Adoration
“This generation demands a sign…”
“The crowd said to Jesus, ‘What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?’” I believe it is John of the Cross who suggests we can weary or even offend God by our seeking extraordinary signs or favors. That is not to say of course that when one prays hoping for some sort of confirmation, or certitude concerning one’s intentions, or longing for some ‘proof of His love’ as Teresa of Avila suggests, is wrong. God himself required that Ahaz ask a sign of Him, which turned out to be the prophecy of the Incarnation: “Behold, a virgin shall be with child.” Hence, seeking a sign is not always out of order or displeasing to God, especially if the person asks with confident resignation to His will - “not my will, but thine be done.” Or, as in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done.”
However today’s Gospel is particularly consoling in so far as our Lord reveals that the Eucharist is the preeminent sign and confirmation of God’s love. It seems to me, if God were to be offended by our seeking any sign above His Son’s Eucharistic presence, then indeed He would be offended. Because of our weakness, human nature definitely needs a sign of God’s love, and our Lord left this sign with us until He returns in glory.
“The bread come down from heaven.”
After Jesus spoke to them of the “bread from heaven”, the crowd pleaded with Him, “‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.’” Just so, the Lord instructed us to ask for this sign everytime we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Therefore such prayer is perfection itself.
Jesus is present with us in the Eucharist always. In the apparition of the Virgin to St. Catherine Laboure, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal instructed souls to “Come to the foot of the altar. Here graces will be shed on all who ask for them.” Our Lady’s direction echoes Our Lord’s promise in the Gospel, “whoever comes to me will never hunger…” In every authentic apparition of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady, the Directress, directs Christians to Her Son.
At Lourdes she asked that a chapel be built. At Fatima the Angel of Portugal taught the children the proper decorum for Eucharistic adoration as well as how to make reparation for sins committed against the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. Of all the modern apparitions, Fatima is particularly Eucharistic.
Making a “visit”.
Now days, Adoration chapels are in every big city across the country, and that is very good. Although I prefer to go to a deserted church and simply pray before the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle for my adoration. If a person cannot get to daily Mass, a visit to the Blessed Sacrament may sometimes be even more efficacious. Occasionally I wonder if an emphasis on daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration chapels incline some people, who for one reason or another cannot do either, to forget the efficacy of either a “quick” or prolonged visit to the Blessed Sacrament reposed in the tabernacle - especially if exposition is not available.
Even when my parish church is locked, I like to go to make a visit. I sit outside the church and adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The church becomes for me His tabernacle, which I know is enclosed within the superstructure. No, I don’t make a spectacle of myself, I sit or walk quietly and passers-by have no idea what I am doing unless they notice my rosary. During the day, I unite myself to the silent, loving action of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, renewing my spiritual communions frequently throughout the day. These practices help me to remain recollected in the presence of God throughout the day and night. I think the closer we come to Jesus in the Eucharist, the more we become His tabernacle.
[Icon: Mother of God Directress.]
April 8th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Great post. “Practicing the presence of God,” as Br. Lawrence would probably say.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Beautiful post Terry, I am edified by your spiritual practices. I must resolve to make spiritual communions - I am terrible at this. I love the way which you make visits to our Lord by sitting outside the church.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
This is a great post. I’m always amazed at how much we have shared in common. I believe, exactly like you, regarding the efficacy of quiet visits to the Blessed Sacrament, reserved in the tabernacle. And thirty years ago, just a couple of years behind you, I used to visit the Blessed Sacrament, at night, outside in a parking lot, adjoining a cathedral. I used to have a friend, Jim; and we would say the rosary in the car, facing the outside wall of the Blessed Sacrament chapel. Two teenage boys. This was in the downtown district of a large metropolitan city. It never occurred to us then, what would happen if the police pulled in next to us. Today, it’s a precious memory. Also, today, more than thiry years later, I am blessed to be able to attend Mass every day in the very same chapel. I pray there every day for the friend who was there beside me thirty years ago. I don’t know what became of him. I also pray there for you, Terry. Frequently, when I visit your blog, it feels like you are that same person.
God bless you, Michael
April 8th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Michael - thanks - I pray for you every day - ever since we met on the St. Catherine post. It is nice to know someone else sat in the car praying the rosary too. God bless you.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
This post inspired me to write one on the same subject. Like you said, Terry, — twins, or maybe triplets now that Michael is here!
April 9th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I also love to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament…enclosed in the tabernacle. I don’t know why, but it seems those moment with Him, unexposed, have often been more spiritually powerful than in the chapel where He rests in the monstrance.
Even at work, I often just kneel in the church near the tabernacle, and at some of the more difficult or challenging moments, the chapel was too full so if the church was open I’d go in there and kneel near the tabernacle. And His presence and that of the angels in adoration was nearly palpable.
April 10th, 2008 at 1:38 am
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April 10th, 2008 at 6:44 am
I have found myself driving to one of the catholic churches in my town that has glass doors so I can stand or kneel in “distant adoration”. It’s located in a rural, isolated area, not that I mind if anyone notices that I am praying - that would be a good thing. If people can through thier sinful ways in our faces, we can though our prayerful ways in theirs!
April 11th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Thanks for the new insight. I often get exasperated when I find a locked church door, especially when I’m in need for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. I’ve never realized that the locked door doesn’t have to be a barrier to me connecting with Christ. There is nothing stopping me from making that connection from the outside.