Adoration

Eucharistic Adoration is a time when we adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, exposed in the monstrance.

 May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Holy Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time. Amen

There are a number of ways to commune with the Lord during this time of silence.  Some suggestions:

• Pour out your heart to Jesus and adore Him:  have a conversation with Jesus. Tell Him what you are most grateful for. Share what excites you, as well as what worries you. Confess your sins and ask for His mercy. Listen—what does Jesus say to your heart? Ask for the graces you need in the days ahead. Pray for those who need your intercession. Ask Jesus what He desires from you.

• Meditate on Sacred Scripture: choose a passage from the Bible and read it prayerfully. Ask God to speak to your heart through His Word. Practice lectio divina—meditate on a phrase that stands out to you. Use imaginative prayer, and place yourself in the scene. Reflect: What is Jesus revealing to you?

• Pray the Rosary:  Invite Mary to pray with you as you gaze upon Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Meditate on the mysteries of Jesus’ life with her guidance.

• Read a good spiritual book: Spend time with a classic like The Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Reflect on its spiritual insights and how you can apply them to your life.

The Concluding Rites
Adoration concludes with a series of liturgical actions and prayers that express our faith, gratitude, and praise. The three main parts of these concluding rites, along with the hymns and prayers that accompany them. 

1. The Tantum Ergo and Prayer.  The concluding rite begins with the singing of the Tantum Ergo. Its purpose is to draw us into the mystery of the Eucharist.  It is a hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. This hymn is part of a larger work, Pange Lingua, composed for the Feast of Corpus Christi, and its words focus on the mystery of the Eucharist—Christ’s Real Presence under the appearances of bread and wine. The Tantum Ergo is sung as the priest incenses the Blessed Sacrament, a gesture of honor and adoration. The hymn reminds us that faith supplies what our senses cannot perceive, calling us to worship our Eucharistic Lord with humility and awe. After the hymn, the priest leads the faithful in a prayer, asking God to help us live out the mystery we celebrate in the Eucharist.
2. Benediction and the Divine Praises.  The high point of the concluding rite is Benediction, which blesses us with Christ’s own presence.  During Benediction, the priest, wearing a humeral veil over his shoulders, lifts the monstrance and makes the sign of the cross over the faithful in silence. This is not an ordinary blessing—it is Christ Himself who blesses us. Benediction is a powerful reminder that our Lord desires to shower us with His grace, mercy, and peace, strengthening us for our mission in the world. Immediately following Benediction, we recite the Divine Praises, a series of acclamations that give praise to God and honor key aspects of our faith. Each line begins with “Blessed be…” and celebrates God’s holy name, Jesus Christ as true God and true man, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the angels and the saints.
3. Reposition and “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name” - After the Divine Praises, the Blessed Sacrament is returned to the tabernacle. Reposition is our reminder Christ remains with us  - always -in the tabernacle.  In our parish, we often sing Holy God, We Praise Thy Name, a hymn that echoes the angels’ song of praise in heaven. Its words lift our hearts to glorify God while uniting us with the entire Church, on earth and in heaven, in worship. This hymn is a fittng conclusion to our time of adoration, as it sends us forth with joy and gratitude, renewed by our encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.

"Can we not give Jesus a few minutes of love and adoration in return?