Perpetual Adoration
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.
May 18th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Terry, I was shocked when I read that article as well, and I watched the video this morning before I started work.
Locally I have read articles about this practice and how overnight adorers have always seemed to be protected because nothing has ever happened to anyone en route to keep the Lord company, or on their way home during the wee hours.
Then we read this, and sadly, the woman was alone. Obviously the chapel was set up for a certain amount of protection, and I’m certain the Lord himself intervened and helped her fend off the attacker.
Perhaps this is a call for all of us to take more caution and not become lax. I know of some chapels that are locked and require a code in order for someone to enter. This is a good idea.
Clearly in the case in New York, a coded entry system would have prevented the man from entering the chapel, but it wouldn’t have protected another woman leaving her shift or arriving for the next one.
If more men would step up to the plate and take the night shifts, it would be best for us all. REcently at my parish, Father called for exactly this…for more men to sign up for the night shifts so women won’t have to.
May 18th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
So terrible. And in a small town. I think we are going to see more of this kind of thing. I hope I am wrong.
May 18th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
A man came into the Adoration Chapel at my old parish and he was demanding money in a very loud voice. I was sitting in the first pew (the closest to the door) and he had gone into the back (where there were 2 other ladies). When he went into the back I ran out to the priest’s residence. The associate pastor was taking a nap and took a while to come. I was afraid the guy would try to take the monstrance (for the gold). I should have stayed to protect Jesus!! The priest went back to the chapel and told the man to leave, and apparently he complied.
Thank God it was not a dangerous situation, just a scare. It is so strange to hear loud talking in an Adoration Chapel!
But nothing surprises me anymore. If I would tell you that I saw a couple engaged in heavy petting during Mass would you believe me? Yes, they were almost having sex with their clothes on, in the back of the Church, against a wall. It was after Communion time. I entered the church and happen to run across them. I was so shocked I thought I had seen a vision.
And our Lord is still present, subjecting himself to so much disrespect and sacrilege.
May 18th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
I pray this was just an isolated incident and not a portent of things to come. If it is then more of us are going to have to protect Jesus as just me indicated.
Thank God that woman was not seriously hurt. I can’t watch the video.
May 18th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I wouldn’t watch the video but I saw a portion of it on the news tonight. It is very disturbing, raising so many questions! As a person who had been raped as a young boy, I find it terribly traumatic. I consider rape an equivalent to murder - in fact, I would have preferred to be murdered.
Thus, if anyone thinks I am over-reacting to this incident, you now know why. Maybe I ought to post on this…although it was extremely difficult to place this comment.
May 18th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
You have courage, Terry. While I have never been raped, I am with you…it is the equivalent of murder and I would rather die a thousand deaths than ever be raped.
Thank God that he protected that poor woman.
May 18th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Terry: I’m stunned. No one thinks you are overreacting. You are in my prayers this night.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
God Bless You, Terry. And be certain that I love you, and so do many others who have gotten to know you. I will keep you in my prayers.
And you are not over-reacting.
I don’t have a regular Adoration Time, but I may occasionally be seen at either Lumen Christi or Nativity in St Paul. Lumen Christi definitely has warnings for the Adorers with instructions as to what to do in the case of a problem.
I would guess that there probably was an incident that necessitated that warning.
May 19th, 2007 at 6:27 am
I forced myself to watch the video and that is one tough old lady, the way she keeps hitting the attacker. He tried to take her by surprise but failed. It is actually heartening to see the thug running away from her.
God bless you, dear Terry, we all love you. I am so mad at people to victimize old people and little children, so mad.
May 21st, 2007 at 2:19 pm
My elderly aunt (82) has an assigned time for adoration at Lumen Christi. It is sad to say, that sometimes the folks that are supposed to show up after her, don’t show up and don’t let anyone know they won’t be there, leaving her to remain another hour. There have been times she’s arrived with no one there. It’s such an incredibly powerful devotion that no one wants to “regulate” it, but with many parishes the doors to their adoration chapels are “wide open” 24/7 and those inside are unprotected. I have been to Nativity at all hours and it seems that there are always folks there, not just the assigned person, so hopefully there is strength in numbers! Unfortunately, many parishes have trouble staffing adoration as it is.