Resources

St. Michaels adoration brochure as a pdf: Adoration brochure 2018.pdf

Print, share with friends and family, learn more about adoration.

Archbishop Carlson's Strategic Plan Goal #1: To foster conversion through prayer and the Sacraments

Priority #1: To revitalize participation in the Eucharist, with the primary emphasis on achieving the Archbishop's goal for increased participation in Eucharistic Adoration in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

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Homily of The Most Reverend Edward M. Rice

while Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis, during Holy Mass at the Eucharistic Congress, June 25, 2011.

http://stlouisreview.com/article/2011-06-25/bishop-edward-m-ric

Papal prayer card

down load pdf here: Papal Prayer Card.pdf

"The Church and the world have a great need of eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and in contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease." (St. John Paul II)

Why have Eucharistic Adoration?

1. If the Mass is the source and summit of the entire Christian life, then why have Eucharistic adoration?

The celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist is, certainly, the “fount and apex” of the entire Christian life. Yet the “spiritual life...is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy”. Pope John Paul II calls worship of the Most Holy Eucharist outside Mass “an important daily practice [that] becomes an inexhaustible source of holiness” and a practice “of inestimable value for the life of the Church,” so much so that “it is the responsibility of Pastors to encourage, also by their personal witness, the practice of Eucharist adoration, and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in particular, as well as prayer of adoration before Christ present under the Eucharistic species.”

2. What is the relationship of Eucharistic adoration to the Mass?

The celebration of the Eucharist in the sacrifice of the Mass is “truly the origin and purpose of the worship that is shown to the Eucharist outside Mass.” Eucharistic adoration extends Holy Communion in a lasting way and prepares us to participate more fully in the celebration of the Eucharistic mystery. It leads us to “acknowledge Christ’s marvelous presence in the sacrament” and “invites us to the spiritual union with him that culminates in sacramental communion.

3. What is the importance of Eucharistic devotion?

“This practice, repeatedly praised and recommended by the Magisterium, is supported by the example of many saints. Particularly outstanding in this regard was Saint Alphonsus Liguori, who wrote: ‘Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us.’ The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: by not only celebrating it but also by praying before it outside of Mass we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace.

4. What happens as we contemplate the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament?

“When we contemplate Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament we are given the opportunity to thank Him for His passion, death, and glorious resurrection, the marvelous saving act that brought about our redemption. Christ draws near to us, more intimate with us than we are with ourselves. He strengthens our share in His divine life, the life that transforms us into His likeness and, in the Spirit, He gives us access to the Father. As Pope John Paul II reflected in his encyclical letter:

“It is pleasant to spend time with Him, to lie close to His breast like the Beloved Disciple

(cf. Jn 13:25) and to feel the infinite love present in His heart. If in our time Christians must be distinguished above all by the ‘art of prayer,’ how can we not feel a renewed need to spend time in spiritual converse, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament? How often, dear brothers and sisters, have I experienced this, and drawn from it strength, consolation and support.”

Quotes

“Beneath the veil of the Eucharistic Elements is contained the Invisible Head of the Church, the Redeemer of the world, the Center of all hearts, through Whom all things are and through Whom we exist.” (Pope Paul VI)

"Without prolonged moments of adoration, of prayerful encounter with the Word, of sincere conversation with the Lord, our work easily becomes meaningless; we lose energy as a result of weariness and difficulties, and our fervor dies out. The Church urgently needs the deep breath of prayer, and to my great joy groups devoted to prayer and intercession, the prayerful reading of God’s Word and the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist are growing at every level of Ecclesial life." (Evangelii Gaudium, 262) APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION EVANGELII GAUDIUM OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS

“It was in His flesh that Christ walked among us, and it is His flesh that He has given to us to eat for our salvation. No one, however, eats of this flesh without first having adored it...and not only do we not sin in thus adoring it, but we would sin if we did not do so.” – St. Augustine