What is Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration?
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is a Eucharistic devotion whereby
members of a Parish or some other group unite in making continuous
adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament throughout the
twenty-four hours of the day, seven days a week. In this way,
worship is rendered to God the Father through Jesus Christ in the
Holy Spirit.
Is Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration the only type of
Eucharistic adoration apart from the Mass?
No. There are several other forms. However, a most popular and
grace-laden program is the full-time, permanent adoration of
Our Lord exposed in a monstrance in which adorers commit
themselves to at least one assigned hour each week, thereby deepening
their reverence and love for the Holy Eucharist - the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ - in the
Sacrifice of the Mass, in Holy Communion and in the Real Presence.
Why is it necessary to have permanent exposition?
People are far more appreciative of exposition and will thus
be more responsible in keeping their Holy Hour with Our Lord. What
more wonderful way to witness to our belief in the Real Presence of
Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament than by faithful
attendance at a weekly hour of Adoration. A prayerful, silent yet
quite clear profession of faith. Never forget the words of
Our Lord when He gave His Eucharistic discourse. “Indeed,
this is the will of the Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and
believes in Him, shall have eternal life. Him will I raise up on the
last day.” (John 6:40)
When you make a commitment to spend one hour a week with God in Adoration, with Jesus,
truly present in the Eucharist, you help to enable all of the other committed hourly
adorers to continue worshiping on their hours. Your presence during your hour,
as well as the presence of other adorers during their hours, enable dozens of other
people, people who for various reasons cannot commit to a specific hour, to
also render worship to God. In addition, your presence allows people who may
have reached a crisis point in their lives to come to God in their time of need.
This is something that God will not forget.
The time that God gives us on this earth is a gift. We were each created to live and to
love and to serve the Lord. All that we have is from God. What greater gift can
we give to God than to make the choice to return to God just a little bit of that
time each week that He has given to us. Is God really asking that much? Think
about it; pray about it; and please consider giving just a little bit of your
time, time that God has given to you, back to Him.
What is another good reason for establishing Perpetual
Eucharistic Adoration?
To provide an easy, attractive and practical way of rendering
God adoration, thanksgiving, reparation and petition.
St. John Bosco used to teach his students:
“Listen: there are two things the devil is deadly afraid of:
fervent
Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
Do you want Our Lord to grant you many graces?
Visit him often.
Do you want Him to grant you only a few?
Visit Him but seldom.
Do you want the devil to attack you?
Rarely visit the Blessed Sacrament.
Do you want the devil to flee from you?
Visit Jesus often.
Do you want to overcome the devil?
Take refuge at Jesus' feet.
Do you want to be overcome by the devil?
Give up visiting Jesus.
Visiting the Blessed Sacrament is essential, my dear boys, if
you want to overcome the devil. Therefore, make frequent
visits to Jesus. If you do that, the devil will never
prevail against you…”
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What are some of the spiritual benefits and graces generally
attributed to the establishment of a Parish Perpetual Eucharistic
Adoration program?
- Increased Mass attendance and Confessions
- Increase in priestly and religious vocations.
- The return of fallen-away Catholics and conversions to the faith.
- Heightened spirituality. “Personal sanctification and the
sanctification of all Catholic action.” (Pope Pius XII)
- Marriages restored.
- Greater unity.
- Inner peace
Besides prayer for the success of the program, what is the
most important single factor in a successful Perpetual Eucharistic
Adoration program?
The wholehearted support of the laity. This is a lay apostolate,
and it is lay men and women who take the responsibility of
organizing and covering the hours.
With the high rate of crime, isn't it dangerous to go around the clock,
24 hours a day?
Pope John Paul II has said that all the evils of the world could be
overcome through the great power of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.
The devil is put to flight wherever Jesus is adored in the Most
Blessed Sacrament. Many Pastors report that since P.E.A. has been
established in their Parishes, crime has declined, particularly in
crime ridden and dangerous areas. Believe that Jesus in the Most
Blessed Sacrament is the Lord who cast out demons, calmed the sea
and is infinitely more powerful than any law enforcement agency on
this earth. “Fear is useless. What is needed is trust.” (Mark 5:36)
