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February 13, 2019Dear Parishioners,
We have reinstated Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, following the morning mass up to and before the St. Peregrine mass. As a staff, we discussed the benefits of taking some time to quietly spend before the Blessed Sacrament and we have decided to give it a try again. Having Adoration before the St. Peregrine Mass gives those who wish to pray quietly before our Lord a wonderful opportunity to do so.
Adoration is reflected in the prayer of praise which acknowledges God for who He is, in comparison to the prayer of thanksgiving which acknowledges God for what He has done. According to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, “Every holy hour we make so pleases the heart of Jesus that every man, woman, and child living on earth receives a new effect of God’s grace.” This is the power when we take time to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. You have affected the lives of every person on earth through your sacrifice of an hour spent before our beloved Lord. If we ever want to stop wars, bring peace to the earth, stop abortions in the world, stop evils of all kind throughout the world; this is a powerful way to do it.
Jesus asked his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, “Stay here while I go over there to pray...Wait here and keep awake with me. And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. He came back to his disciples and found them sleeping and he said to Peter, ‘So you had not enough strength to keep awake with me one hour?’” (Mathew 26: 39-40). To spend time with our Lord is a blessing. It helps each of us to focus our attention. Jesus is counting on you because the Eucharist is at the center of our Catholic lives. Are we so sleepy that we are unable to spend an hour with our Lord? I would hope that if given the opportunity we will make the time.
You grow spiritually with each moment you spend with Jesus. "Our essential commitment in life is to persevere and advance constantly in Eucharistic life and Eucharistic piety and grow spiritually in the climate of the Holy Eucharist." (Pope John Paul II, Redeemer of Man). The best time you spend on earth is with Jesus, your best friend, in the Blessed Sacrament! "How great is the value of conversation with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, for there is nothing more consoling on earth, nothing more efficacious for advancing along the road of holiness!" (Pope Paul VI, Mysterium Fidei).
If Jesus were actually visible in church, everyone would run to welcome Him, but He remains hidden in the sacred host under the appearance of bread, because He is calling us to faith, that we many come to Him in humility. Please take time to be with our Lord in a special way so we can all grow in our faith and receive the divine graces of spending an hour with our Lord.
Our next Adoration is on Friday, March 1 st starting after the conclusion of the 8:15 AM mass. Please make plans to join us!
Blessings,
Fr Mark
