Eucharistic Adoration: Why Do We Have It?
Many an argument with a well-meaning atheist will contain this point, or one similar to it: Sure, it is nice to believe in God and everything, but all that time spent in prayer and doing “church-y” things, wouldn’t it be better spent doing something useful? Certainly, if you have a free hour in a week, you should to go to a soup kitchen or sort clothing for the homeless. Look at Mother Teresa, an ideal Christian. She did plenty of good in the world. Those sisters in her order must spend every waking minute caring for the destitute. Making time for a Holy Hour like the one described in last month’s Catholic Connection seems like a tremendous waste in the face of all the material things which could be done to make the world a better place.
If the people making that argument experienced a day in the life of the Missionaries of Charity, they would be surprised to find that the sisters’ days follow an unexpected schedule. Each sister spends a total of 4 hours a day in prayer! Jen Fulwiler, well-known convert from atheism, writes that this is a common theme in religious communities. “It requires great trust in God to walk away from your endless list of demands when there is still technically time to get a few more things done.” (The Courage to Rest, February 3, 2014) Jesus Himself frequently walked away in the face of crowds of people pleading to be healed. The Gospels are full of examples of Him making His way off to a deserted place in order to rest and pray.
Making the time every week for a Holy Hour is a personal struggle for me. I have six kids and a full-time job. It is never easy to “walk away from the endless list” of things to do. I rely on my chapel visits, though, as an indispensable part of my week. They allow me to meditate on the swirling issues in my life, often seeing them in a new way and coming out of the chapel with a different focus.
The primary reason that time in front of the Eucharist promotes a life of faith, which will in turn strengthen us in our quest to do good, is that it is the most sure way to build a relationship with Christ. Eucharistic adoration is a profoundly personal way to encounter Him.
Pope Paul VI, re-emphasizing the importance of the Eucharist in the modern world, earnestly begged the Church to spend time adoring the Eucharist, reminding us “just how worthwhile it is to carry on a conversation with Christ” (Mysterium Fidei). When Bishop Anthony Taylor wrote about Bishop Malone for The Catholic Connection, he pointed out that then-Father Malone’s parish emphasized Eucharistic adoration, and it became a “fertile environment for promoting vocations to the priesthood.” This is in part because Eucharistic prayer allows vocation-seekers to have time to listen to Christ and build that relationship. Sally Read, in her conversion memoir, writes, “To respond to God’s call is to do his will in the minute fabric of life. And that only comes through constant listening.” (Night’s Bright Darkness) For Read, the “constant listening” was gained through hours in front of the Eucharist.
Some of the best experts I know on how to converse with Jesus in a Holy Hour are the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, from my hometown diocese in Maine. They teach that the types of prayer in a holy hour should start with adoration and thanksgiving, then move on to reparation and petition. Sister Catherine cites St. Peter Julian Eymard, their founder, who said, “You wouldn’t start a conversation with a friend by complaining about how miserable you are.” She also reminds someone who is choosing a particular devotion to use during Adoration: “Remember that you are speaking with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.” It is tempting to bring a whole slew of novenas and litanies into that hour, but they can often interfere with a true conversation.
Given the intensity with which today’s society values work and productivity, making the choice to spend an hour or more each week just sitting in silence is hard to justify. The clarity it brings through relationship with Jesus, though, will make the daily work of our vocations exponentially more meaningful.