Disturbing news.
I read today where a woman was assaulted while at adoration in the Perpetual Adoration chapel of her parish. It happened during the night and a guy came in, sat down and suddenly jumped upon her, attempting to rape her. The woman was able to fight off the attacker, stabbing him in the neck with her pen. He got away, but the entire thing was caught on video. (Go here for the story.) That is just disturbing.
I often wondered if something like this could/would happen, as well as if people could be robbed, or the Chapel desecrated in some way. It is too bad that these types of things take place at all, in Church or elsewhere. If anyone has similar stories, I would like to hear about them.
I have been to local adoration chapels that were empty of adorers, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and left alone. This should never happen. One chapel in St. Paul seems to be empty sometimes, or with one very elderly lady usually there. It is not in a good neighborhood either - only several blocks away from the company where I formerly worked. It’s a dangerous area, with a high crime rate.
Blessed Sacrament chapels ought to be equipped with a phone, surveillance camera, and there should always be at least 2 adorers present - and preferably 2 men during the night. If the hours cannot be filled, then I think adoration should be interupted accordingly. If a Church provides Perpetual Adoration, it ought to be a Church that has a rectory, where the priest lives, attached to the Church or on the same campus.
Perpetual Adoration is a good thing of course, and it would be wonderful if every parish provided it, sadly, there are not enough people willing to commit the time to participate. It is just not feasible. The parish I attend has adoration one day a week. Although, sparsely attended, the Blessed Sacrament is never left alone.
Nocturnal Adoration is difficult for most people. Carthusians break their sleep during the night, and it is one of the most severe penances of their monastic life. It is very difficult for a lay person to break their sleep, drive to a chapel for an hour, and then get back to sleep when they return home, only to get up for work in a couple of hours. It isn’t impossible to do, it is just difficult.
When I was younger, there was (still is) the Nocturnal Adoration Society. A fraternity of men who met once a month, usually on the First Friday of the month, to adore the Blessed Sacrament throughout the night. The men alternated hours, and there were often more than two men at a time. The Blessed Sacrament was solemnly exposed, with appropriate candles, flowers, etc., and the men prayed the Office of the Blessed Sacrament.
Great care and attention must be taken if a parish is to provide Perpetual Adoration, both for the Blessed Sacrament and for the adorers who participate. Although, equal care ought to be given for devotion to the Blessed Sacrament when it is reposed in the tabernacle. Whether seen in a monstance or hidden in the tabernacle, the Real Presence is the same. It is to be hoped that devotion to the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstance would lead to greater devotion in assisting at the celebration of Mass, the reception of Holy Communion, and towards the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.
Thankfully, many diocese provide for Eucharistic Adoration, it is a great grace, so let’s pray that this custom is preserved and the adorers remain safe, free to spend time with Our Lord at all hours of the night and day.
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