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The first time I was asked to be a committed adorer, I had to ask, “What does a committed adorer actually do, are there specific duties that go along with this task?” The response was, “You just need to be there; we need to make sure Jesus is never alone.” That couldn’t be all there was to it, could it? In fact, it is. There are no expectations, really, only to sit for an hour, and be. It is a simple thing and yet something many of us do not do enough of – be. At Adoration that is exactly the gift we are being given, the opportunity to be and to be with our Lord, to be. . . in the presence of Jesus. We can talk to Him, pray, think or just be. He is right there, hearing every petition, listening to every thought. And, if we are able to block out everything else in that time, to silence the noise in our heads long enough, we will even hear his voice. Through Adoration, I have developed a deeper relationship with Jesus, my faith has grown stronger in the moments I have taken to be with Him and I so look forward to being the one on point, the committed adorer, making sure Jesus is never alone. Just as He is never alone, we are never alone. ~ Katy
Whenever I walk into the Adoration Chapel, I feel like Jesus has been waiting for me. I kneel, sit, pray, talk, cry, and laugh with Him. Sometimes, I just watch Him look at me. I go to adoration because my life is not the same without it. In His presence, I am able to let go of the stresses that weigh me down. I am invigorated by the hope I feel being so close to Him. I feel a connection to him and am able to be myself in His presence. Adoration makes me more human...more alive. ~ Jason
I left the Church for ten years. A friend helped me to discover the truth and the beauty in the Catholic Church that I had ignored in my adolescence. She brought me to adoration, where I stared at Jesus, begging Him to tell me if He was truly there. Almost yelling at Him in my mind, “Oh God, I need to know the truth!” As often happens with adoration, there was nothing but silence. But in the weeks after, there was a noticeable change in my heart. I had a softness and openness to the Church that I hadn’t had. Soon, my desire to be reunited with the Church and my hunger for Jesus in the Eucharist was undeniable. I had to come back! After going to confession for the first time in over ten years, I cried tears of joy when I received Jesus in the Eucharist. He is there and He is waiting for you. ~ Jenny
My first experience with adoration was last year when I signed up for one hour each week during Advent. I had always heard that it was a great way to grow closer to the Lord and figured Advent was the perfect time to give it a try. After a couple of times I experienced just what the buzz had been about. The opportunity to be face to face with the Lord, in silence, for an hour at a time was fabulous. No two hours were the same and after the second week I came to look forward to that time each week much more than I ever would've guessed. When Advent ended and adoration with it I truly missed that time each week and was very glad when St James' offered adoration during Lent so I could get that time back. I would encourage everyone in the parish to make a commitment to adoration when it's offered. Old, young, men, women, we all bring different things with us and the Lord is there for each of us. ~ Jim
For me, just to sit in silence with my eyes closed and my heart open, I am transported and calmed. A single utterance repeated begins my time at Adoration....simply.... Come Holy Spirit or Jesus, Help Me. One hour goes by rapidly while I am comforted. I urge everyone to seek this unequalled peace; do not deprive yourself of this beautiful visit with your Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier. No matter your age, no matter your situation, no matter your inadequacy, all can find grace just sitting in the company of Christ. It is truly a blessed experience! ~ Mary
When I sit before the Holy Eucharist, it is only me and Jesus. It amazes me that Jesus Christ, Creator of the universe, gives me His full attention with no interruptions. I don’t need an appointment, interview or authorization certificate. Acts 10:34 (“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality”) remains the same today as it did 2000 years ago. He understands and is forgiving. I hope I can absorb His Love and Kindness given freely to me, and in turn show that Love and Kindness to those in need. ~ Bill
As a teenager, my mother occasionally forced me to go to Adoration, and I never really knew what to do during that time apart from praying the rosary. But now that I’ve left home, I've been going to Adoration on my own, on a more regular basis. I figured Adoration was a place to do more than pray the rosary so I sat and I talked. I had an honest and frank conversation with God and it felt good. The next week I went back with a notebook. I began scribbling letters to God explaining how I was feeling and begging for answers. The more I visited and wrote, the more I began to notice God in my daily life. Questions that I had begged for answers in Adoration were being brought up and discussed by friends and in my classes. Adoration started by being the slowest 15 minutes of my life to a focal point of my week. It is a place that I can get away from the pressures of school and rush of life and just be in God's presence. It doesn't matter what you do in Adoration, that part I think is unique to who you are, God will reach you if you open yourself up to Him. ~ Isabel