Adoration Updates
With the start of school and the more structured life that the close of summer usually brings, I thought I might give an update on how our ministry of perpetual adoration is doing.
Before I do so, I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who has made Adoration a part of their (family) routine. Whether you signed up for a regular hour each week or signed up as a “substitute,” it’s been a noticeable change: there are far fewer times when I walk through the church that I see the monstrance covered, absent someone to adore our Lord. Thanks to all who have just stopped in throughout the day, too—after our first push for more adorers, I dare say it was almost crowded at times in the adoration chapel; that’s a great thing, in my opinion! We’ve made significant strides in the right direction!
Nevertheless, we’ve still got work to do to have a thriving ministry of perpetual adoration. By last count, when I looked at the available “open spots” on the parish website (bsps.org/perpetual-adoration), we have 48 SPOTS still in need of coverage EACH WEEK. A little quick math (forgive me, I’m a recovering engineer) and you’ll note that that’s still almost 30% of our weekly hours that need a scheduled adorer. Most of these hours are overnight hours, during which the chapel is locked to outside visitors. For the safety of those overnight adorers, we don’t widely advertise the code (we try to keep it such that one has to call the office in order to obtain it). I know there are some people for whom overnight hours might be especially difficult. But if that’s not you: here’s your call to service! If you’re a night-owl or work second- or third-shift, why not come spend a little time with the Lord?! Young or old, experienced or completely new to the Church—it’s going to take us all! And there’s no better way to learn how to pray or spend an hour in silence with the Lord than to just get in there and do it.
For many, I know it’s not exactly easy to know what to do in adoration, especially in our world of activity and distraction. So while conversing with the Lord should be our primary focus while we’re in Adoration, here are some things that can make it “easier” to pass the time. Consider:
- Bringing a list of people or things to pray for. Pray a rosary and offer each Hail Mary for one intention.
- Bringing a journal to write your prayers out to the Lord.
- Reading the Bible or practicing the age-old art of lectio divina [“Ok Google: what is lectio divina?”]. If we’re not sure how to hear God’s voice, there’s nothing more certain than reading His Word!
- Spiritual reading—engaging the lives of the saints or spending some time with a spiritual classic can remind us of God’s presence and activity in the world as well as in us.
Honestly, how you spend your time in Adoration is secondary. What is primary is just that you spend time with our Lord. When I was in college, a priest told me: “If you want to be holy, spend an hour in Adoration every day and start coming to daily Mass; it will change your life.” I didn’t immediately take him up on that offer, but when I did, though the effects were not instantaneous or even perceptible to me at the time, the Lord did in fact change my life. He has a way of doing that, if we let Him.
If you’d like to schedule yourself for an open hour or sign up to substitute, please call the parish office or visit the website. I’m sure our Lord can’t wait to see you there!
Keep spreading joy!
Fr. Friedel