 What is Eucharistic Adoration?
Eucharistic adoration is the act of worshiping God as He is present in the consecrated Eucharist. Since the Last Supper, when Jesus broke the bread and distributed the wine, saying, "This is my Body " and "This is my Blood," Catholics have believed that the bread and wine are no longer merely baked wheat and fermented grape juice, but the actual living presence of the Second Person of the Trinity. Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, in prayer and devotion, is exactly the same as spending time before the living God. Adoration occurs whenever someone kneels in front of the tabernacle that contains the Blessed Sacrament, genuflects toward the tabernacle, bows before receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, or, in a more focused way, when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
The devotion begins with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. A priest or deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it on the alter for adoration. The purpose of adoration is to highlight the presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist. When a consecrated host is placed in the monstrance, it is said to be a solemn exposition. Adoration ceremonies traditionally include Scripture readings, hymns, prayers, and time for silent adoration.
"The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace."
Pope John Paul II
Ways to Celebrate Eucharistic Adoration
Mass - The congregation kneels as the priest lifts the Sacrament, declaring: "This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." At Communion, each individual bows in front of the Blessed Sacrament before receiving Our Lord under the appearance of bread and wine.
Exposition - In some parishes, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration one day a week. People sign up for a specific hour or simply drop by whenever convenient for personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Forty Hours Devotion - Forty semi-continuous hours of adoration of the Eucharist, held annually in some parishes.
Perpetual Adoration - Continuous exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for the purpose of uninteruppted adoration, twenty-fours a day, seven days a week.
Church Visit - A short visit to a church for the purpose of greeting the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the tabernacle.
Benediction - After a peroid of exposition and adoration, the Blessed Sacrament is used to bless the congregation. Eucharistic hymns, most often O Salutaris Hostia and Tantum Ergo, are traditionally sung.
Procession - A sacred parade in which clergy and faithful walk from one place to another, giving praise, thanks, and worship to God, especially by adoring the Blessed Sacrament.
Holy Rosary has Adoration five days a week: starting after the 7:00 a.m. Mass and ending at 10:00 p.m. We have a key pad entry for safety and welcome all to participate. Call the parish office at (812) 477-8923 and we will welcome you to join our 200 weekly participants. Our faith is deepened and we are healed by spending a quiet hour in the presence of our Lord.
No Adoration on Holidays, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adoration will be cancelled due to inclement weather as determined by Vanderburgh County Schools and announced on local radio and television stations.
Adoration Day Leaders
| Monday |
Anita Gilbert |
490-9060 |
| Tuesday |
Susan Unfried |
477-9526 |
| Wednesday |
Ruth Girten |
477-8923 or 430-3328 |
| Thursday |
Dorothy Meacham |
477-0041 |
| Friday |
Leann Sander |
490-5585 |
Guidelines for Adoration Assistants
- The program is organized to have a leader for each day.
- THERE MUST BE SOMEONE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES.
- If you cannot make your hour, you must find a replacement from the list for the day, the sub list or call the day leader.
- The Adoration Room has a phone, bathroom, heater and fan as needed for comfort.
- If the next person does not show up: 1) wait 10 minutes 2) call the person scheduled for that hour 3) call the day leader 4) if no success, stay if possible 5) cover the monstrance before you leave 6) let the day leader know and contact the person.
- Cancellation due to bad weather: We follow the cancellations of the Vanderburgh County Schools announced on the radio.
- No Adoration on Holidays, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Father starts Adoration after the 7:00 AM Mass and the last person, who should be a Eucharistic minister, puts it away in the evening.
|
Prayer & Devotionals 
