In Jesus’ presence

Father Mitch Pacwa, a Jesuit, appears regularly on EWTN, the Catholic Television Network in Alabama. On one occasion, a talk on the Blessed Sacrament, the shortage of priests came up for discussion.

Fr Pacwa mentioned that most seminarians he knew said that their vocation came from spending time during the week with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament; this had evolved and developed into a personal relationship with Jesus and a desire to make him known and loved to evangelise. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a phenomenon in todays Church as more and more parishes have exposition during the week, some even every day, all day.

Addressing the crowd gathered in St Peters Square on the feast of Corpus Christi, Pope Benedict spoke of the intrinsic connection between celebration and adoration: The Holy Mass is in fact the Churchs greatest act of adoration Adoration outside Holy Mass prolongs and intensifies what happened in the liturgical celebration.

The pope remarked on the great interest in adoration shown by the young, and invited priests to encourage youth groups in this practice, and even to accompany them to ensure sufficient times for interior silence and listening to the word of God, so needful today when life is so often filled with noise and confusion.

Even after the celebration of the divine mysteries, Pope Benedict added, the Lord Jesus remains living in the tabernacle; because of this he is praised, especially by Eucharistic adoration.

This is why our churches remain open during the week: the sacramental presence of our blessed Lord in the tabernacle. Many converts will tell you that the first time they set foot inside a Catholic Church they sensed the presence of God. Unknown to them at the time the source of this experience was Jesus himself hidden in the tabernacle.

A woman carrying a market basket came into the empty church and knelt down in one of the pews to pray briefly. This was something entirely new to me, having seen people praying during services in Protestant churches and Jewish synagogues Here was someone interrupting her everyday shopping errands to come into this church, although no other person was in it, as though she were here for an intimate conversation. I could never forget that.

The tabernacle, the Holy of holies. Accordingly, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the tabernacle is to be situated in churches in a most worthy place with the greatest honour. The dignity, placing and security of the Eucharistic tabernacle should foster adoration before the Lord really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar (1183).

Pope John Paul II, who spent long periods in adoration before the tabernacle in his private chapel, said in Dominicae cenae, his encyclical on the Blessed Sacrament: The Church and the world have great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offences and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.