EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
With the extra time in the Summer, you may want to spend some time with Jesus as He is exposed in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus left us a sign of His love for us in the Eucharist. Eucharist Adoration continues and extends “the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament which occurs in every Mass” (Eucharistic Adoration, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Eucharistic Adoration flows from the Eucharistic sacrifice offered at Mass. Jesus waits every second of every day of every year for us to visit Him and keep Him company. Jesus is always waiting for you and me in the tabernacle.
On all Tuesdays, there is Adoration in the Saint Ann Chapel from 9 am to 9 pm. Come spend time with our Lord by praying before Him in the Blessed Sacrament. You can take the time to reflect on His love for you. You can ask yourself this question: Does my life (actions, words, and thoughts) reflect my love for you, Jesus? If not, ask Jesus to help you to be more attentive to His love you and then, to be able to share this love for you with others.
In the Diary, Jesus Himself comments on His love in the Blessed Sacrament: Now you shall consider My love in the Blessed Sacrament. Here I am entirely yours, soul, body and divinity, as your Bridegroom. You know what love demands: one thing only, reciprocity … (1770). The words in bold are Jesus’ own words to Saint Faustina. The Blessed Sacrament is an expression of Jesus’ love for you, me, and all of humanity. We are called to accept His love in the Eucharist, ponder and reflect on His love for us, and share His love with others. We cannot keep Jesus’ love to ourselves – His love needs to be shared with the world.
During Eucharistic Adoration you might want to take some time to reflect on your relationship with God and your relationship with Jesus. Maybe there are areas you would like to improve. Ask yourself these questions:
Am I loving?
Do I act like Christ (forgiving, patient, merciful, trusting in God . . .)?
What is my relationship with God like?
What is my relationship with Jesus like?
Do I have a friendship with God?
Do I have a friendship with God?
You can start by asking God to give you the grace to have the desire to strengthen and expand your relationship with Him so that you can grow closer to Him.
Throughout her Diary, Saint Faustina records instances of Jesus commenting on “friendship with Him”. Some of these passages are listed below (Jesus’s own words to Saint Faustina are in bold):
… Let us talk in detail about everything that weighs so heavily upon your heart (1487).
Talk to Me simply, as a fried to a friend (1487).
Speak, My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you desire to say? (1489).
… But, My Child we should talk in more detail about the things that lie in your heart. Let us talk confidently and frankly, as two hearts that love another do (1489).
Jesus is saying explicitly that He wants us to talk to Him as a friend.
Do we want to be friends with Jesus? Do we love Jesus? Do we want to love Jesus?
~submitted by one of our parishioners