Why Adoration?

Why would we choose to go to Adoration? What makes it so special? Why is it any different than just praying at home, or even in an empty church or chapel?

 

 

Well that big, gold thing holds the answer.. literally. That “gold thing” is called a monstrance (from the Latin word “monstrare” which means “to show”). So, based on its name, this monstrance is showing something, but what? Well, in the middle of the monstrance is a glass circle, and visible through the little window is a consecrated host, the Eucharist--literally the flesh of Christ.

 

So when we go to Adoration, we literally are sitting in the presence of Christ’s true Flesh, His true Spirit sitting there, gazing upon us as we gaze upon Him. Truly seeing Him, and not just a picture or a statue. Christ is always around us in Spirit, but He is the Incarnation: He is the Word made Flesh. When we sit in Adoration, God isn’t just with us in Spirit, but He is with us in Body, too.

 

Sometimes it’s so hard to comprehend, because when you look at it, on the surface it just looks like a piece of bread. And it is. It does retain its physical properties of bread, but after it has been consecrated and inundated with the Holy Spirit, it becomes the flesh of Christ. Just like if you cut down an oak tree to make a table, it still retains its properties of being oak wood, but now it is a table. Or if you find a seashell and make it into a Christmas ornament (which I have done!), it is still a seashell, but now it has become an ornament. Same, too, for what we see is still bread, but thanks to the Holy Spirit, it is also the flesh of Christ.

 

And that’s really the only difference between Adoration and any other time for prayer, but it is a big difference. You literally get to sit in His spiritual and physical presence, to speak to Him and listen to Him.

 

It’s like talking on the phone with friends or family who are far away. Talking to them is great, but nothing beats actually being home and being in their presence. You might have the same conversations in person as you would on the phone, but it’s so much better to physically be around them. Or it’s sort of like having a long-distance relationship, rarely seeing your significant other, but always keeping in touch. But finally one day, always a great and much-anticipated day, he is in town and you get to go out on a date with your love. You get to see him, smell him, feel his love, energy, and spirit. And when you gaze upon him, and not just a still photograph or a blurry memory in your mind, you are reminded once again of how deep your love is, how blessed you are to know him, and how it feels to be loved by him.

 

 

And that is what Adoration is to us.

 

 

 

 

 

A few saints (and venerables) had exceptionally deep devotion to the Eucharist. Check out what a few of them had to say about it here.