The Newbie’s Guide to Eucharistic Adoration

I don’t remember the first time I went to Adoration, but I do remember thinking I was surely doing it wrong. Time moved so slowly. I wasn’t hearing God. I didn’t see any angels flying around. And it was hard to believe that the little white circle on the altar was actually Jesus.

Nowadays, Adoration is one of my favorite things. Time goes a little faster. I hear God (sometimes). I still haven’t seen angels and my bird brain still struggles with the reality of the Real Presence. 

But it has changed my life for the better. In a world that seems to spin faster and faster, where people are desperate for peace and relief from the rat race, Adoration is one of the best gifts the Catholic Church has to offer. 

But what exactly is it? How do you do it? How much kneeling is involved?

This, my friend, is the guide I wish I would have had years ago. I pray that it gives you the confidence and encouragement to spend some time in Adoration this week!

What the heck is Adoration?

Adoration is worship of the Holy Eucharist outside of Mass. The Most Blessed Sacrament is displayed for all to see and pray in the presence of Christ.

In other words, it’s a chance to hang out with Jesus.

Historical devotion to the Eucharist begins with the belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The early Church fathers taught that the Eucharist is Christ, and because Christ is worthy of worship and adoration, then the Eucharist is worthy of worship and adoration. 

In Adoration, which most commonly takes place in a church or chapel, the Eucharist is displayed in a monstrance, which is a metal stand that resembles a sunburst that holds a consecrated host. A candle signals the presence of Jesus.

When you spend time in Adoration, you are being physically present with Jesus, who is physically present with us in the Eucharist.

Why should I go to Adoration? Can’t I pray anywhere?

Of course! God is everywhere and knows everything. He hears our prayers wherever we are. What makes Adoration special is that Catholics believe the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus are substantially present in the Eucharist. When you participate in Eucharistic Adoration, you pray and worship Jesus in a more intimate, present, and real way. It’s an opportunity to experience a rejuvenation of spiritual nourishment and strength in a way you may not experience in your daily prayers.

What if I’m not sure I believe that it’s really Jesus? 

That’s ok. You don’t have to believe in something for it to be true. Although the Eucharist is one of the greatest gifts God has given the Church, it’s also one of the greatest mysteries. Many people struggle with how it can be that the little white host is actually Jesus. But you can do this: ask God to help you believe. Ask Him to show you He’s really there. 

Isn’t Adoration something only super holy people do? 

Um, no. You may grow in holiness as a result of Eucharistic Adoration, but having it all figured out isn’t a requirement. In truth, Adoration isn’t for everyone. It’s only for sinners who want to grow closer to Christ.

What am I supposed to do? Is there kneeling involved? 

It can be intimidating to know exactly what to do the first time you go to Adoration. But it’s quite simple. When you enter, since the presence of Christ the King is on the altar, it makes sense to pay him homage by showing a sign of respect. That could be kneeling on one or both knees or bowing as our bodies will allow. After your greeting, you can sit, kneel, or walk about the sanctuary. (Of course, it’s always nice to be respectful of others if you’re not alone.) When your time is at an end, it’s fitting to once again enter a humble posture of homage before leaving the King of Kings.

How long am I supposed to stay? 

Many people like to spend an hour or more in Adoration, but it’s also very common for people to stop in for five minutes to say hi to Jesus between errands. He’ll be happy to see you no matter what and you might just have a pep in your step for the rest of the day.

An hour?! That feels like an eternity!

If you commit to an hour and look at your watch after what feels like an eternity only to realize it’s been five minutes, welcome to the “Look — Squirrel Club!” Adoration can be a spiritual workout. It takes a while for our souls to feel settled. It’s like sitting down after going for a run: Your heart is beating fast and you’re out of breath. But after a few minutes, things settle down. The same is true with Adoration. You’ve just come in from the hectic world, and upon sitting down, you’re still acclimated to its harried pace. You’re jittery, distracted, accustomed to the onslaught of noise. It feels weird, but eventually, your heartbeat will slow and peace will abound.

How should I spend my time in Adoration?

There’s no one “right” way to “do” Adoration. The whole point is simply to spend time in the presence of Jesus. How you spend that time is up to you, but here are a few options:

  • Read the Bible or a spiritual book
  • Write in a prayer journal
  • Pray the Rosary
  • Listen to praise & worship music
  • Practice mental prayer
  • Enjoy the silence! (it’s a rare gift in this modern world.)
What if I don’t feel like I’m getting anything out of it?

Like Mass, Adoration isn’t necessarily about what we will get out of it. It’s about spending time with Jesus, adoring Him for being, you know, awesome. The good news is that it’s impossible to be in the presence of God and not receive His grace, even if we don’t feel it. We may not hear Him speaking, receive miraculous healing, or get immediate answers to prayer. But the love of God that we experience from drawing near to Him changes us. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, or years to see the effect.

Where Can I Go to Adoration?

Many churches have various times during the week reserved for Adoration. Some churches even offer perpetual Adoration and have volunteers sign up for one-hour time slots so that someone is always present to adore Jesus.

Check Masstimes.org to find Catholic Churches near you, then call or check their website to see what times they have available for Adoration.

Sheboygan County Adoration Times

St. Clement Chuch: Tuesday, 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
707 N. 6th St., Sheboygan, WI 53081

St. John the Evangelist: Thursday, 7:15 am – 8:00 pm
600 Green Tree Rd. Kohler, WI 53044

Bonus Round: What are the names of all the stuff?

  • Tabernacle: The tabernacle is a locked container in which the parish priest stores the Eucharist. The priest will open the tabernacle to retrieve the Eucharist during Communion and Eucharistic Adoration.
  • Consecrated host: The consecrated host is a physical element that has been transformed into the actual body or blood of Christ. This is a foundational doctrine held by Catholics called transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is a technical term that means, in the case of Eucharistic Adoration, the bread on display is literally the body of Christ and contains His presence, despite having the appearance, taste, smell and texture of regular bread. The priest transforms the bread into the body of Christ at Mass.
  • Monstrance: The monstrance is the item that exposes and displays the Eucharist before those who come before it in Adoration. It can take various appearances, but one of the most common types of monstrance has a sunburst shape atop a long stem with a wider base to keep it secure. The monstrance also contains another part called the luna.
  • Luna: The luna, or lunette, is a class compartment in which the priest places the Eucharist during Eucharistic adoration. It is often at the center of the sunburst shape, displaying the glory of Christ’s presence within the Eucharist. (Source)

Super Bonus Round: What did the saints have to say about Adoration?

“The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world … Let Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your hearts. It is he who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us: He is God with us.” – St. John Paul II

“Trust all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are.” – St. John Bosco

“The Eucharist is connected with the Passion. …To make sure that we do not forget, Jesus gave us the Eucharist as a memorial of his love. … When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then, when you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.” – Mother Teresa of Calcutta

“Go and find Him when your patience and strength run out and you feel alone and helpless. Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Say to Him, ‘Jesus, you know exactly what is going on. You are all I have, and you know all things. Come to my help.’ And then go, and don’t worry about how you are going to manage. That you have told God about it is enough. He has a good memory.” -St. Jeanne Jugan

“Good friends find pleasure in one another’s company. Let us know pleasure in the company of our best Friend, a Friend who can do everything for us, a friend who loves us beyond measure. Here in the Blessed Sacrament, we can talk to him straight from the heart.” -St Alphonsus de Liguori  

“Gaze upon him, consider him, contemplate him, as you desire to imitate him.” -St Clare of Assisi

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