What is Adoration? Adoration is when I gaze upon and contemplate the one who loves me most. In Adoration, I spend time with Christ who is delighted that I come to be with Him. I acknowledge my poverty before Him, becoming like a little child, recognizing that I am a creature in front of my Creator. Through this poverty of spirit, I receive grace in return. However, the most important part of Adoration is the delight God takes in me, and I in him, not something I want to get from God.
Why is Adoration important? Because I come to accept what I am created for on this earth and in eternity: to love and to be loved. I then realize my purpose on earth. In Adoration, I discover the truth and learn to depend upon God. When I am not depending upon God, I am not living in the truth. In Adoration, I surrender all to Jesus.
Where do I adore? Adoring God is most beneficial in front of the Holy Eucharist exposed on the altar where I can see Jesus face to face. But I can also adore Him throughout the day. Whenever I recognize my dependence upon God and choose to love Him, I am adoring Him.
What are some tips for Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament? 1) Desire to be in silence.
2) Imagine God gazing upon you, receive His gaze and look lovingly back at Him.
3) Realize your imagination will stray, but keep coming back to focus on Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Tell Jesus you are back and ask Him to help you keep your attention on Him. (If things to do keep coming to your mind, it helps to write them down for later so that one doesn’t fear forgetting them.) Don’t be hard on yourself for getting distracted. Talk to Jesus about your distractions.
4) Place your desires, fears, struggles, temptations, habits, additions, thoughts, emotions, hurts, memories, etc., in the Heart of Jesus lifted in the Eucharist to the Father every moment of the day.
5) Make acts of faith, hope, and love: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Jesus I want to know you more. Jesus, I want to hope and trust You more. Jesus, I love you. Help me to love you more and more.
6) Put down any reading material if possible. Try to allow God to speak directly to your heart. If that is too difficult at first, read a little from Scripture or other spiritual reading, put it down, meditate on what you read and talk with Jesus about it and how it can be applied to your life.
7) Don’t expect warm, feel-good experiences. Adoration can require great effort for our mind and will. However, overtime one realizes the profound effects it has made on one’s person and how one has grown spiritually.
Please call the Parish Office at 701-572-6731 to sign up for an hour of Adoration that works for your schedule.