It seems that the devotion of Eucharistic Adoration is bringing new life to the church, the Charismatic Renewal, and individual lives throughout our country and indeed throughout the world. In many parishes, devotions of perpetual adoration, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and holy hours are among the rich sources of grace in a world hungry for salvation, for wisdom, for justice, and for peace. In n.1380 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read: It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in his visible form, he wanted to give us his sacramental presence; since he was about to offer himself on the cross to save us, he wanted us to have a memorial of the love with which he loved us “to the end,” even to the giving of his life. In his Eucharistic presence he remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains un- der signs that express and communicate this love: “The church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in the sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and the crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.” (Pope John Paul II)

Recently I was blessed to view the video I Am the Living Bread which gives a look at how the lives of people in San Antonio, Texas, have been dramatically touched by their devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through Eucharistic Adoration. I have also heard numerous testimonies on the local level of how God has worked in powerful ways in the lives of individuals and parishes through this devotion. An increase in vocations, development of new ministries, vibrant youth ministries being formed, the rise in the number of conversions, renewed and dynamic parish life, a deeper prayer life and a total commitment to Jesus in daily living are among the many fruits credited to eucharis- tic adoration. Healings in family and in personal lives, and miracles of grace—souls touched, lives changed, and evil turned back—have all been attributed to the time spent before the Eucharist.

Eucharistic Adoration is a witness of love. We want to spend time with the One we love, to express our love and to worship him; to witness his awesomeness and to surrender our weaknesses. In adoration we come to know Jesus more intimately, to follow his way more clearly. His peace supplants our confusion; his light banishes our darkness; his presence purifies our desires and we eventually come to know that God is enough. We discover in our quiet worship that we have found food for the soul and fire for our journey.

Eucharistic Adoration is a witness of service. Love compels us to serve. So many of the testimonies I have heard speak of what the Lord has called one to do in ministry or service to the body of Christ. In our moments of Eucharistic Adoration God speaks his will to us and equips us for work in his church and among his people.

I encourage you to prayerfully study article three on the sacrament of the Eucharist from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, to view the video from Ignatius Press, I Am the Living Bread, and lastly, to explore what you can do to spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. Then, I believe that just as the people in the Gospel, upon seeing the crippled healed in their midst, we too will be filled with awe and give praise to God as we proclaim, “We have seen incredible things today!” (Luke 7:17-26). 
 
By Sr. Martha Jean McGarry. Reprinted from Pentecost Today, April/May/June 2000, Volume 25.
 
Sister Martha Jean was a member of the National Service Committee. She served as Director of the Charismatic Renewal Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.