present in the
Most Holy Sacrament
of the Eucharist
_________________________________________
Last year’s First Communicants, this year’s Confirmation group and representatives of parish organizations marched in the Eucharistic procession.
These devotion highlighted the significance of our Eucharistic faith. As Fr. Gerry mentioned those who want their families and themselves rooted in the traditions of our faith will want to take advantage of this occasion and many did.
Adoration: What is it?
Simply put, Adoration is prayer. Adoration celebrates Jesus, who is fully present in the Consecrated Host at Mass and reserved in tabernacles in Catholic churches and chapels. At Adoration, the Consecrated Host is reverently displayed on the altar in a receptacle called a monstrance. Adoration is a time for us to pray, to listen, and to be in His presence.
Where did it come from?
The Bible. After Christ instituted the Eucharist and celebrated the first Mass at the Last Supper, He took His disciples to the Mount of Olives and invited them to stay awake with Him, praying there in vigil for what was to come. Christ gave to the disciples, and to all Christians, this pattern of prayer. Jesus’s question to his disciples, “Could you not keep watch for one hour?” is the same question he asks us today…Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mark 14:37)
How does Eucharistic Adoration relate to my life?
Whether it is homework, service work, faith, athletics, a relationship, friendships, or fun, everything you do can be rooted in Christ through Eucharistic Adoration. Pope John Paul II reiterated Vatican II’s proclamation, that the Eucharist is “the Source and Summit of the Christian life.” Eucharistic Adoration nourishes us, inspires us, and gives us the strength and grace to make Christ relevant, whether in our school work, our leisure time, our relationships, or our service to those who are in need. By spending time with Jesus in Adoration, we are made more mindful of Him and His presence with us throughout our day.
How is it different than Mass or private prayer in my hall chapel?
Prayer can be done at anytime, anywhere, by anyone. You can always find and make time for prayer.
Mass is the perfect prayer. When we gather as a community at Mass, we celebrate God’s gift to the Church in giving us His Son. By the words of the priest and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine offered at the altar become Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Jesus’ Real Presence remains in the Consecrated Host, which is reserved in the tabernacle following Mass. Outside of Mass, people are always welcome to pray in our churches and chapels in the presence of Christ at any time.
Eucharistic Adoration is that time set aside when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed (placed in a monstrance on the altar) so that the faithful may see, pray, and adore our Risen Lord. Jesus is just as present in the tabernacle as in the monstrance, but many believers find comfort and ease when they are able to adore while looking upon Jesus exposed in the monstrance.
The Closing of Forty Hours was such a beautiful celebration. It was an outward sign of our relationship with Christ to the community. Fr. Nick Rottman during his homily highlighted that the very essence of a Christian life is our relationship with Christ. All the things that we do for credit or admiration for other people is not what gets us to heaven. Rather it is the relationship that we form with Jesus himself is what gets us to heaven and that is why we are here.
" I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that
I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
John 6:51
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you
eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you."
John 6:53
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Here at St. Joseph we have Exposition of Blessed Sacrament from 10am - 6:30pm every Wednesday. This is a great opportunity to spend some quiet time with our Lord throughout the year.
Many thanks goes to Fr. Josh, Dave Wegert, and Connie Ruprich in all the preparation they put into making this a beautiful celebration. We also thank all the parishioners that took time out of their busy lives to make sure that someone was here with our Lord during these forty hours. To all the families that made it to the closing - THANK YOU. We hope you come and fill the church with your voices, prayers, and presence at this beautiful celebration next year.
The questions and answers came from the following website: Office of Campus Ministry
