Spend Some Time With The Lord: What To Do In Adoration

To celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, spend some time with the Lord. Here Prof Michael Ogunu guides us in the private adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

We adore the Body and Blood of Christ publicly at Mass, but in many churches we have the opportunity to spend extended time in prayerful silence with the Lord — the consecrated host exposed in a monstrance. The first reference to the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament may be found in a life of St Basil, who died in 379 AD.

In his book In the Presence of Our Lord, the late Fr Benedict Groeschel pointed out that there are “four kinds of prayer most appropriate in the presence of the Eucharist, namely adoration and praise, thanksgiving, repentance and trusting intercession”. Accordingly, here are suggestions for what to do during private Eucharistic adoration. (The first four are essential for each visit; the others are optional but recommended.)

Recite the “Jesus Prayer”

Say “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner” repeatedly as you quiet your heart and mind.

Ask for forgiveness and intercede for others

Think of those who have hurt you and request a special blessing for them. Ask God to forgive you for all the times you have neglected or hurt someone else. Bring before the Blessed Sacrament all those who have asked you to pray for them. Ask the Lord to address their concerns.

Sit quietly and just “be” in the presence of God

Think of a visit to the Blessed Sacrament as coming to see your best friend. Sit quietly and enjoy being in each other’s company. Instead of talking to the Lord throughout the visit, spend time in mental silence, and try to listen to what he wants to tell you.

Pour out your heart to Christ and adore him

Speak to Jesus, in awareness that you are in his presence, and tell him all that comes to your mind. Listen for his response. Pray the prayer which St Francis of Assisi instructed his brothers to pray whenever they were before the Blessed Sacrament: “I adore You, O Christ, present here and in all the churches of the world, for by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.”

Pray the psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours

Whether you are praising, giving thanks, asking for forgiveness, or seeking an answer, you’ll find an appropriate psalm.

The ancient prayer of the Church called the Liturgy of the Hours is an excellent way of praying through the Book of Psalms throughout the year.

Meditate using Scripture

Choose a passage from the Bible. Read the words and ask God to let the passage speak to you. Pay special attention to anything that strikes you and ask God what he wishes you to draw from that message.

Pray the Rosary

Pray the Rosary, meditating on the mysteries.

Read the life of a saint and pray with him or her

Most holy men and women have had a great devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist. Thérèse of Lisieux, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Margaret Mary Alacoque, Thomas Aquinas, Alphonsus Liguori, Peter Julian Eymard, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa of Kolkata and Catherine de Hueck Doherty are just a few. Read about them and pray their prayers before the Blessed Sacrament.

Someone once said to St Teresa of Avila: “If only I had lived at the time of Jesus. If only I had seen Jesus. If only I had talked with Jesus.” St Teresa responded: “But do we not have in the Eucharist the living, true and real Jesus present before us? Why look for more?”