim became parish revival through adoration and formation, which was led through the Heart of Mary and the intercession of all the Saints and Angels. Out of this came many vocations, four marriages within our community and many more through young people sitting and listening to Gods voice. There have also been many religious vocations with three known cases of men joining the seminary and possibly more unknown. 26

The greatest miracles of all have been the healings in many families: parents who were gamblers stopped their addictions; there were emotional healings for our whole community. There is currently a Protestant couple that have signed up for adoration and they spend hours each week with Jesus! So many people have come back to their faith. Marriages have been healed, not to mention the fact that 12 young people were able to go to World Youth Day Toronto 2002 by praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. A total of $37,000 was donated towards their costs. We recently had a miracle through adoration where a parishioner was doing her Holy hour, which she does every Monday. She started praying to Jesus and crying out to Him, asking for her relative, who is a Nun, to be healed from three blocked arteries in her heart. On the Wednesday she went to the hospital to have the operation and the doctor said that he did not have to operate because the arteries were not blocked anymore. He also said that there has been a miracle. Jesus cannot be outdone in generosity! Our dream is to have perpetual adoration. We pray that Gods will be done during WYD08. Putting Jesus at the centre by acknowledging the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the beginning of opening up new life: acknowledge Him and He will acknowledge us.

Also the opportunity of a place of such comfort, direction and peace provides those who use it with an oasis of prayer which is readily accessible as needed. Chapels which are available for 24 hours are especially valuable. Over the years, any number of chapel visitors have told me of how much they have valued the time sometimes short and spasmodic, sometimes lengthy and regular to be in the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. For some, it has been a life-changing experience, a place where critical, pivotal decisions have been worked through with the best Counsellor anywhere. For nearly all, there has been the opportunity for the deepening of a faith they may have well taken for granted, at least to some extent. Any parish which attempts to establish a Eucharistic Chapel will be undertaking a project with the potential to give a new and magnicent Christ-centred direction to the entire life of the parish. Fr Kevin Dillon, St Mary of the Angels Basilica, Geelong Victoria

Having Adoration made my focus on the Eucharist stronger. It was amazing how everyone looked at it and it helps you to focus on what it is. You can pray and you can reect. Sonja During Eucharistic Adoration, I found myself more in tune with my faith and asking myself, how can I further show my love for God? Being with people as young as I am and seeing their deep faith was really a cleansing feeling. Sarah During a recent experience of Eucharistic Adoration, we had the opportunity to light our own candle, and to pray for a personal intention. This created a whole spread of lights in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Taking part in Eucharistic Adoration was just an amazing time of being together with other young people and a great opportunity to strengthen my relationship with God. Levia At a recent youth festival, we had time for personal reection and to rebuild our relationship with God. We took part in Eucharistic Adoration where the Blessed Sacrament was placed on the altar, enabling us to enhance our connection with God and benet through this spiritual experience. This was a new experience for me which I felt was benecial and should take place more often as I left at peace with myself after this experience.

6.3 Secondary school students reecting on their experience of Eucharistic Adoration

Joseph Having experienced Eucharistic Adoration, the Mass is now different for me personally. I no longer go to Church out of routine. It actually means more and I can relate better to God through man. Troy Eucharistic Adoration is like a silent hymn. You can sit there and everybody is praying together. It brings us closer to Christ. It unies people from different nations as well. Tiffany In Eucharistic Adoration, its amazing having that intimacy with the Body of Christ. You just want to tell everyone about it. Simone Attending the WYD Mass made my focus on the Eucharist become a lot more real. I didnt really understand what the Eucharist meant to me until I experienced it with the Pope, and with so many other people.

6.2 A Eucharistic Chapel? An opportunity too good to refuse!

In both my previous parish (St Johns, Mitcham), and my current parish (St Marys Geelong), the establishment of a Eucharistic Chapel with Perpetual Adoration has been an extraordinarily powerful element of spiritual vitality. Both chapels are still operating effectively, with regular and devoted attendees. Sure, its not as easy as one might hope generating sufcient interest and prayerful awareness to ensure these chapels have a constant attendance, and commitment needs to be revved up every so often. But its well worth it! These chapels draw people from the surrounding region who nd the availability of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament extremely helpful in their busy and often stress-lled lives.

6.4 I grabbed my jacket and car keys a theologians testimony.

Almost every Monday, very late at night, I grab my jacket and car keys and drive through dark, deserted streets to reach the parking lot of my parish church. St Peters has a special entrance, never closed, that gives people round-the-clock access to a basement chapel. It is an Adoration chapel that is, a sanctuary for the sort of praise, petition, and confession that we may address only to God. This basement room is specically suited for Adoration, and not just because God is in every place and this is a quiet place. This chapel is right for Adoration because God is here, sacramentally present. In the Adoration chapel, worshippers may, at any hour of the day or night, gaze upon 27

the Eucharist, exposed in a golden monstrance. And there is Jesus: purest white against the most radiant gold. There to use the language of devotional love is His real presence in the Blessed Sacrament: body, blood, soul, and divinity. Its my custom to spend an hour in this chapel once a week. Tradition calls such a time of prayer, spent before the Blessed Sacrament, a holy hour. I love those hours. They are blissfully unguarded moments. In the silence, I pour out my heart to Jesus. I read the Scriptures in the company of their author. I read my own writings to Him, too, from rough drafts or from my journals. I tell Jesus about each of my children one by one. I ask Him what I need to change in my life, so that I may serve them and serve Him better. I ask Him to give me courage to face the trials that inevitably come to my life. And I wait quietly for His word. Holy hours are my oases of peace and joy, and much needed moments of purity. They are times when I am most myself, because I know that I can hide nothing not my sins, my desires, or my motives from God, Who is really present with me. If the Eucharist is my covenant oath, then my holy hour is the time I contemplate that oath with all its promise and with all its demands. It is a fearful thing, a thrilling thing, (did I really once believe the sacraments were boring?) Scott Hahn, Swear to God, The Promise and Power of the Sacraments

28

29

7. SCRIPTURE READING FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS
Genesis 14: 18-20 Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15 Deuteronomy 8: 2-3 1 Samuel 3.10 1 Kings 19: 4-8 Psalm 26.8 Psalm 42.1 Psalm 46.10 Psalm 63.2 Proverbs 9: 1-6 The high priest brought bread and wine. This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord God has made with you. He gave you food which you and your ancestors did not know. Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Strengthened by the food, he walked to the mountain of the Lord. O Lord, I love the house where you dwell, the place where your glory abides. As a deer yearns for running streams, so I yearn for you, my God. Be still and know that I am God I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory. Come and eat my bread, drink the wine I have prepared for you.

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS

Matthew 2:10-12 Matthew 6:6 Matthew 11:28-30 Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26 Luke 2: 20 Luke 9: 11b-17 Luke 24: 13-35 John 6: 1-15 John 6: 24-35 John 6: 41-51 John 6: 41-58 John 7:37-39 John 15: 4-9 John 21: 1-14 Acts 10: 34a; 37-43 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 Hebrews 9: 11-15 Hebrews 12: 18-19:22-24 1 Peter 1: 17-21 The wise men saw the child with Mary his mother and they knelt down and paid him homage. ..when you pray, go to your private room...and pray to your Father who is in that secret place..... Come to me all of you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens; I will give you rest. This is my body. This is my blood. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. All the people ate and were satised. They recognised him in the breaking of the bread. They gave the people all the food they wanted. If you come to me you will never be hungry. Those who believe in me will never thirst. I am the living bread from heaven. My esh and blood are true food and drink. Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Remain in my love. Jesus took the bread and gave it to them. After he was raised from the dead, we ate and drank with him. Though we are many, we are one bread and one body. Each time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord Jesus. The blood of Christ puries our hearts from sin. Jesus brings you to the Father by shedding his blood for you. You have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

30

31

8. COLLECTION OF PRAYERS
To Jesus hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament - St Faustina Kowalska
I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my souls recognises its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.

Journal of a Soul - Blessed John XXIII

O Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I would like to be lled with love for You; keep me closely united with You, may my heart be near to Yours. I want to be to You like the apostle John. O Mary of the Rosary, keep me recollected when I say these prayers of yours; bind me forever, with your rosary, to Jesus of the Blessed Sacrament. Blessed be Jesus, my love.

Acts of Faith, Hope and Love

O my God, I rmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because you revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. O my God, relying on your innite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and I ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

32

33

Prayer to the Blessed Sacrament, St. Thomas Aquinas

Holy Jesus, who are truly hidden here; grant me to desire ardently, to search prudently, to know truly and to carry out perfectly in praise and glory of your holy name everything that pleases you. Command, O my God, the state of my life; grant that I may know what you want and that I carry out what is proper and needed for my soul. Grant me, O Lord my God, that I never fail between prosperities and adversities, so that I dont become proud in the one nor dejected in the other. That I may not have joy nor sorrow, except from what takes me to You, or takes me away from You. That I desire to please or displease no one except You. May all transitory things be vile to me, but very precious the eternal ones. May I dislike, Lord, all joy without You, and may I not be ambitious about anything outside of You. And may become pleasant to me any work for You, and disgusting my rest without You. 34

Give me O my God, that I may lift my heart to You frequently and with fervour, that I do everything with love, that I take for dead anything that does not belong to your service, that I do things not out of routine but referring them to You with devotion. Make me O Jesus, my love, my life: obedient without contradiction, poor without degradation, chaste without corruption, patient without dissipation, mature without afiction, diligent without inconsistency, in awe of You without desperation, true without bending. Make that I practice what is good without presumption, that I correct my neighbour without pride, that I build with words and deeds without falsehood. Give me O Lord my God, a vigilant heart that does not go away from You for a curious thought; give me a noble heart that does not deviate for any sinister intention; give me a rm heart that does not break for any tribulation; give me a free heart that will not be dominated by any violent passion. Grant me Lord God, understanding to know You, diligence to search for You, wisdom to nd You, behaviour that You will be pleased with, perseverance that hopefully will wait for you,

and hope, that nally will embrace You. Grant that I may be aficted by sorrows here as penance, and in the way of my life I use your benets for grace, and that in Heaven be happy with your joys for glory. Lord, You that live and reign, God forever and ever. Amen.

this Sacrament from all Your enemies; third, I intend by this visit to adore You in all the places on earth in which You are present in this Sacrament and in which You are the least honored and the most abandoned. My Jesus, I love You with my whole heart. I am sorry for having offended Your innite goodness so many times. I purpose, with the help of Your grace, never more to offend You; and, at this moment, miserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to You. I give You my entire will, all my affections and desires and all that I have. From this day forward, do what You will with me and with everything that belongs to me. I ask and desire only Your holy love, the gift of nal perseverance and the perfect fulllment of Your will. I commend to You the souls in Purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and I also commend to You all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Saviour, I unite all my affections with the affections of Your most loving Heart; and thus united, I offer them to Your Eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Your Name and for Your sake, to accept and answer them. Amen. 35

To Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - St. Alphonsus Liguori

My Lord Jesus Christ, Who, through the love which You bear toward all people, does remain with them day and night in this Sacrament, full of mercy and love, awaiting, inviting and receiving all who come to visit You, I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the abyss of my nothingness, I adore You. I thank You for all the graces which You have bestowed upon me, particularly for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given my Your most holy Mother Mary for my advocate, and for having called me to visit You in this place. I pay my homage to Your most loving Heart for these three ends: rst, in thanksgiving for this great Gift; second, to make amends to You for all the outrages which You do receive in

Prayer of St Claude de La Colombiere SJ

O Jesus, teach me perfect self-forgetfulness, since that is the only way by which anyone can enter into You.

Fatima Prayers
Most Holy Trinity I adore you. My God, My God, I love you in the most Blessed Sacrament. Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly and offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world today, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference with which He Himself is offended. And through the innite merits of His most Sacred Heart and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.

Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I rmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

O Sacrament Most Holy

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen

The Last Word

Jesus, I must soon leave You, but I carry away with me the memory of Your love which is an inspiration to come and visit You again in the Most Blessed Sacrament very soon. Until my next visit, I leave my heart, in spirit, before Your Eucharistic Presence. Let its every beat tell You how much I love You and that I am longing to soon be in Your Presence again. Bless me before I go, dear Jesus. Bless my home and all my undertakings. Bless my family and friends and bless, also, my enemies.

36

Adoration Christ and St John Icon. Image courtesy of Benedictine Convent of the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

37

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

Benediction, Corpus Christi Collect

At the conclusion of the Lords prayer the priest of deacon goes to the altar, genuects, and then kneels before the exposed Sacrament. A suitable Eucharistic song is then sung. Meanwhile, the priest or deacon while kneeling incense the Blessed Sacrament. After the incensation, the priest or deacon rises and sings or says the following prayer, or another prayer from Appendix II. Note: A presiding minister who is the lay person omits the incensation and, kneeling before the exposed Sacrament, sings or says the prayer. Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body of blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. All: Amen.

Pardon Prayer
My God, I believe, I adore, I trust and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love Thee.

38

39

9. MUSIC
Suitable reective sacred music which is Christ-centered is recommended as follows:

Hymns for the Eucharist

Bread for the World; Broken; Come to the Water; I am the Bread of Life; I Have Loved you; One Bread One Body; We Remember. See http://www.adoremus.org/EucharisticAdoration.html He is Alive, 2002 Edition Song Book. For copies contact: avmlib@wanadoo.fr or lmanchon@emmanuel-info.com

Hymns for Benediction and Eucharistic Adoration

Jesus Send Your Spirit Lord; Down in Adoration (Tantum Ergo); Soul of my Saviour; O Saving Victim; Sweet Sacrament Divine; Godhead Here in Hiding.

Taize Chants
O Lord Hear My Prayer; Eat This Bread; Jesus Remember Me; Watch and Pray.

Reective Music
Music for Contemplative Worship by Margaret Rizza

40

41

10. WANT TO LEARN MORE?

10.1 Websites
These websites may be of assistance in providing further background on Eucharistic Adoration and in developing methods and strategies for Eucharistic Adoration:

10.2 YouTube clips on Eucharistic Adoration www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fNABGAbUbE

Streets of NYC Adoration, Vocation

www.childrenofhope.org
Promoting Eucharistic Adoration for Children

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ4tEFPuhYI
You are my God, Father Stan

www.concordiaministries.net/adoration.htm
On The Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdiolzhztIs&mode=related&search=
Father Stan School of the Eucharist

www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/a.html
Perpetual Adoration Manual for all you need to know about Adoration and how to get it started in your parish; Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass

10.3 References
The Holy See Catechism of the Catholic Church, St Pauls Publications, Stratheld NSW, 1994 Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass The Rites of the Catholic Church (Vol 1) Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1990 McCarthy C (ed) WYD08 Children of Hope I the Lord Am With You Always, McPhersons Printing Group, Sydney, 1999 & 2003 Curriculum Module 3, Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and the Prayer of Eucharistic Adoration WYD08, 2007 Children of Hope Leaders Manual, Brothers Oblates of St. John 2002. Hahn, Scott Hahn Swear to God, The Promise and Power of the Sacraments Doubleday, 2004

www.carr.org/~meripper/faith/benedict.htm
Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction

www.taize.fr
Taize prayer, songs

http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/prayer.html#Texts
Classic texts in Prayer and Spirituality from the Catholic Tradition

www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm www.medjugorje.org/adore.htm www.monksofadoration.org/ www.theworkofgod.org/Prayers/eucharistic_prayers.htm www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/archbishop/reections/archvol15i13.htm www.seadoration.org/

Society of Eucharistic Adoration

42

43

APPENDIX 1 BENEDICT XVI ON EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Important to Recover the Capacity for Interior Silence Vatican City, June 10, 2007- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today to the crowds gathered in St Peters Square when he led the praying of the midday Angelus. Dear Brothers and Sisters! Todays solemnity of Corpus Domini, which in the Vatican and other nations was already celebrated this past Thursday, invites us to contemplate the great mystery of our faith: the most holy Eucharist, the real presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the altar. Every time that the priest renews the Eucharistic sacrice, in the prayer of consecration he repeats: This is my body ... this is my blood. He does this giving his voice, his hands, and his heart to Christ, who wanted to remain with us as the beating heart of the Church. But even after the celebration of the divine mysteries, the Lord Jesus remains living in the tabernacle; because of this he is praised, especially by Eucharistic adoration, as I wished to recall in the recent postsynodal apostolic exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis (cf. Nos. 66-69). Indeed, there is an intrinsic connection between celebration and adoration. The holy Mass, in fact, is in itself the Churchs greatest act of adoration: No one eats this food, St. Augustine writes, if he has not rst worshipped it (Commentary on Psalm 98:9; CCL XXXIX, 1385). Adoration outside holy Mass prolongs and intensies what happened in the liturgical celebration and renders a true and profound reception of Christ possible. Today, then, in all Christian communities, there is the Eucharistic procession, a singular form of public adoration of the Eucharist, enriched by beautiful and traditional manifestations of popular devotion. I would like to take the opportunity that todays solemnity offers me to strongly 44 recommend to pastors and all the faithful the practice of Eucharistic Adoration. I express my appreciation to the institutes of consecrated life, as also to the associations and confraternities that dedicate themselves to this practice in a special way. They offer to all a reminder of the centrality of Christ in our personal and ecclesial life. I am happy to testify that many young people are discovering the beauty of adoration, whether personal or in community. I invite priests to encourage youth groups in this, but also to accompany them to ensure that the forms of adoration are appropriate and dignied, with sufcient times for silence and listening to the word of God. In life today, which is often noisy and scattered, it is more important than ever to recover the capacity for interior silence and recollection: Eucharistic Adoration permits one to do this not only within ones I but rather in the company of that You full of love who is Jesus Christ, the God who is near us. May the Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Woman, lead us into the secret of true adoration. Her heart, humble and silent, was always recollected around the mystery of Jesus, in whom she worshipped the presence of God and his redemptive love. By her intercession may there grow faith in the Eucharistic mystery, the joy of participating at holy Mass, especially on Sunday, and the desire to bear witness to the immense charity of Christ. I greet the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims who have gathered here for the Angelus. On this day, many are celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi, the feast of the Most Holy Eucharist. We give thanks to God for the great gift of the Eucharist, the sacred banquet in which we receive Christ. We remember his sufferings, our minds are lled with his grace and we receive a pledge of the glory that is to be ours. I pray that all of you may grow in love for the Lord through the great sacrament of his Body and Blood. May God bless you all.
Footnote: Courtesy of zenit.org

45

APPENDIX 2 WEEKLY PARISH INSERTS FOR BULLETINS

16 September 2007 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1. You are greatly needed! The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic Adoration. (Pope John Paul II, The Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist).

4 November, 2007 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

8. The best time you spend on earth is with Jesus, your best friend, in the Blessed Sacrament! How great is the value of conversation with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, for there is nothing more consoling on earth, nothing more efcacious for advancing along the road of holiness! (Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of Faith)

2 December 2007 1st Sunday of Advent

12. If the Pope himself would give you a special invitation to visit him in the Vatican, this honor would be nothing in comparison to the honor and dignity that Jesus Himself bestows upon you with the Invitation of spending one hour with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. The Divine Eucharist bestows upon the Christian people the incomparable dignity. (Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of Faith)

14 October 2007 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5. Day and night Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament because you are the most important person in the world to Him! Christ is reserved in our churches as the spiritual center of the heart of the community, the universal Church and all humanity, since within the veil of the species, Christ is contained, the Invisible Heart of the Church, the Redeemer of the world, the center of all hearts, by Him all things are and of whom we exist. (Pope Paul IV, The Mystery of Faith).

11 November 2007 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

9. Just as you cant be exposed to the sun without receiving its rays, neither can you come to Jesus exposed in the Blessed Sacrament without receiving the Divine Rays of His Grace, His Love & His Peace. Christ is truly Emmanuel, which means God with us. For He is in the midst of us day and night; He dwells in us with the fullness of grace and of truth. He raises the level of morals, fosters virtue, comforts the sorrowful, strengthens the weak. (Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of Faith).

9 December 2007 2nd Sunday of Advent

1. He is really there! I myself Am the Living Bread come down from Heaven. (Jn 6:51).

23 September 2007 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

2. This is a personal invitation to you from Jesus. Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. (Pope John Paul II, The Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist).

16 December 2007 3rd Sunday of Advent

2. Day and night Jesus dwells in the Blessed Sacrament because of his Innite love for you! Behold I will be with you always even to the end of the world, because I have loved you with an everlasting love, and constant is My affection for you. (Mt 28:20; Jer 31:3).

30 September 2007 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

3. Jesus is counting on you because the Eucharist is the center of life. Every member of the Church must be vigilant in seeing that the sacrament of Love shall be at the center of the life of the people of God so that through all the manifestations of worship due Him shall be given back love for love and truly become the life of our souls. (Pope John Paul II, Redeemer of Man).

21 October 2007 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

6. Jesus wants you to do more than to go to Mass on Sunday. Our communal worship at Mass must go together with our personal worship of Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration in order that our love may be complete. (Pope John Paul II, Redeemer of Man).

18 November 2007 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

10. If Jesus were actually visible in church, everyone would run to welcome Him, but He remains hidden in the Sacred Host under the appearance of Bread, because He is calling us to faith, that we may come to Him in humility. The Blessed Sacrament is the Living Heart of each of our churches and it is our very sweet duty to honor and adore the Blessed Host, which our eyes see, the Incarnate Word, Whom they cannot see. (Pope Paul VI, Credo of the People of God). The Divine Eucharist bestows upon the Christian people the incomparable dignity. (Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of Faith).

23 December 2007 4th Sunday of Advent

3. The specic way that Jesus asks you to love Him in return is to spend one quiet hour with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Where your treasure is, there is your heart.... Could you not watch one hour with Me? (Mt 6:21; 26:40).

28 October 2007 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

7. You grow spiritually with each moment you spend with Jesus! Our essential commitment in life is to preserve and advance constantly in Eucharistic life and Eucharistic piety and to grow spiritually in the climate of the Holy Eucharist. (Pope John Paul II, Redeemer of Man).

7 October 2007 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4. Your hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament will repair for evils of the world and bring about peace on earth. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Jesus and ready to make reparation for the great evils of the world. Let your adoration never cease. (Pope John Paul II, The Mystery and Worship of the Eucharist).

25 November 2007 Christ the King

11. With transforming mercy, Jesus makes our heart one with His. He proposes His own example to those who come to Him, that all may learn to be like Himself, gentle and humble of heart, and to seek not their own interest but those of God. (Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of Faith)

30 December 2007 5th Sunday of Advent

4. When you look upon the Sacred Host, you look upon Jesus, the Son of God. Indeed, this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life. Him I will raise up on the last day. (Jn 6:40)

46

47

6 January 2008
5. Each moment that you spend in His Eucharistic Presence will increase His Divine Life within you and deepen your personal relationship and friendship with Him. I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly. I am the Vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me and I in Him shall bear much fruit because without Me, you can do nothing. (Jn 10:10; 1 Peter 5:7; Jn 14:27)

10 February 2008
10. Each hour you spend with Jesus on earth will leave your soul everlastingly more beautiful and glorious in heaven! They who humble themselves shall be exalted.... All of us, gazing on the Lords glory with unveiled faces, are being transformed from glory to glory into His very image. (Lk 18:14; 2Cor 3:18)

23 March 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints And just as He appeared before the holy Apostles in true esh, so now He has us see Him in the Sacred Bread. Looking at him with the eyes of their esh, they saw only His Flesh, but regarding Him with the eyes of the spirit, they believed that He was God. In like manner, as we see bread and wine with our bodily eyes, let us see and believe rmly that it is His Most Holy Body and Blood, True and Living. For in the way our Lord is ever present among those who believe in him, according to what He said: Behold, I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world.(Mt 28:20) St Francis of Assisi

20 April 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying : This is My Body. No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it. St Augustine

27 April 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence. St Francis De Sales

17 February 2008
11. Jesus will bless you, your family and the whole world for this hour of faith you spend with Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Blessed are they who do not see and yet believe... (Jn 20:29; Mk 11:23; Mk 5:36; Rev 21:5)

13 January 2008
6. Each hour you spend with Jesus will deepen His Divine Peace in your heart. Come to Me all of you who are weary and nd life burdensome and I will refresh you... Cast all of your anxieties upon the One who cares for you... My Peace is My Gift to you. (Mt 11:28; 5:7; Jn 14:17)

24 February 2008
12. Each moment you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament brings joy, pleasure, and delight to His Sacred Heart! I found delight in sons of men. (Prov 8:31)

30 March 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints In each of our lives Jesus comes as the Bread of Life to be eaten, to be consumed by us. This is how He loves us. Then Jesus comes in our human life as the hungry one, the other, hoping to be fed with the Bread of our life, our hearts by loving, and our hands by serving. In loving and serving, we prove that we have been created in the likeness of God, for God is Love and when we love we are like God. This is what Jesus meant when He said, Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta

4 May 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints ... if we would only comprehend the fact that while the Eucharistic Species remain with us, Jesus is there and working in us inseparably with the Father and the Holy Spirit and therefore the whole Holy Trinity is there..., St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

20 January 2008
7. Jesus will give you all the Graces you need to be happy! The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. (Rev 7:17)

2 March 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints Can you feel the fragrance of Paradise which diffuses Itself from the Tabernacle? St Phillip

27 January 2008
8. Jesus is innitely deserving of our unceasing thanksgiving and adoration for all He has done for our salvation. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive honor, glory and praise. (Rev. 5:12)

11 May 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints Words cannot express the perfection of his adoration. If Saint John leaped in the womb at the approach of Mary, what feelings must have coursed through Joseph during those six months when he had at his side and under his very eyes the hidden God! If the father of Origin used to kiss his child during the night and adore the Holy Spirit living within Him, can we doubt that Joseph must have often adored Jesus hidden in the pure tabernacle of Mary? How fervent that adoration must have been: My Lord and my God, behold your servant! No one can describe the adoration of this noble soul. He saw nothing, yet he believed; his faith had to pierce the virginal veil of Mary. So likewise with you! Under the veil of the Sacred Species your faith must see our Lord. Ask St Joseph for his lively, constant faith. St Peter Julian Eymard

9 March 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints God dwells in our midst, in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. St Maximilian Kolbe

6 April 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints If I can give you any advice, I beg you to get closer to the Eucharist and to Jesus... We must pray to Jesus to give us that tenderness of the Eucharist. Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta

3 February 2008
9. For Peace in our country! When My people humble themselves and seek My Presence... I will revive their land. (2Chr 7:14)

16 March 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints Do you realise that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you for you alone? He burns with desire to come into your heart...dont listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love... St Therese of Lisieux

13 April 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes. You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment. St John Chrysostom

48

49

18 May 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints The Blessed Sacrament is indeed the stimulus for us all, for me as it should be for you, to forsake all worldly ambitions. Without the constant presence of our Divine Master upon the altar in my poor chapels, I never could have persevered casting my lot with the lepers of Molokai; the foreseen consequence of which begins now to appear on my skin, and is felt throughout the body. Holy Communion being the daily bread of a priest, I feel myself happy, well pleased, and resigned in rather exceptional circumstances in which it has pleased Divine Providence to put me. Bl Damien, Apostle of the Lepers

8 June 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints In the presence of Jesus in the Holy Sacrament we ought to be like the Blessed in heaven before the Divine Essence. St Teresa of Avila

to Christs Resurrection. All interior life needs silence and intimacy with Christ in order to develop. Pope John Paul II, from the Vatican, 28 May 1996

Apostolic Journey To The Far East And Mauritius Eucharistic Adoration At Nonyong-Dong Parish Homily Of His Holiness John Paul Ii Seoul (Korea) Saturday, 7 October 1989

13 July 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers ...Yes, beloved brothers and sisters, it is important that we live and teach how to live the total mysteries of the Eucharist: the Sacrament of Sacrice, of the Banquet, and of the permanent Presence of Jesus Christ the Saviour.... the several forms of worship of the Most Holy Eucharist are an extension and at the same time a preparation for the Sacrice of the Mass and Communion. Will it be necessary to insist again on the deep spiritual and theological motivations of worship to the Most Holy Sacrament outside of the celebration of the Mass? It is true that the reservation of the Sacrament was made, from the beginning, in order to be able to take Communion to the sick and to those absent from the celebration. But, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, for the deepening of the faith in the Real Presence of Christ in His Eucharist, the Church became aware of the meaning of the silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species (n. 1379). Pope John Paul II, June 1993 homily at the 45th International Eucharistic Congress in Seville, Spain

27 July 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers The worship of the Eucharist outside of the Mass is of inestimable value for the life of the Church. This worship is strictly linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrice. The presence of Christ under the sacred species reserved after Mass a presence which lasts as long as the species of bread and of wine remain derives from the celebration of the sacrice and is directed towards communion, both sacramental and spiritual. It is the responsibility of Pastors to encourage, also by their personal witness, the practice of Eucharistic adoration, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in particular, as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the Eucharistic species. Pope John Paul II, The Eucharist and the Church

15 June 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints When the Sisters are exhausted, up to their eyes in work; when all seems to go awry, they spend an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This practice has never failed to bear fruit: they experience peace and strength. Bl Mother Teresa of Calcutta

25 May 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints In order to be like You, who are always alone in the Blessed Sacrament, I shall love solitude and try to converse with You as much as possible. Grant that my mind may not seek to know anything but You, that my heart may have no longings or desires but to love You. When I am obliged to take some comfort, I shall take care to see that it be pleasing to your heart. In my conversations, O divine Word, I shall consecrate all my words to You so that You will not permit me to pronounce a single one which is not for Your glory...When I am thirsty, I shall endure it in honor of the thirst You endured for the salvation of souls...If by chance, I commit some fault, I shall humble myself, and then take the opposite virtue from Your Heart, offering it to the eternal Father in expiation for my failure. All this I intend to do, O Eucharistic Jesus, to unite myself to You in every action of the day. St Margaret Mary

22 June 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints Do not think that Jesus Christ is forgetful of you, since he has left you, as the greatest memorial and pledge of his love, himself in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. St Alphonsus Liguori

3 August 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers It is pleasant to spend time with him, to lie close to his breast like the Beloved Disciple (cf. Jn 13:25) and to feel the innite love present in his heart. If in our time Christians must be distinguished above all by the art of prayer,48 how can we not feel a renewed need to spend time in spiritual converse, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament? How often, dear brother and sisters, have I experienced this, and drawn from it strength, consolation and support! Pope John Paul II, The Eucharist and the Church

29 June 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints Never forget that Jesus Christ is not less powerful or less generous in the Blessed Sacrament than He was during His mortal life. Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier

20 July 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers If we are to experience the Eucharist as the source and summit of all Christian life (Lumen Gentium, 11), then we must celebrate it with faith, receive it with reverence, and allow it to transform our minds and hearts through the prayer of adoration. Only by deepening our Eucharistic communion with the Lord through personal prayer can we discover what he asks of us in daily life. Only by drinking deeply from the source of life-giving water welling up within us (Cfr. Io 4, 14) can we grow in faith, hope and charity. The image of the Church in worship before the Blessed Sacrament reminds us of the need to enter into a dialogue with our Redeemer, to respond to his love and to love one another.

6 July 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers I urge priests, religious and lay people to continue and redouble their efforts to teach the younger generations the meaning and value of Eucharistic adoration and devotion. How will young people be able to know the Lord if they are not introduced to the mystery of his presence? Like the young Samuel, by learning the words of the prayer of the heart, they will be closer to the Lord, who will accompany them in their spiritual and human growth, and in the missionary witness which they must give throughout their life. The Eucharistic mystery is in fact the summit of evangelization (Lumen Gentium, n. 28), for it is the most eminent testimony

1 June 2008
To inspire you....Quotes from Saints The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus. After this, there is nothing more but Heaven itself. St Peter Julian Eymard

10 August 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers This practice, repeatedly praised and recommended by the Magisterium,49 is supported by the example of many saints. Particularly outstanding in this regard was Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who wrote:

50

51

Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.50 The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace. A Christian community desirous of contemplating the face of Christ in the spirit which I proposed in the Apostolic Letters Novo Millennio Ineunte and Rosarium Virginis Mariae cannot fail also to develop this aspect of Eucharistic worship, which prolongs and increases the fruits of our communion in the body and blood of the Lord. Pope John Paul II, The Eucharist and the Church

7 September 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers When we participate regularly and with devotion in Holy Mass, when we spend a sustained time of adoration in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, it is easier to understand the length, breadth, height and depth of his love that goes beyond all knowledge (cf Eph 3:17-18). Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the 22nd WYD 2007

5 October 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers Receiving the Eucharist means adoring him whom we receive. Only in this way do we become one with him, and are given, as it were, a foretaste of the beauty of the heavenly liturgy. The act of adoration outside Mass prolongs and intensies all that takes place during the liturgical celebration itself. Pope Benedict XVI, The Sacrament of Charity

9 November 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers My dear young friends, if you take part frequently in the Eucharistic celebration, if you dedicate some of your time to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Source of love which is the Eucharist, you will acquire that joyful determination to dedicate your lives to following the Gospel. Pope Benedict XVI, Message for WYD08

14 September 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers How great is humanitys need today to rediscover the source of its hope in the Sacrament of the Eucharist! I thank the Lord because many parishes, as well as celebrating Holy Mass devoutly, are educating the faithful in Eucharistic Adoration Pope Benedict XVI

16 November 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers Indeed, there is an intrinsic connection between celebration and adoration. The holy Mass, in fact, is in itself the Churchs greatest act of adoration: No one eats this food, St. Augustine writes, if he has not rst worshipped it Pope Benedict XVI, on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi

12 October 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers I heartily recommend to the Churchs pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community. Pope Benedict XVI, The Sacrament of Charity

17 August 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers Every member of the Church must be vigilant in seeing that this sacrament of love shall be at the center of the life of the people of God so that through all the manifestations of worship due to it, Christ shall be given back love for love, and truly become the life of our souls, Pope John Paul II, Redeemer of Man

21 September 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers Every time that the priest renews the Eucharistic sacrice, in the prayer of consecration he repeats: This is my body ... this is my blood. He does this giving his voice, his hands, and his heart to Christ, who wanted to remain with us as the beating heart of the Church. But even after the celebration of the divine mysteries, the Lord Jesus remains living in the tabernacle; because of this he is praised, especially by Eucharistic adoration Pope Benedict XVI, on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi

19 October 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers Wherever possible, it would be appropriate, especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specic churches or oratories for perpetual adoration. Pope Benedict XVI, The Sacrament of Charity

23 November 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers I am happy to testify that many young people are discovering the beauty of adoration, whether personal or in community. I invite priests to encourage youth groups in this, but also to accompany them to ensure that the forms of adoration are appropriate and dignied, with sufcient times for silence and listening to the word of God. Pope Benedict XVI, on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi

24 August 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers In the course of the day the faithful should not omit visiting the Blessed Sacrament, which in accordance with liturgical law must be reserved in churches with great reverence in a prominent place. Such visits are a sign of gratitude, an expression of love and an acknowledgment of the Lords presence Pope Paul VI, The Mystery of Faith

26 October 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the Eucharist. Pope Benedict XVI, The Sacrament of Charity

30 November 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers In life today, which is often noisy and scattered, it is more important than ever to recover the capacity for interior silence and recollection: Eucharistic adoration permits one to do this not only within ones I but rather in the company of that You full of love who is Jesus Christ, the God who is near us. Pope Benedict XVI, on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi

28 September 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers In the Eucharist, the Son of God comes to meet us and desires to become one with us; Eucharistic Adoration is simply the natural consequence of the Eucharistic celebration, which is itself the Churchs supreme act of Adoration Pope Benedict XVI, The Sacrament of Charity

31 August 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the Living Heart of each of our parishes. Pope Paul VI

2 November 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Holy Fathers ...besides encouraging individual believers to make time for personal prayer before the Sacrament of the Altar, I feel obliged to urge parishes and other church groups to set aside times for collective Adoration. Pope Benedict XVI, The Sacrament of Charity

52

53

7 December 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Saints This marvelous presence of Christ in our midst should revolutionize our life. We have nothing to envy in the apostles and the disciples of Jesus who walked with him in Judea and Galilee. He is still here with us. In every city, in every village, in each of our churches; he visits our homes carried on the heart of the priest, and we receive him each time we draw near to the sacrament of the Altar. Saint Alberto Hurtado

14 December 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Saints Consider the generosity of our Savior: what He acquired by dying becomes ours by eating. As often as we receive this Sacrament with proper dispositions, we make our own the fruits of all the labors, injuries and sufferings of His life, especially those borne at the time of His passion and death. Just as the power and the sensations of the head reach all the members of the body, in the same way, because Christ is the head of the Church which is His Body (Eph. 1:23), the treasures of His grace are made abundantly available to all who through charity are one with Him as living members. Saint Louis of Grenada

21 December 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Saints ...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood. Saint Francis of Assisi

28 December 2008
To inspire you.... Quotes from the Saints The devotion to the Eucharist is the most noble because it has God as its object; it is the most protable for salvation, because It gives us the Author of Grace; it is the sweetest, because the Lord is Sweetness Itself. Saint Pius X

54